Dream On

Thursday, October 13, 2016

dream-onFilm Summary

In this epic road trip, political comedian John Fugelsang retraces the journey of Alexis de Tocqueville, whose study of our young country in 1831 came to define America as a place where anyone, of any background, could climb the ladder of economic opportunity.  Following in the Frenchman’s footsteps, Fugelsang asks whether the optimistic spirit of the American Dream that Tocqueville popularized is alive and well in the twenty-first century, or whether George Carlin was right when he famously quipped, “It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”        As countless Americans struggle with diminished prospects for the future, our core beliefs about the value of work, the inevitability of progress, the fairness of the system, and America’s standing in the world are being shaken.      After decades of rising income inequality and declining economic mobility, reviving the American Dream has become the defining issue of our time.    By revisiting the places Tocqueville wrote about and capturing the stories of a diverse group of Americans struggling to support their families, Dream On puts an intimate human face on the endangered American Dream.

To View the Trailer, CLICK HERE

Panelists:

christopher-croweChristopher Crowe

VP, Union of Clerical, Administrative and Technical Staff at NYU, AFT, AFL-CIO, Local 3882

Chris is in his second twyear term as Vice-President of UCATS, the Union of Clerical, Administrative, and Technical Staff at New York University, NYSUT, AFT, AFL-CIO, Local 3882. Before that he served two terms as a shop steward. Chris has been a part of many struggles to improve the lot of working people. During his time as a member of his union’s leadership team, among other things, he has:

  • Participated in the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement (during the depths of the Great Recession), which has secured a decent livelihood and favorable terms and conditions of employment for over 1400 members.
  • Assisted union members in disputes with the University.
  • Served as a member of the NYS United Teachers’ statewide School Related Professionals Advisory Committee, which advises the NYSUT Board of Directors on issues related to non-teacher members.
  • Written numerous resolutions that have been adopted or are currently being considered for adoption with regard to:
    • financial practices of members of University upper management
    • seeking the elimination of taxation on graduate tuition remission benefit

 

kimberlie-a-jacobsKimberlie A. Jacobs

Executive Director, Community Capital New York

Kim is the Executive Director of Community Capital New York, a not for profit that uses education and innovative financial products to create opportunity for underserved communities in the Hudson Valley. Community Capital has

  • Provided loans to foster the creation of over 2500 affordable homes,
  • Made loans to over 200 small businesses who could not secure bank loans for start-up or expansion
  • Created the region’s largest Financial Capacity Training program.
  • Provided matching grants to over 100 persons living in poverty to buy a home, start a business or pursue an education

Prior to her work in Westchester, Ms. Jacobs served as the Deputy Director of Rochester Downtown Development Corporation in Rochester, NY and also as a Senior Planner for the City of Sioux Falls, SD among other positions in Iowa, Texas and California. She serves on a variety of community Advisory Boards. In 2000 she was selected as a Fannie Mae fellow to the Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives Program at Harvard University.

 

karen-tumeltyKaren Tumelty

Community and Cultural Development Manager, Greyston

After working with Greyston from 1999 to 2004, Karen returned in 2010 to assume the Human Resources functions at Greyston Bakery.  In this role, she refined and evolved Open Hiring, made significant changes in the orientation of new employees, developed culturally appropriate trainings and advocated for improved policies affecting employee rights.  She is currently working to extend Greyston deeper into both our local and national communities and advocating for alternative hiring practices and employee and legislative polices that reflect the realities of communities.  Her career includes time at Tommy Boy Music, Riverkeeper, Human Rights First and Common Ground.  Karen was raised in Yonkers and is committed to public service in her community.  Among many other organizations that she has worked with, she has served as Vice Chair of the Yonkers Commission for Human Rights, and was the Founding Chair of the Yonkers Alliance for Latino and Immigrant Services.