Progress 2050: New ideas for a diverse America

Paula-Raye O'Sullivan: My American story starts back in the 80s when my two grandparents immigrated from Jamaica.

Sally Streenland: All four of my grandparents came from Holland and came over to this country in Ellis Island.

Anna Soellner: My mom immigrated here in the 1960s from Japan. She was looking for an opportunity that she just couldn't find in her home country.

Erica Williams: I grew up the daughter of two African American ministers. Both of which were determined and devoted to serving low-income African American communities.

Louis Caldera: My parents are immigrants from Mexico. I was born in Texas. My parents taught me to love my country, to want to give back.

Vincent Villano: My American story is the story of my parents. They immigrated to the United States from the Philippines because they believed in the American dream.

Sam Fulwood: I was among the first students in Charlotte, North Carolina bused to desegregate the public schools there.

Vanessa Cárdenas: Change is a part of our American story, and I think that by bringing different people together that have different ideas, we come up with better solutions. I mean, that's what America is all about.

Erica Williams: Progress 2050 is a new initiative from the Center for American Progress that looks at our nation's increasing diversity and seeks to create a public policy agenda that is reflective of that rich diversity.

Vanessa Cárdenas: What we want to do is really lead by action in terms of ensuring that the larger progressive agenda really incorporates and integrates the perspectives of communities of color.

Sam Fulwood: It's an important that the progressive agenda has a really strong focus on race and communities of color because so much of our constituency comes from that community.

Neera Tanden: One of the big problems we have in our country is that so many Americans feel like the American dream isn't for them.

Louis Caldera: We really can't solve the problems that are facing our country unless we tap into the knowledge, experience, ideas, creativity…of the people who are experiencing those problems. Vanessa Cárdenas: We are based upon the principles of inclusion and diversity and the common good. And we have to do what we can to make sure those communities are part of the promise of the progressive agenda.

Anna Soellner: America is evolving. Communities of color and our American community are really one thing.

Paula-Raye O'Sullivan: It has always been the American experience to be a racially or ethnically diverse place.

Sally Streenland: This goes to the core of who we are. I think it's the thing we should be most proud of.

Michael Werz: We don't know yet what this century is going to bring, but it is absolutely clear that how you manage and integrate and deal with diversity will be the core question for any society that wants to be successful.

Neera Tanden: We need to find the policy solutions and policy answers, and ensure that every single American feels like they have a stake.

Louis Caldera: Progress 2050 means empowering them to be the change in their communities and our country.

Erica Williams: Well, in the year 2050 we'll be a majority minority country. There will be no "us." There will be no "them." We will be Americans. And it's going to be important that if we want that year to be something that is visionary, something that has opportunity for everyone, that we start working toward that now.

Vincent Villano: My vision for the year 2050 is when we all recognize our differences and we celebrate our differences, but that they're a core part of who we are as a people and as a country.

Louis Caldera: Progress 2050

Vanessa Cardenas: Progress 2050

Anna Soellner: Progress 2050

Paula-Raye O'Sullivan: New ideas

Vincent Villano: New ideas

Michael Werz: New ideas

Sam Fullwood: for a diverse America

Erica Williams: Progress 2050. New ideas for a diverse America.