Free to Dream
What is Free to Dream
Inspiring Dreams
At American Family Insurance, we are committed to inspiring, protecting and restoring dreams. With this purpose comes the responsibility to ensure that EVERYONE has the ability and access to make their dreams possible.
Sustainable Communities
Over the next five years, we are investing $105 million as part of our Free to Dream initiative to bridge equity gaps, build healthy, sustainable communities and fight for social justice.
Empowering Communities
This commitment expands upon our ongoing corporate activism, combining our resources to heal and empower our communities. We will not stop until we are all free to dream fearlessly.
Featured Initiatives
Criminal Justice Reform
The American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact partners with organizations bringing innovative solutions to the issue of Justice Reform. Social impact investor Nyra Jordan introduces us to "fair chance hiring" — the practice of hiring people with criminal justice records — and shares four steps companies can take to make sure everyone has a shot at getting a job.
Economic Empowerment
BlocPower founder Donnel Baird shares how green energy technology can transform communities of color and build a more inclusive economy. The American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact invests in partners like BlocPower and others driving economic empowerment.
Climate Resilience
Storm Sensor founder Erin Rothman discusses the challenges and opportunities brought by climate change, and how her work helps communities building a more resilient economy. The American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact invests in partners like Storm Sensor and others creating sustainable solutions to climate change.
Bridging the Equity Gaps Through
Justice Reform
Helping people have the freedom to dream begins with creating opportunity, social equity, financial mobility and hope. This includes those impacted by the legal system.
It’s why we believe criminal justice reform is so vital — to positively affect the societal and economic outcomes of traditionally marginalized communities. It’s also why we’re passionate about creating equal access to justice — as legal services are inaccessible or unaffordable to the majority of low- and middle-income Americans.
We’re investing in community partnerships and high-impact social enterprises to limit recidivism, broaden employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated and advocate for public policy change towards a more equitable and humane justice system.
It’s why we believe criminal justice reform is so vital — to positively affect the societal and economic outcomes of traditionally marginalized communities. It’s also why we’re passionate about creating equal access to justice — as legal services are inaccessible or unaffordable to the majority of low- and middle-income Americans.
We’re investing in community partnerships and high-impact social enterprises to limit recidivism, broaden employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated and advocate for public policy change towards a more equitable and humane justice system.
Workforce Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are taking critical steps to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are a core standard in how we do business and partner with the greater community.
We’ve seen first-hand how diverse teams are more productive and innovative in an inclusive environment. We believe diversity and inclusion give us a competitive edge and help us solve customer challenges through unique perspectives, real dialogue and empathy.
Each day we stand committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture that empowers and engages our most valuable asset — our people.
We’ve seen first-hand how diverse teams are more productive and innovative in an inclusive environment. We believe diversity and inclusion give us a competitive edge and help us solve customer challenges through unique perspectives, real dialogue and empathy.
Each day we stand committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture that empowers and engages our most valuable asset — our people.
Economic Empowerment
The wealth gap in America presents barriers for Black, Indigenous, and people of color as they strive to achieve their dreams. Everyone deserves access to the skills they need for career opportunities – and the business support they need to save for their family’s future or to succeed financially through entrepreneurship.
To work towards this, we’re investing in workforce development initiatives including our own Fair Chance Hiring Program, and helping small business owners — especially BIPOC entrepreneurs—expand and hire more people.
We believe in economic empowerment for all. We have a responsibility to use American Family’s influence and resources to build a more inclusive economy.
To work towards this, we’re investing in workforce development initiatives including our own Fair Chance Hiring Program, and helping small business owners — especially BIPOC entrepreneurs—expand and hire more people.
We believe in economic empowerment for all. We have a responsibility to use American Family’s influence and resources to build a more inclusive economy.
Education & Health Equity
Equity gaps in educational experiences, a lack of access to quality and affordable care and disparate opportunities persist in America’s education and youth support systems.
Data shows that youth who experience equity in education not only build stronger, healthier families and communities – they also fuel a more diverse and inclusive workforce. It’s why we believe in funding and collaborating with equity-centered programs and social impact organizations that help young people thrive in school – and beyond.
Today we’re partnering with community organizations like MMSD ROCKiT that use innovation to solve education-based equity challenges, and investing in companies like BookNook to grow and scale impact in reading. We’re also advocating for youth through our collaboration with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association and our stewardship of student pipeline programs like gener8tor Social Impact and CEOs of Tomorrow.
Data shows that youth who experience equity in education not only build stronger, healthier families and communities – they also fuel a more diverse and inclusive workforce. It’s why we believe in funding and collaborating with equity-centered programs and social impact organizations that help young people thrive in school – and beyond.
Today we’re partnering with community organizations like MMSD ROCKiT that use innovation to solve education-based equity challenges, and investing in companies like BookNook to grow and scale impact in reading. We’re also advocating for youth through our collaboration with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association and our stewardship of student pipeline programs like gener8tor Social Impact and CEOs of Tomorrow.
Climate Resilience
Our world is witnessing an increased frequency and severity of record-setting weather events. This puts our customers and communities at risk. To enhance climate and community resilience across the country we are committed to acting now. We believe that health justice, educational justice, economic justice, and racial justice are dependent on environmental justice. Our efforts to reduce our own environmental impacts will help support a thriving and more equitable future.
We are investing to build resilience so our customers, colleagues, and communities can respond when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
We are investing to build resilience so our customers, colleagues, and communities can respond when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Our Family Portrait
Meet some of American Family’s innovators and change makers behind Free to Dream.
Bill Westrate
Chair & CEO, American Family Insurance
"This work is at the core of our DNA. For more than 90 years, American Family has invested in initiatives benefiting our society. Our role is to partner to create the foundation for health, equity and economic prosperity in our communities.”
Yasir Kamal
Inclusive Excellence Vice President, American Family Insurance
“When we encourage the authentic capabilities of our employees, we create life-changing solutions for families in our communities. That’s what diversity, equity and inclusion is really about.”
Nyra Jordan
Inclusive Excellence Vice President, American Family Insurance
“When we encourage the authentic capabilities of our employees, we create life-changing solutions for families in our communities. That’s what diversity, equity and inclusion is really about.”
John G McIntyre
Social Investment Managing Director, American Family Institute
"In the United States, we have these big gaps in different communities based on their income and other backgrounds. So we believe we can close these gaps so that we can all have great opportunities to grow as individuals and as communities and that needs to be distributed more evenly across the United States."
Working Together for Justice & Equity
The time is now to go beyond words and take deliberate and extensive action to drive profound change.