“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
My history is built on the American Dream.

My maternal great-great-grandparents emigrated from Germany determined to build a thriving farm in the Midwest. Hard work enabled them to live the American Dream.

My Dad emerged from a life of poverty in the carpet mills of Dalton, Georgia to earn his doctorate in genetics. Education allowed him to live the American Dream.

The stories of my great-great-grandparents and Dad embody America's greatest strength – access to opportunities to improve one's own life. I am concerned that my country's foundation of opportunity and mobility is cracking.

A class of people that wants to earn an honest living is relegated to the status of working poor because of the high costs of essentials like health care, housing, and energy. Our children face unequal opportunities to attain quality education that will help them create their own positive outcomes.

I want to spend my life focused on repairing the cracks. Business leaders must play a role in solving these societal issues to ensure that the American Dream remains alive.

— Amy McGowan