I was thrilled to take part in the launch of the Social Mobility Lab at City College earlier this year. It is an idea that I have been working on for several years and am so grateful to have the opportunity to launch it within the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.

The purpose of the Lab is to learn what contributes to success in college and beyond and then translate that learning into actionable programs that can improve our students’ chances of a good life. The only reason to study social mobility is to make it a reality for more people.

During the launch event, I moderated a panel with three incredible individuals who have “lived the dream.” Their vulnerability and courage in sharing the ups and downs of their climb was so moving and insightful. With their permission, we’re sharing their stories as a bonus episode of Attribution.

Social Mobility Lab

Cristina Jimenez Moreta

Elvin Garcia

Dee Dee Mozeleski

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HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream.

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

Rachel Perić is Executive Director of Welcoming America. Inspired by her family’s refugee story and by the worldwide movement of welcomers, Rachel works to create communities where all residents – including immigrants and refugees – can thrive and belong. We talked about her own personal journey, the important work of her organization and how we as a country are doing to live up to our ideals of welcoming. I hope you enjoy it.

Rachel Perić

Welcoming America

Welcoming Week

Welcome Wagon program

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HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream.

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

Jason Hehir who is a documentary filmmaker whose subjects have included cultural icons Andre the Giant, Michael Jordan and Elvis Presley among others. We talked about those films and his recent HBO series, Murder in Boston. It was a far ranging conversation touching on topics ranging from race, reckoning with our past and what makes for a successful life. I hope you enjoy it.

Jason Hehir

Andre the Giant

The Last Dance

Murder in Boston

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HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream.

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

Mark R. Rank is recognized as a foremost expert on issues of poverty, inequality and social justice. To date he has written 10 books on a range of subjects, including an exploration of the American Dream and a new understanding of poverty and inequality. In this episode, I talk to Mark about his latest book, The Random Factor which looks at the role of luck and chance in shaping the course of our lives. It was a fascinating discussion, one I was lucky to have. I I hope you enjoy.

Mark R. Rank

The Random Factor

Poverty Risk Calculator

Your American Dream Score

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HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream.

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

Brittany Means is author of the critically acclaimed memoir, “Hell if We Don’t Change Our Ways”. Reviews have called it “gut-wrenching and triumphant.” “Readable and rigorous.” “Brutal and beautiful.’ At its heart, it is a book about family. as Means recounts her complex relationships with her mother, father, brother, and grandparents and eventual guardians. What does it mean when those closest to us hurt us? Is understanding or forgiveness even possible? How do children make it through it all to find support and love? This was a particularly moving discussion. I hope you find it of value.

Links to learn more about:

Brittany Means

Hell if We Don’t Change Our Ways

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HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream.

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

In communities across the country, including New York, library budgets and hours are being cut, just at a time when society needs them most. This is in spite of the incredible success that libraries have in bringing people, particularly older adults, together. 

Bob McKinnon, host of the podcast, Attribution talks with Eric Klinenberg, NYU sociologist and author of “Palace for the People” which examines the role that third places like libraries play in avoiding isolation. We’ll also hear from four Long Island librarians who are creating innovative programs for older adults that reduce isolation and build belonging.

For more information, please visit:

Palaces For The People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, And The Decline Of Civic Life

Eric Klinenberg

Suffolk Cooperative Library System

Brentwood Public Library

Middle Country Public Library

Riverhead Free Library

Patchogue-Medford Library

Libraries of Belonging  is a WLIW-FM special program that is part of the “Aging Together in New York” initiative from public media stations focusing on social isolation and loneliness among older adults. This program is funded by the New York State Education Department.

HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream. 

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

It is the simplest of tools designed to help us tackle the complexities of life. It helps reduce errors, remember what’s important, assess and reflect on what and how we’re doing. Pilots, astronauts, builders and surgeons use them to save lives.

What is this elementary yet powerful tool?  A checklist.

Is it possible that a simple checklist could do for the growing issue of social isolation among older adults what previous versions have done for saving lives in surgery?

Bob McKinnon, host of the podcast Attribution, talks to Sandy Markwood, CEO of US Aging, a national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging, and the organization behind the Social Isolation Self-Assessment Checklist to discuss the promise of this tool.  At the end of the episode, listeners will have the opportunity to self-assess as we review each of the questions on the checklist.

For more information on The Checklist and the resources mentioned in this program, please visit:

US Aging

Eldercare Locator

Social Isolation Self-Assessment Checklist

The Checklist is a WLIW-FM special program that is part of the “Aging Together in New York” initiative from public media stations focusing on social isolation and loneliness among older adults. This program is funded by the New York State Education Department.

HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream. 

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.

Stephanie Land is the New York Times bestselling author of Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive which is now the inspiration for the Netflix series of the same name.  Her latest book, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood,  Hunger and Higher Education is out now. During our conversation we talked about the challenges and judgment that she and other single moms have faced simply trying to create a better future for themselves and their children. This was an important conversation that I hope will change the way we see and support single mothers. I hope you enjoy.

Links to learn more about: 

Stephanie Land

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive 

Maid Netflix limited series  

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood,  Hunger and Higher Education 

Subscribe to Moving Up Mondays Substack Newsletter

HOST

Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream. 

His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS.

His own journey out of poverty was captured in his TEDx talk: How Did I End Up Here. Through his writing and this podcast, he hopes to pay tribute and thanks to all those who have helped him and others move up in life.

CREDITS

Attribution is distributed in part by NPR station, WLIW-FM. You can listen on WLIW.org/radio or on NPR One mobile app as well as other major podcast networks.

This show was edited by No Troublemakers Media. Music by Jonnie “Most” Davis.

Our final credit goes to you, the listener, and to everyone who helped you get to where you are today. If this show has reminded you of someone in particular, make their day and let them know.