“It doesn’t surprise me that among the folks showing up at the 211 phone line that they are questioning the American Dream.. ‘You know it’s not part of the American Dream to call and ask for food help.’ ‘it’s not part of the American Dream to know I’m not going to be able to pay my rent.’ I think people still believe in the American Dream, and want the American Dream, I think there are more and more people being denied it by the growing income inequality. They are saying, ‘I work hard, I play by the rules, I see the corporate profits going through the roof, and I can’t get ahead.”

Chuck Sheketoff: Executive Director, Oregon Center for Public Policy

The American Dream, often characterized by prosperity and upward mobility, is a concept deeply ingrained in the nation's identity. However, for many Americans, this dream feels increasingly out of reach. A 211 phone line, a service that connects people to essential community resources, often hears callers express sentiments like, "It's not part of the American Dream to call and ask for food help," or "It's not part of the American Dream to know I'm not going to be able to pay my rent."

Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy, highlights the growing disillusionment with the American Dream among those seeking assistance. He emphasizes that people still believe in the dream but are increasingly hindered by income inequality. Despite working hard and following the rules, many individuals feel left behind as corporate profits soar.

To understand this shift, it's crucial to examine the American Dream's evolution. Historically, the dream has been associated with material acquisition and wealth accumulation. However, a more holistic interpretation is emerging, symbolized by the Pachamama movement. Originating from indigenous communities in South America, the Pachamama movement seeks to redefine the dream, emphasizing harmony with nature and community well-being over material possessions.

In the 1980s, Achuar shamans and elders in Peru and Ecuador began having visions of a grave threat to their people—the outside world's thirst for oil and its destructive impacts. Seeking a partnership with the outside world, they called for a change in the "dream of the North," the dream of the modern world. This dream, characterized by the pursuit of happiness through material acquisition, needed to be transformed.

The Achuar people and their allies advocate for a more sustainable and equitable dream, one that values community, ecological balance, and spiritual well-being. This vision challenges the traditional American Dream narrative and calls for a reevaluation of societal priorities.

The 211 phone line serves as a poignant reminder that the American Dream, as traditionally defined, remains elusive for many. By understanding the historical evolution of the dream and embracing alternative perspectives like the Pachamama movement, we can begin to rewrite the narrative and work towards a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.

“If you are coming to help us, you are wasting your time. If you are coming because you know your liberation is bound up with ours, then let us work together.”

Pachamama Alliance- "A New Dream"