In This Issue
Studies Show...
What We’re Seeing
What We’re Reading
This Month at MCAAD
As we usher in January with hopeful hearts, all of us at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream are excited about what the year will bring—new ideas, new audiences, and the completion of many of the spaces in our historic buildings. Check out our end-of-year video for a snapshot of what we accomplished last year.
We also remain committed to exploring the tenets of the American Dream in all its complexity. As the year closed, we were reconnected to the urgency of this task through Investopedia, which releases the most searched economic terms each year. As reported in NPR, in 2023, the most searched term was, in fact, “American Dream,” despite not even making it into the top 100 in previous years. The reasons for this spike are likely varied and reflect both the economic uncertainties and driving aspirations of so many. But for us, above all, it was a potent reminder of the enduring power and appeal of this phrase as a metaphor for so many of our hopes, dreams, and worries. There could not be a more meaningful conversation to be having at this moment, and if we do our job right, there is no better place for it than the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.
Wishing you all an exciting and energizing new year.
Rachel Goslins
Executive Director & Chief Creative Officer
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, Milken Institute
Studies Show...
More Americans made it a New Year’s resolution to manage their finances better in 2024, according to the 2023 New Year's Resolutions Study from Allianz Life Insurance Co. So what goals are Americans setting to improve their financial outlook in 2024? The most popular answers were creating an emergency fund and increasing retirement savings, each garnering 17 percent of responses, while paying down credit card debt was the plan for 16 percent. To start your New Year’s savings plan, Morgan Stanley created a guide with six simple steps you can take to help set yourself up for financial success in 2024 and beyond.
For further insights on planning your financial future, the Milken Institute offers research and analyses focused on how Americans manage their money to achieve a financially secure retirement. A recent report, Shifting the Retirement Paradigm: Moving toward Lifetime Financial Security, analyzes the primary factors that relate to financial security over time. The report describes challenges and presents actionable recommendations for consideration by individual Americans of all ages who are thinking about how to ensure their long-term financial security.
What We’re Seeing
In the heart of our exploration of the American Dream, we pay homage to one of the most foundational speeches that has echoed through the corridors of history—Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream.” This timeless address not only articulated the dreams for a future of equality but also left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness. This month, we delve into the diverse ways public art has memorialized this iconic speech. From monumental sculptures to vibrant murals, these artistic tributes stand as testaments to the enduring power of his words and their profound impact on the ongoing pursuit of the American Dream.
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A sculpture in Long Beach, California, by Larry D. Stokes celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The sculptor portrays the civil rights activist passionately in the middle of his powerful speech. His facial expression and body language express the importance of this great leader’s words on August 28, 1963.
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In 1977, an art committee from Chicago State University commissioned Chicago-based sculptor Abbott Pattison to memorialize King using his landmark speech as a theme. The artist designed a group of five figures in a circle with their backs to each other, gesturing outwardly with their hands, entreating the viewer to consider their plea for harmony and equality.
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The city of Denver commissioned artist Ed Dwight to create the I Have a Dream monument, which was installed in 2001. “The intent of this monument is to provide a visual inspiration of Dr. King and his life,” Dwight told denverpublicart.org. “There is only so much that our history books can describe about the struggle for freedom and civil rights. A visual memorial can help define the living legacy of the history and of Dr. King.” The artwork also includes civil rights leaders Mahatma Gandhi and Rosa Parks.
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Last year, the Office of Public Art of Charleston, West Virginia, led the creation of a large mural that includes over 1,300 self-portraits of community members flanking a portrait of the civil rights activist. The three-year-long community-wide art project honored the 60th anniversary of the I Have a Dream speech. “It’s an amazing accomplishment, not only for us as a city but for a community, to have this many people involved in a project that they can drive by for years to come and see their self-portraits, see their involvement as their kids grow up,” Director of the Office of Public Art Jeff Pierson told MetroNews.
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Also last year, Boston unveiled a memorial sculpture honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The 22-foot statue, by artist Hank Willis Thomas, is called The Embrace. Made to honor the relationship between the Kings, it was specifically inspired by a 1964 photograph of the couple hugging after Martin Luther King, Jr. was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
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In downtown Washington, DC, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial honors the American Baptist minister’s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice. Built between 2009 and 2011, the monument is located along the west bank of the Tidal Basin, near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and not far from the Lincoln Memorial, from which King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington in August 1963. The design for the monument was chosen from more than 900 design submissions from dozens of countries.
What We’re Reading
Education is one of the central pillars of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream. Milken Educator Award winners advance the dream by going above and beyond for their students. An Arizona elementary teacher recently earned the award, sometimes called the “Oscars of Teaching,” with this story covered by Phoenix’s The Daily Independent.
This Month at MCAAD
This month, acclaimed American artist John Pugh was on site at MCAAD, installing a beautiful and original mural in our monumental staircase. The mural pays tribute to the vast array of immigrants who have journeyed to America to pursue their dreams. It features the faces of noteworthy and everyday immigrants, all situated around the Statue of Liberty’s torch, a symbol of enlightenment that illuminates the path toward liberty. Pugh’s mural is the first of many installations at MCAAD that will speak to the inspiring story of the American Dream.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, let's contemplate our American Dream resolutions. What is one transformative step we can take to make our vision of the dream more attainable for ourselves and others sharing this collective journey? Together, our diverse dreams contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive future.