There are four cornerstones to The Opportunity Compact:

1. Opportunity to Thrive (Children)
   • Every child in America deserves to live a life free of poverty that includes a safe home environment, adequate nutrition, andaffordable quality health care.
   • Every child in America deserves a quality education that will prepare them to compete in an increasingly global marketplace.
2. Opportunity to Earn (Jobs)
   • Every willing adult in America should have a job that allows them to earn a decent wage and provide a reasonable standardof living for themselves and their families.
   • Every adult in America should have equal access to the resources that enhance employability and job mobility, including post secondary
     

     education and other investments in human capital.

3. Opportunity to Own (Housing)
   • Every adult in America should have access to the financial security that comes from owning a home.
4. Opportunity to Prosper (Entrepreneurship)
   • Every individual in America who possesses entrepreneurial vision, ingenuity, drive and desire should have access to theresources needed to establish and grow a viable business enterprise.

TOP TEN POLICY PRIORITIES OF THE OPPORTUNITY COMPACT

1. Opportunity to Thrive (Children)
   • Commit to mandatory early childhood education beginning at age three as well as guarantee access to college for all.
   • Close the gaps in the health insurance system to ensure universal health care for all children.
   • Establish policies that provide tools for working families to become economically self-sufficient.
2. Opportunity to Earn (Jobs)
   • Create an urban infrastructure bank to fund reinvestment in urban communities (e.g. parks, schools, roads).
   • Increase economic self-sufficiency by indexing the minimum wage to the rate of inflation and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to benefit more working families.
   • Expand “second chance” programs for high school drop outs, exoffenders
     and at-risk youth to secure GEDs, job training and employment.
3. Opportunity to Own (Housing)
   • Adopt the “Homebuyer’s Bill of Rights” as recommended by the
     National Urban League.
   • Reform public housing to assure continuing national commitment to low-income families.
4. Opportunity to Prosper (Entrepreneurship)
   • Strongly enforce federal minority business opportunity goals to
     ensure greater minority participation in government contracting.
   • Build capacity of minority business through expansion of microfinancing, equity financing and the development of strategic alliances with major corporations.