I’ve been thinking a lot about my aunt Vita who turned 100 years old in April
Vita who turned 100 years old in April
Vita who turned 100 years old in April she lived in Albuquerque New Mexico
she lived in Albuquerque New Mexico
she lived in Albuquerque New Mexico which is my hometown and she grew up
which is my hometown and she grew up
which is my hometown and she grew up there with her 9 younger brothers and
there with her 9 younger brothers and
there with her 9 younger brothers and sisters including my mom my grandmother
sisters including my mom my grandmother
sisters including my mom my grandmother who came from Spain and my grandfather
who came from Spain and my grandfather
who came from Spain and my grandfather who was undocumented from Mexico and
who was undocumented from Mexico and
who was undocumented from Mexico and came to work on the railroad I remember
came to work on the railroad I remember
came to work on the railroad I remember the stories of her first job after she
the stories of her first job after she
the stories of her first job after she quit school in the 8th grade to help out
quit school in the 8th grade to help out
quit school in the 8th grade to help out my grandparents she was working as a
my grandparents she was working as a
my grandparents she was working as a housekeeper for a family on the other
housekeeper for a family on the other
housekeeper for a family on the other side of the tracks
side of the tracks
side of the tracks later on she worked with her husband my
later on she worked with her husband my
later on she worked with her husband my uncle Mario in the restaurant business
uncle Mario in the restaurant business
uncle Mario in the restaurant business and they had a concession trailer where
and they had a concession trailer where
and they had a concession trailer where they sold hamburgers and hot dogs and
they sold hamburgers and hot dogs and
they sold hamburgers and hot dogs and snow cones and popcorn at the local
snow cones and popcorn at the local
snow cones and popcorn at the local Native American v Estes after my uncle
Native American v Estes after my uncle
Native American v Estes after my uncle suffered a debilitating stroke that left
suffered a debilitating stroke that left
suffered a debilitating stroke that left him completely paralyzed my aunt feet
him completely paralyzed my aunt feet
him completely paralyzed my aunt feet that dutifully took care of him for 10
that dutifully took care of him for 10
that dutifully took care of him for 10 years and after he died I remember her
years and after he died I remember her
years and after he died I remember her working at the nearby hair salon as a
working at the nearby hair salon as a
working at the nearby hair salon as a receptionist well into her 90s the best
receptionist well into her 90s the best
receptionist well into her 90s the best word to describe my aunt Vita is fierce
word to describe my aunt Vita is fierce
word to describe my aunt Vita is fierce she was a total badass in fact I have no
she was a total badass in fact I have no
she was a total badass in fact I have no doubt that in another world she would
doubt that in another world she would
doubt that in another world she would have been CEO of a fortune 500 company
have been CEO of a fortune 500 company
have been CEO of a fortune 500 company my aunt Vita passed away nine days ago
my aunt Vita passed away nine days ago
my aunt Vita passed away nine days ago on her own terms peacefully in the same
on her own terms peacefully in the same
on her own terms peacefully in the same tiny house she lived in for decades a
tiny house she lived in for decades a
tiny house she lived in for decades a child of the depression she lived a
child of the depression she lived a
child of the depression she lived a humble life but she had everything she
humble life but she had everything she
humble life but she had everything she needed and was surrounded by love and
needed and was surrounded by love and
needed and was surrounded by love and family who cared for her still I can’t
family who cared for her still I can’t
family who cared for her still I can’t help but think what growing old might
help but think what growing old might
help but think what growing old might have looked like for my aunt Vita my
have looked like for my aunt Vita my
have looked like for my aunt Vita my grandmother
grandmother
grandmother millions of other women under different
millions of other women under different
millions of other women under different circumstances what if they had been able
circumstances what if they had been able
circumstances what if they had been able to care for their children or their
to care for their children or their
to care for their children or their aging parents
aging parents
aging parents or they’re sick husbands without losing
or they’re sick husbands without losing
or they’re sick husbands without losing their jobs or what if they had access to
their jobs or what if they had access to
their jobs or what if they had access to retirement savings accounts that
retirement savings accounts that
retirement savings accounts that followed them throughout their working
followed them throughout their working
followed them throughout their working lives or what if the threat or reality
lives or what if the threat or reality
lives or what if the threat or reality of medical debt wasn’t constantly
of medical debt wasn’t constantly
of medical debt wasn’t constantly looming over them how would their lives
looming over them how would their lives
looming over them how would their lives be different I want to tell you about
be different I want to tell you about
be different I want to tell you about another woman in my life
another woman in my life
another woman in my life my mother-in-law also a badass she
my mother-in-law also a badass she
my mother-in-law also a badass she immigrated to the u.s. in the late 70s
immigrated to the u.s. in the late 70s
immigrated to the u.s. in the late 70s from the Dominican Republic as a single
from the Dominican Republic as a single
from the Dominican Republic as a single mom raising her son my husband she
mom raising her son my husband she
mom raising her son my husband she didn’t have the luxury of 529 accounts
didn’t have the luxury of 529 accounts
didn’t have the luxury of 529 accounts for his education or retirement account
for his education or retirement account
for his education or retirement account for her later years and you can forget
for her later years and you can forget
for her later years and you can forget homeownership she was busy trying to
homeownership she was busy trying to
homeownership she was busy trying to piece things together for herself her
piece things together for herself her
piece things together for herself her kids her parents her siblings and nieces
kids her parents her siblings and nieces
kids her parents her siblings and nieces and nephews and so many others in her
and nephews and so many others in her
and nephews and so many others in her community
community
community after all women are more likely than
after all women are more likely than
after all women are more likely than ever before to be the sole breadwinners
ever before to be the sole breadwinners
ever before to be the sole breadwinners and lenders of first resort in their
and lenders of first resort in their
and lenders of first resort in their families she’s 72 now and she lives
families she’s 72 now and she lives
families she’s 72 now and she lives 3,000 miles away from us in a Latino
3,000 miles away from us in a Latino
3,000 miles away from us in a Latino immigrant community in New York City
immigrant community in New York City
immigrant community in New York City called Washington Heights as she grows
called Washington Heights as she grows
called Washington Heights as she grows older I’m honestly not sure what she
older I’m honestly not sure what she
older I’m honestly not sure what she would do if we weren’t able to help out
would do if we weren’t able to help out
would do if we weren’t able to help out with her rent we’re lucky enough to be
with her rent we’re lucky enough to be
with her rent we’re lucky enough to be able to help but I know most people
able to help but I know most people
able to help but I know most people don’t have that luxury I’d like for you
don’t have that luxury I’d like for you
don’t have that luxury I’d like for you all to take a minute and think about a
all to take a minute and think about a
all to take a minute and think about a woman in your life maybe someone who’s
woman in your life maybe someone who’s
woman in your life maybe someone who’s taken care of you a mother a grandmother
taken care of you a mother a grandmother
taken care of you a mother a grandmother or a nanny a wife or a daughter now
or a nanny a wife or a daughter now
or a nanny a wife or a daughter now think about that woman in her later
think about that woman in her later
think about that woman in her later years at age 80 or 90 what do you wish
years at age 80 or 90 what do you wish
years at age 80 or 90 what do you wish for her we may all have different things
for her we may all have different things
for her we may all have different things on that list but I’m pretty sure we can
on that list but I’m pretty sure we can
on that list but I’m pretty sure we can all agree that we don’t wish for her
all agree that we don’t wish for her
all agree that we don’t wish for her be scrounging for food at food pantries
be scrounging for food at food pantries
be scrounging for food at food pantries or cleaning houses when her body can no
or cleaning houses when her body can no
or cleaning houses when her body can no longer take it or for going a critical
longer take it or for going a critical
longer take it or for going a critical health treatment because she can’t
health treatment because she can’t
health treatment because she can’t afford it she should be able to age
afford it she should be able to age
afford it she should be able to age comfortably and with dignity isn’t that
comfortably and with dignity isn’t that
comfortably and with dignity isn’t that what the so called golden years are all
what the so called golden years are all
what the so called golden years are all about anyway in our society that
about anyway in our society that
about anyway in our society that requires wealth statistically speaking
requires wealth statistically speaking
requires wealth statistically speaking the woman you’re thinking about right
the woman you’re thinking about right
the woman you’re thinking about right now is unlikely to have what she needs
now is unlikely to have what she needs
now is unlikely to have what she needs to live comfortably in her later years
to live comfortably in her later years
to live comfortably in her later years and that’s because of the woman’s wealth
and that’s because of the woman’s wealth
and that’s because of the woman’s wealth gap if she’s the average woman in the
gap if she’s the average woman in the
gap if she’s the average woman in the u.s. she earns 79 cents for every dollar
u.s. she earns 79 cents for every dollar
u.s. she earns 79 cents for every dollar earned by her male counterpart but it
earned by her male counterpart but it
earned by her male counterpart but it might shock you to know that she owns
might shock you to know that she owns
might shock you to know that she owns just 32 cents on the dollar so that
just 32 cents on the dollar so that
just 32 cents on the dollar so that means if you take all of the money she
means if you take all of the money she
means if you take all of the money she has and the value of everything she owns
has and the value of everything she owns
has and the value of everything she owns like a house or a car you put it all
like a house or a car you put it all
like a house or a car you put it all together it adds up to just one-third of
together it adds up to just one-third of
together it adds up to just one-third of what the average man has if you take all
what the average man has if you take all
what the average man has if you take all of his money and everything he owns this
of his money and everything he owns this
of his money and everything he owns this is a disturbing and often overlooked
is a disturbing and often overlooked
is a disturbing and often overlooked disparity that’s caused by sick stomach
disparity that’s caused by sick stomach
disparity that’s caused by sick stomach barriers like the tax code and
barriers like the tax code and
barriers like the tax code and traditional gender roles like the fact
traditional gender roles like the fact
traditional gender roles like the fact that women take more time outside of the
that women take more time outside of the
that women take more time outside of the workforce because they’re caring for
workforce because they’re caring for
workforce because they’re caring for family members and if you add race to
family members and if you add race to
family members and if you add race to the equation it makes this disparity
the equation it makes this disparity
the equation it makes this disparity even more disturbing if the woman that
even more disturbing if the woman that
even more disturbing if the woman that you’re thinking of is black or latina
you’re thinking of is black or latina
you’re thinking of is black or latina she owns just pennies on the dollar
she owns just pennies on the dollar
she owns just pennies on the dollar compared to white men and white women
now public policies and private
now public policies and private practices like slavery Jim Crow laws and
practices like slavery Jim Crow laws and
practices like slavery Jim Crow laws and redlining just to name a few
redlining just to name a few
redlining just to name a few have systematically shut out women and
have systematically shut out women and
have systematically shut out women and people of color from building wealth in
people of color from building wealth in
people of color from building wealth in this country and it’s worth noting that
this country and it’s worth noting that
this country and it’s worth noting that the examples of systemic discrimination
the examples of systemic discrimination
the examples of systemic discrimination are not all distant history
are not all distant history
are not all distant history it wasn’t until 1950 that domestic
it wasn’t until 1950 that domestic
it wasn’t until 1950 that domestic workers and farm workers were included
workers and farm workers were included
workers and farm workers were included in our Social Security system the
in our Social Security system the
in our Social Security system the primary government
primary government
primary government port for older Americans and it wasn’t
port for older Americans and it wasn’t
port for older Americans and it wasn’t until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that women could access credit
of 1974 that women could access credit
of 1974 that women could access credit in their own names without relying on
in their own names without relying on
in their own names without relying on their husband to co-sign on a credit
their husband to co-sign on a credit
their husband to co-sign on a credit application no matter how much money she
application no matter how much money she
application no matter how much money she made these gaps are the result of biased
made these gaps are the result of biased
made these gaps are the result of biased market forces which means this big
market forces which means this big
market forces which means this big wealth problem that we have on our hands
wealth problem that we have on our hands
wealth problem that we have on our hands isn’t about fixing people it’s about
isn’t about fixing people it’s about
isn’t about fixing people it’s about fixing systems now the bad news
fixing systems now the bad news
fixing systems now the bad news is that the problem is deeply rooted
is that the problem is deeply rooted
is that the problem is deeply rooted there are multiple and complex systems
there are multiple and complex systems
there are multiple and complex systems at play but the good news is that we’ve
at play but the good news is that we’ve
at play but the good news is that we’ve addressed the stomach and equality in
addressed the stomach and equality in
addressed the stomach and equality in our country before think about civil
our country before think about civil
our country before think about civil rights laws and women’s suffrage as
rights laws and women’s suffrage as
rights laws and women’s suffrage as examples change is possible if not
examples change is possible if not
examples change is possible if not always immediate or straightforward I
always immediate or straightforward I
always immediate or straightforward I want to just back up a bit what do I
want to just back up a bit what do I
want to just back up a bit what do I mean by wealth anyway it’s not some
mean by wealth anyway it’s not some
mean by wealth anyway it’s not some impossible standard that only the 1% of
impossible standard that only the 1% of
impossible standard that only the 1% of our society has in my professional world
our society has in my professional world
our society has in my professional world we refer to it as assets the money and
we refer to it as assets the money and
we refer to it as assets the money and things that you own minus what you owe
things that you own minus what you owe
things that you own minus what you owe so it’s really about whether your
so it’s really about whether your
so it’s really about whether your grandma has enough retirement savings to
grandma has enough retirement savings to
grandma has enough retirement savings to provide for herself in her later years
provide for herself in her later years
provide for herself in her later years without depending on the kindness of
without depending on the kindness of
without depending on the kindness of strangers or her kids who may be
strangers or her kids who may be
strangers or her kids who may be struggling with mortgages and kids of
struggling with mortgages and kids of
struggling with mortgages and kids of their own it’s about a single mom who
their own it’s about a single mom who
their own it’s about a single mom who has the resources to get her car fixed
has the resources to get her car fixed
has the resources to get her car fixed after it’s broken down so now she can
after it’s broken down so now she can
after it’s broken down so now she can get to work instead of losing her job
get to work instead of losing her job
get to work instead of losing her job and pick her kids up from school in my
and pick her kids up from school in my
and pick her kids up from school in my family it was our home which was
family it was our home which was
family it was our home which was refinanced 17 times at last count and
refinanced 17 times at last count and
refinanced 17 times at last count and was the asset that my parents leveraged
was the asset that my parents leveraged
was the asset that my parents leveraged over and over again to send all five of
over and over again to send all five of
over and over again to send all five of us to Harvard for my mother in law her
us to Harvard for my mother in law her
us to Harvard for my mother in law her wealth is the amount of money she’s able
wealth is the amount of money she’s able
wealth is the amount of money she’s able to stash away $5 here $10 there for an
to stash away $5 here $10 there for an
to stash away $5 here $10 there for an emergency or birthday presents
emergency or birthday presents
emergency or birthday presents it’s the money she used to make sure
it’s the money she used to make sure
it’s the money she used to make sure that my husband had everything he needed
that my husband had everything he needed
that my husband had everything he needed when he was growing up and that allowed
when he was growing up and that allowed
when he was growing up and that allowed him to go on to have an Ivy League
him to go on to have an Ivy League
him to go on to have an Ivy League education and a successful career
education and a successful career
education and a successful career now given the needs and challenges
now given the needs and challenges
now given the needs and challenges surrounding my mother-in-law that nest
surrounding my mother-in-law that nest
surrounding my mother-in-law that nest egg she builds up is always short-lived
egg she builds up is always short-lived
egg she builds up is always short-lived just as soon as she’s got it
just as soon as she’s got it
just as soon as she’s got it it’s gone and she has to start over
it’s gone and she has to start over
it’s gone and she has to start over again if you look up the etymology of
again if you look up the etymology of
again if you look up the etymology of wealth it comes from the middle english
wealth it comes from the middle english
wealth it comes from the middle english word welly which means well-being so I’m
word welly which means well-being so I’m
word welly which means well-being so I’m not talking about multiple mansions and
not talking about multiple mansions and
not talking about multiple mansions and financial advisors for my mother-in-law
financial advisors for my mother-in-law
financial advisors for my mother-in-law if she grows older I am talking about
if she grows older I am talking about
if she grows older I am talking about security and comfort I am talking about
security and comfort I am talking about
security and comfort I am talking about having access to the tools and supports
having access to the tools and supports
having access to the tools and supports she needs to live comfortably in her
she needs to live comfortably in her
she needs to live comfortably in her later years far too many people and
later years far too many people and
later years far too many people and women of color in particular don’t have
women of color in particular don’t have
women of color in particular don’t have access to the resources and supports
access to the resources and supports
access to the resources and supports they need to build wealth women are
they need to build wealth women are
they need to build wealth women are making less than men over their
making less than men over their
making less than men over their lifetimes and they lack tools like
lifetimes and they lack tools like
lifetimes and they lack tools like access to retirement savings accounts
access to retirement savings accounts
access to retirement savings accounts safe and affordable credit protection
safe and affordable credit protection
safe and affordable credit protection from predatory lenders unbiased
from predatory lenders unbiased
from predatory lenders unbiased financial advice at key points in their
financial advice at key points in their
financial advice at key points in their lives and tax benefits that subsidize
lives and tax benefits that subsidize
lives and tax benefits that subsidize savings and investment as a consequence
savings and investment as a consequence
savings and investment as a consequence more and more older women of color are
more and more older women of color are
more and more older women of color are aging and poverty nationally Oh
aging and poverty nationally Oh
aging and poverty nationally Oh over half of older adults are barely
over half of older adults are barely
over half of older adults are barely meeting the basic standard of living and
meeting the basic standard of living and
meeting the basic standard of living and for the remaining half many are just one
for the remaining half many are just one
for the remaining half many are just one major life event away job loss or a
major life event away job loss or a
major life event away job loss or a health crisis from plunging into poverty
health crisis from plunging into poverty
health crisis from plunging into poverty if you break it down by gender we know
if you break it down by gender we know
if you break it down by gender we know that older women are almost twice as
that older women are almost twice as
that older women are almost twice as likely to be living in poverty as older
likely to be living in poverty as older
likely to be living in poverty as older men and they make up two-thirds of the
men and they make up two-thirds of the
men and they make up two-thirds of the elderly poor if you break it down by
elderly poor if you break it down by
elderly poor if you break it down by gender and race
gender and race
gender and race we know that one-fifth of all black and
we know that one-fifth of all black and
we know that one-fifth of all black and Latina women 65 and over are living in
Latina women 65 and over are living in
Latina women 65 and over are living in poverty
poverty
poverty now here in California our older
now here in California our older
now here in California our older population is set to double over the
population is set to double over the
population is set to double over the next two decades yet our state has the
next two decades yet our state has the
next two decades yet our state has the highest poverty rate in the country for
highest poverty rate in the country for
highest poverty rate in the country for people 65 and older their median
people 65 and older their median
people 65 and older their median personal income is just over $21,000 a
personal income is just over $21,000 a
personal income is just over $21,000 a year imagine living on that amount of
year imagine living on that amount of
year imagine living on that amount of money as you grow older that’s less than
money as you grow older that’s less than
money as you grow older that’s less than five months of rents for your average
five months of rents for your average
five months of rents for your average one-bedroom apartment here in San
one-bedroom apartment here in San
one-bedroom apartment here in San Francisco and a new report just released
Francisco and a new report just released
Francisco and a new report just released in the last week shows that seniors are
in the last week shows that seniors are
in the last week shows that seniors are the largest group of borrowers in
the largest group of borrowers in
the largest group of borrowers in California that are using payday loans
California that are using payday loans
California that are using payday loans in my mind the fact that so many older
in my mind the fact that so many older
in my mind the fact that so many older adults particularly women of color are
adults particularly women of color are
adults particularly women of color are living in poverty is an outrage and
living in poverty is an outrage and
living in poverty is an outrage and that’s reason enough for addressing
that’s reason enough for addressing
that’s reason enough for addressing wealth inequality in this country but
wealth inequality in this country but
wealth inequality in this country but I’d like to offer one more reason why we
I’d like to offer one more reason why we
I’d like to offer one more reason why we should care closing this wealth gap
should care closing this wealth gap
should care closing this wealth gap helps all of us
helps all of us
helps all of us according to professors Manuel Paz
according to professors Manuel Paz
according to professors Manuel Paz thought of the University of Southern
thought of the University of Southern
thought of the University of Southern California and Chris Benner of the
California and Chris Benner of the
California and Chris Benner of the University of California Davis greater
University of California Davis greater
University of California Davis greater economic equality creates greater
economic equality creates greater
economic equality creates greater regional prosperity it lifts all of us
regional prosperity it lifts all of us
regional prosperity it lifts all of us up so closing the wage gap which is one
up so closing the wage gap which is one
up so closing the wage gap which is one of the biggest drivers of the wealth gap
of the biggest drivers of the wealth gap
of the biggest drivers of the wealth gap would cut the poverty rate in half for
would cut the poverty rate in half for
would cut the poverty rate in half for working women and their families and add
working women and their families and add
working women and their families and add nearly half a trillion dollars to our
nearly half a trillion dollars to our
nearly half a trillion dollars to our nation’s gross domestic product so
nation’s gross domestic product so
nation’s gross domestic product so really an investment in the women’s
really an investment in the women’s
really an investment in the women’s wealth gap is actually an investment in
wealth gap is actually an investment in
wealth gap is actually an investment in our national economy as well given the
our national economy as well given the
our national economy as well given the huge systemic issues that need fixing we
huge systemic issues that need fixing we
huge systemic issues that need fixing we need a broad menu of solutions to start
need a broad menu of solutions to start
need a broad menu of solutions to start tackling them on the income side we need
tackling them on the income side we need
tackling them on the income side we need to keep pushing for a living wage pay
to keep pushing for a living wage pay
to keep pushing for a living wage pay equity affordable child care and paid
equity affordable child care and paid
equity affordable child care and paid family leave and on the wealth side we
family leave and on the wealth side we
family leave and on the wealth side we can start with two things retirement and
can start with two things retirement and
can start with two things retirement and the tax code first we need to support
the tax code first we need to support
the tax code first we need to support new strategies that expand women’s
new strategies that expand women’s
new strategies that expand women’s access to retirement accounts state
access to retirement accounts state
access to retirement accounts state programs like secure choice hearing
programs like secure choice hearing
programs like secure choice hearing laughs or Nia for example that enables
laughs or Nia for example that enables
laughs or Nia for example that enables smaller employers to give their workers
smaller employers to give their workers
smaller employers to give their workers access to accounts and portable benefits
access to accounts and portable benefits
access to accounts and portable benefits which means creating a system in which
which means creating a system in which
which means creating a system in which retirement savings accounts and other
retirement savings accounts and other
retirement savings accounts and other benefits like workers comp or
benefits like workers comp or
benefits like workers comp or unemployment insurance are tied to an
unemployment insurance are tied to an
unemployment insurance are tied to an individual instead of being rigidly
individual instead of being rigidly
individual instead of being rigidly connected to an employer so that means
connected to an employer so that means
connected to an employer so that means independent contractors like your house
independent contractors like your house
independent contractors like your house cleaner or maybe the lyft driver who
cleaner or maybe the lyft driver who
cleaner or maybe the lyft driver who brought you here today could build
brought you here today could build
brought you here today could build wealth too as policymakers debate tax
wealth too as policymakers debate tax
wealth too as policymakers debate tax reform we need to keep asking the
reform we need to keep asking the
reform we need to keep asking the question who benefits if working women
question who benefits if working women
question who benefits if working women and their families don’t benefit we need
and their families don’t benefit we need
and their families don’t benefit we need to push back two-thirds of households
to push back two-thirds of households
to push back two-thirds of households many of them led by working women don’t
many of them led by working women don’t
many of them led by working women don’t itemize on their taxes which means that
itemize on their taxes which means that
itemize on their taxes which means that they don’t benefit from deductions like
they don’t benefit from deductions like
they don’t benefit from deductions like the home mortgage tax deduction working
the home mortgage tax deduction working
the home mortgage tax deduction working women and their families are much more
women and their families are much more
women and their families are much more likely to benefit from tax credits
likely to benefit from tax credits
likely to benefit from tax credits especially if they’re refundable we
especially if they’re refundable we
especially if they’re refundable we should expand things like the Earned
should expand things like the Earned
should expand things like the Earned Income Tax Credit or the child tax
Income Tax Credit or the child tax
Income Tax Credit or the child tax credit which means more money in the
credit which means more money in the
credit which means more money in the pockets of low and moderate income
pockets of low and moderate income
pockets of low and moderate income working people through reduced tax
working people through reduced tax
working people through reduced tax liability or a refund really there are
liability or a refund really there are
liability or a refund really there are many ways to start tackling this but a
many ways to start tackling this but a
many ways to start tackling this but a new national effort called closing the
new national effort called closing the
new national effort called closing the women’s wealth gap initiative led by the
women’s wealth gap initiative led by the
women’s wealth gap initiative led by the amazing Heather McCullough gives me hope
amazing Heather McCullough gives me hope
amazing Heather McCullough gives me hope that we will get there certainly not
that we will get there certainly not
that we will get there certainly not today or tomorrow but I believe that our
today or tomorrow but I believe that our
today or tomorrow but I believe that our daughters and our granddaughters will
daughters and our granddaughters will
daughters and our granddaughters will have a better chance of aging
have a better chance of aging
have a better chance of aging comfortably and with dignity at the most
comfortably and with dignity at the most
comfortably and with dignity at the most basic level wealth is really about
basic level wealth is really about
basic level wealth is really about well-being I know what I would wish for
well-being I know what I would wish for
well-being I know what I would wish for my aunt Vita my mother-in-law my mom
my aunt Vita my mother-in-law my mom
my aunt Vita my mother-in-law my mom myself I’d like for you all to go back
myself I’d like for you all to go back
myself I’d like for you all to go back to the woman that you thought about at
to the woman that you thought about at
to the woman that you thought about at the beginning
the beginning
the beginning your aunt Vita equivalent remember what
your aunt Vita equivalent remember what
your aunt Vita equivalent remember what you wanted for her later in life
the solutions to the wealth gap are big
the solutions to the wealth gap are big and messy and complex but they exist and
and messy and complex but they exist and
and messy and complex but they exist and we can all start by inserting this topic
we can all start by inserting this topic
we can all start by inserting this topic into our personal and national
into our personal and national
into our personal and national narratives right out there with jobs and
narratives right out there with jobs and
narratives right out there with jobs and health care and climate change and that
health care and climate change and that
health care and climate change and that will get us one step closer to making
will get us one step closer to making
will get us one step closer to making those later years truly golden for
those later years truly golden for
those later years truly golden for everyone thank you
everyone thank you
everyone thank you [Applause]
”
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