BOB McKINNON

Director, the Social Mobility Lab at the City College of New York
Author of the NY Times Bestseller, Three Little Engines

Author of the forthcoming Up/Words, Bob turns the science of social mobility into practical ideas that empower young people to thrive.

BOB MCKINNON

TOPICS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

TYPE

Bob McKinnon is one of America's leading voices on social mobility, helping young people, educators, and communities better understand what it takes to build lives of opportunity and meaning. As the founding Director of the Social Mobility Lab at the City College of New York, he works at the intersection of research, storytelling, and action—translating research into practical ideas that help more people thrive.

Bob's passion for social mobility is deeply personal, having climbed from childhood poverty to professional success himself. Over the last two decades, he has collaborated with researchers, educators, philanthropies, and nonprofit leaders to make the science of opportunity more accessible and more actionable.

He is also the creator of the award-winning NPR podcast Attribution, writes the weekly Moving Up Mondays Substack newsletter, and is a New York Times best selling children’s author.

His work has been featured in The New York Times, CBS Sunday Morning, The Boston Globe, Fast Company, PBS, NPR and the Kelly Clarkson Show among others.

His forthcoming book, Up/Words: A Young Striver's Guide to a Better Life, distills decades of research and lived experience into an inspiring roadmap for young people—and for the educators and organizations committed to helping them flourish.

BOB'S PRESS KIT

Speech topics

Up/Words: A Young Strivers Guide to a Better Life

There is a growing wealth of research, perspectives and knowledge to help people move up in life - however they choose to define it. Unfortunately the people who could most use that information, don't often have access to it..

In this talk Bob translates the science of social mobility into inspiring stories and practical strategies that help young people—and those who serve them—build lives of opportunity and purpose.

"I think we can."

While the Little Engine that Could asked children to believe in themselves, (“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”), McKinnon’s new bestselling book, Three Little Engines, asks us to believe in AND help each other (“I think we can, I think we can.)

In this talk, McKinnon shares lessons, grounded in social science, that we can all take from this simple tale. From the power that comes when we reflect on our own journeys to how appreciating the different challenges other's face can inspire us to work together to get them “over the mountain” as well.

Watch this segment from CBS Sunday Morning to learn more.

How did you end up here?

Can asking one simple question change the way we forever see our world?

McKinnon takes you on his moving personal journey out of poverty to discover the surprising factors that influence who we become and the psychology behind how we see our own life. During this talk, you’ll be given the opportunity to find Your American Dream Score and reflect on the members of your own Dream Team who made your journey in life possible.

The Secrets Of Our Success

The American Dream tells us that anyone who comes here can succeed if they just work hard enough. Yet while hard work can make the dream possible, it doesn’t always mean it’s probable. Learn what a growing body of evidence is revealing about why some people “make it” while others don’t. McKinnon’s surprising findings and stories will leave you rethinking what it takes to make our dreams come true.

Keeping Our Promise for a Better World

Every generation makes a commitment to see its children lead better lives than they have and to leave the world a better place than they had inherited. Yet today’s issues are combining to create the first generation of children expected to lead shorter, unhealthier and unhappier lives than their parents. So how do we get people to engage in creating a better world? In this talk, Bob will share inspiring stories and lessons learned from his experience collaborating with well known change makers like Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter as well as everyday heroes who “put their hands in the muck and mire to create something beautiful – a better outcome.”

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION – WHAT IS YOUR AMERICAN DREAM SCORE: LIVED EXPERIENCE DIVERSITY WORKSHOP

Dig deep into your staff or team’s make-up with The American Dream Score. This research-driven assessment was designed by The Moving Up Media Lab and funded by the Ford Foundation and has already been used by more than 565,000 individuals. The brief tool examines the many people, experiences, systems, and institutions that have helped—or hindered—our path to where we are today. In this workshop, we will use these reflections to jump-start honest discussions about the role of inequality and opportunity in our lives and our work.

Half-day & long-term programs available to help your team(s) understand and work with:

• Personal histories and the key experiences, influences and moments that have brought us where we are today

• The many facilitators and obstacles that factor into how we relate to our environment and how we work toward our goals

• Tools for recognizing the effects of past experiences on both one’s own and others reactions to present circumstance

• Methods for interacting skillfully and productively across diverse backgrounds

• Strategies for capitalizing on personal and group understanding to improve productivity and outcomes

Customizable program design around the assessment allows for targeted outcomes aligned to your organizational challenges, values or goals. Some possibilities include:

• Increased understanding of diversity within the team

• Better teamwork around obstacles and challenges

• Deeper appreciation for value and experiences of team and stakeholders

• Enhanced individual capacity to identify areas for growth and improvement

• Insight into recruitment/restructuring for a more diverse staff reflecting or different experiences, skill-sets, and attitudes.

Books

Three Little Engines

A gorgeously illustrated, modern retelling of the classic The Little Engine That Could, sharing the timely message that everyone's journey is different, and that sometimes, success comes from a helping hand

America's Dreaming

From New York Times bestselling author Bob McKinnon comes a story about seeking inspiration from our past to become our best selves in the future.

America Gives Thanks

In this stand-alone companion to America’s Dreaming, New York Times bestselling author Bob McKinnon crafts a beautiful, sweeping story about the importance of speaking up for what really matters.

Actions Speak Loudest: Keeping Our Promise for a Better World

A collection of photos, one-thousand word essays, and calls to action on the compelling issues of our day, to leave the world a better place for the next generation.

Podcast

Why do some people make it, while others don’t? How do the facts of our lives differ from our perception of it? And how does our psychology shape how we view ourselves and others?

Attribution, a podcast from Bob McKinnon & The Moving Up Media Lab, asks people from all walks of life to reflect on who and what has contributed to where they ended up. Each episode encourages viewers to feel a little more inspired, grateful, or supported than when you first hit play.

Substack

Moving Up Mondays

Monday morning reflections about life. Readers tell me it’s a great way to start their week, leaving them a little more inspired, grateful and supported. Which makes me feel - well - a little more inspired, grateful and supported. SUBSCRIBE HERE.

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