On Wednesday, President Obama addressed the National Urban League, reaffirming his commitment to building stronger communities by standing up for middle-class families and small business owners.

“For nearly a century, the National Urban League has been inspiring people of every race and religion and walk of life to reach for the dream at the heart of our founding: the promise that no matter who you are, or what you look like, or where you came from, America is the place where you can make it if you try. That idea—that everybody should have a fair shot—is what has driven the Urban League. That idea—that everyone should have an equal opportunity—is what brought me to Chicago. That belief—that this country works best when we are growing a strong middle class and broad-based prosperity—is what led me to into politics. And it is those values that have guided every decision I’ve made as President of the United States.

“But we still have so much more to do. There are still too many out of work, too many homes underwater, and too many Americans struggling to stay afloat. So, the greater challenge that faces us is that we can’t just settle for getting back to where we were a decade ago. Our task is to return to an America that is thriving and growing from the middle class out; where hard work pays off and you can make it if you try. We also believe that every entrepreneur should have the chance to start a business—no matter who you are, or what you look like. That’s why we’ve helped African-American businesses and minority-owned businesses gain access to more than $7 billion in contracts and financing that’s allowing them to grow and create jobs. …we have made it our mission to make a higher education more affordable for every American who wants to go… That’s why we’ve fought to make college more affordable for an additional 200,000 African American students by increasing Pell Grants. That’s why we’ve strengthened this nation’s commitment to our community colleges, and to our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. That’s why tomorrow, I’m establishing the first-ever White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

“Now is not a time for cynics or doubters. Now is the time for believers. I still believe in you. And if you still believe in me, I ask you to stand with me. I ask you to march with me. I ask you to fight with me. And if you do, I promise you—we will turn this economy around, we will seize the future once more, and we will remind the world why the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth.

President Obama is asking you to stand with him to keep moving forward—will you be the next?

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Find full remarks of President Obama’s address to the National Urban League here.