For The Community Action New Narrative Initiative
May 2008
Imagine. It’s early February 2009, and the new President of the United
States is announcing one of his first executive orders – a high profile
initiative of his administration.
Suppose he begins his remarks with something like this:
Everyone in the United States should have an opportunity to be a full
participant in the life of the nation. Unfortunately, too many of us
remain locked out of the benefits of work, education, community
engagement and access to basic services.
This social exclusion is a significant barrier to sustained prosperity and restricts our nation’s future economic growth.
Promoting social inclusion requires a new way of governing. The United
States must rethink how policy and programs across portfolios and
levels of government can work together to combat economic and social
disadvantage.
Does this seem unlikely? It’s not. Every member of the European Union has a plan for social inclusion.
And the newly elected political leaders in Australia just announced
this initiative for that country, using the language quoted above.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP
announce the Australian Social Inclusion Board.