This Upward Mobility Framework Project website gives you the opportunity access resources and guidance to support the acceleration of programs and policies that increase upward mobility and racial equity.

If you’re primarily interested in the research underpinning the project, we recommend spending time with the Upward Mobility Framework, visiting our Evidence Resource Library, and reading our blog posts. If you’re curious about implementation, be sure to consult our planning guide for local action and mobility action plans, and explore our mobility metrics data tables. For the latest from our experts, check out our blog page.

Upward Mobility Framework

The Upward Mobility Framework is designed to capture the conditions within a community that profoundly shape people’s opportunity to achieve upward mobility. The framework outlines

• the three interconnected, mutually reinforcing dimensions that define meaningful and sustainable mobility from poverty;
• five essential pillars of support that families and individuals need to achieve economic success, power, and dignity; and
• 24 evidence-based factors that predict upward mobility and the corresponding metrics a community can use to assess its efforts to help improve the lives of people struggling to make ends meet.

See the framework.

Evidence Resource Library

This is the hub for the evidence about the predictive factors—such as income, housing stability, and access to transportation—that influence upward mobility over the course of people’s and families’ lives. Our resource library explains each predictive factor, how it affects people’s lives, and how local and state actors can address and improve the predictor to boost upward mobility.

Visit the library.

Planning Guide for Local Action

This step-by-step guide can help local leaders better understand impediments to upward mobility and racial equity and build a cross-sector team that can plan, advocate for, and implement a set of systems changes focused on bringing all members of their community out of poverty and creating more equitable outcomes.

Explore the planning guide.

Mobility Metrics Data Tables

Designed to help local leaders in every county and over 450 cities in the United States, communities can use this suite of metrics along with the Planning Guide for Local Action as they work to develop a strategic plan for upward mobility and monitor progress over time.

Explore the data tables.

Glossary

Visit our glossary to better understand the shared language we are using in our work, our blog posts, evidence library materials, and publications.

Refer to our working definitions.

Methodology

Here is where you can find out more about Urban’s approach for developing and defining the Upward Mobility Framework and the Evidence Resource Library.

Learn about our methods.

Blog

Visit our blog, where we feature lessons learned from cohort counties’ experiences and unpack tools and guidance for applying mobility metrics and putting evidence into practice.

Read about what we’re learning.

Mobility Action Plans

Visit this section to learn more about the priorities and strategies developed by the Upward Mobility Cohort’s participating counties. This set of Mobility Action Plans outline ways local governments can identify community-driven strategies and tailor actions through cross-sector partnerships.

Learn about the Mobility Action Plans.