The personal story is a powerful tool to break down social constructs, misconceptions and stigmas. The American Dream is a story we’ve been told our entire lives that shapes how we see working-class Americans.
It tells us that everyone has the same chances of becoming a happy, prosperous, middle-class citizen. The real stories aren’t so clear cut.
For some individuals, mostly underprivileged working-class citizens, working hard doesn’t always lead to the American Dream. People face challenges every day that prevent them from success in the modern world — having no transportation, mental and physical disabilities or lacking access to proper education, nutrition and housing.
Many people believe those who are homeless are underprivileged because they deserve it, suggesting that they didn’t work hard enough to achieve or sustain middle-class status.
What these people don’t see are the personal stories, from real people, like those who receive help from the nonprofit Amherst Community Connections. Many low-income people have worked hard their entire lives, but the American Dream just hasn’t worked out for them.
The program, located in Amherst, not only helps individuals get access to food, shelter, and proper medical care, but fights to share their stories while supporting them through their journey to financial stability. Through its newsletter, ACC seeks to show the public the realities of homelessness by providing personal stories of the people we see around us every day — wonderful people with pride, dignity and ferocious work ethics.
Reading the April newsletter reminded me of this. One story featured a middle-class citizen who lost everything because of bad luck. It made me reflect on how anyone in our society could end up in his same situation and how it doesn’t make you less valuable than any other individual.
The program believes that everyone, regardless of why they are in their financial situation, deserves housing, food and medical care.
How can people rise above poverty to become contributing members of society without shelter, food and access to proper health care?
Abra Lipton is a junior at UMass studying communication and will be interning at Amherst Community Connections this summer.