The chance for Iowa to become ‘Opportunity Iowa’

By Robert D. Ray

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When I was growing up, my parents told me that this was the land of opportunity. They told me that if I worked hard, received a good education, and played by the rules, that I could be anything I wanted to be. My parents were right, and it worked for me and for many of you.

As I travel around our state - and certainly as I watch what's going on in our nation's capital - I'm confronted with a startling realization: This optimistic vision for a better tomorrow may be vanishing. The bright light of access to the American Dream may seem to be dimming for many Iowans.

The ability to climb the economic ladders of society appears to have stagnated because many people in our country no longer clearly see the opportunities available to be successful in their own lives.

Need proof? According to the World Economic Forum, the U.S. education system ranks 26th in the world, far behind many other industrialized countries. That means students graduating today are less equipped to meet the many challenges and demands of a global job market.

But this is not just an employment problem or a 20-somethings problem. Declining social and economic mobility is affecting every generation of Americans today. The U.S. census reports that nearly 1 in 3 young children in rural America live in poverty, which means they are starting their lives at a significant disadvantage. And another survey says that nearly a quarter of American workers have postponed their retirement by at least one year.

Fortunately, there are some bright spots in Iowa. Iowa has a rich history of successfully identifying and achieving significant opportunities. And a groundbreaking new survey called the Opportunity Index confirms the hard work and dedication we have invested to make Iowa a true engine of opportunity, even in these distressed times.

The Opportunity Index measures states' and community access to the American Dream, and Iowa scored in the top quarter of states (13 out of 51, including the District of Columbia). There is still a positive and hopeful story for Iowa parents to tell their children.

As a former governor, my pledge to the people of our state has been to continue this tradition of providing opportunities for excellence.

Iowa's success, along with our wealth of talented and dedicated state leaders, is being hailed as a national example by a new national movement called Opportunity Nation. Rob Denson, president of Des Moines Area Community College, and Barry Griswell, CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and retired chairman, president and CEO of Principal Financial Group, serve on the Leadership Council of Opportunity Nation.

Opportunity Nation, a bipartisan, issue-based campaign, has brought together hundreds of leaders from the public and private sectors, to focus their collective attention on re-energizing this cherished public value in America's discourse. They believe that the zip code you're born into shouldn't predetermine your destiny.

I could not agree more and will work to prove it.

That's why Gov. Terry Branstad on Thursday signed a proclamation declaring February as “Opportunity in Iowa” month. The proclamation encourages all Iowa individuals and businesses to conduct one or more activities that enhance access to the American Dream right.

America has always been a country where the promise of a better life for us and our families is in reach. But if the status quo is allowed to prevail, the fiber used to string together the fabric of the American Dream could disappear forever. I will be working with our state and local leaders, as well as the Opportunity Nation campaign, to make sure that Iowa does not miss the opportunity to become Opportunity Iowa for everyone.

Robert D. Ray of Des Moines was Iowa's 38th governor and served from 1969-1983.