Growing Up in America | The Way It Is | Wednesday, October 1, 2025

On today’s episode of Growing Up in America, hosts Reagan Schneckenburg, Media Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK, and Briauna Derry, Director of Media Activism at CHILDREN AT RISK, delivered another full program of insights, data, and advocacy for children and families.

We kicked off the show with our opening segment, "Growing Pains," where Reagan shared tips for finding a job after graduation. Reagan offers practical advice for young adults navigating this significant life transition.

From there, Nirjhor Rahman, CEO, and Shellyn Shoenthal, Director of Development & Partnerships at Plant It Forward, joined us to discuss their educational programs that empower communities through urban farming and their mission.

Next, Kaylee Henry, Development and Public Relations Director at Girls’ Haven, highlighted the importance of youth advocacy and how their programs are creating safe spaces where young women can grow, thrive, and lead.

After that, we turned to our Dr. Data of the Day with Dr. Christopher Kulesza, who shared a sobering statistic: 1 in 4 children lived with at least one parent or primary caregiver who had a substance use disorder in 2023. This is a hard reminder of the challenges so many families face today.

Then, Lyn Lucas, Associate Director of Early Childhood Education at CHILDREN AT RISK, talked about the organization’s Texas Tours, where she and her team travel to surrounding cities to raise awareness about early childhood education and advocate for stronger investments in young learners across the state.

Closing out the show, Dr. Leon Battle, VP of Strategic Partnerships at One More Child, shone a light on the urgent issue of child hunger and how collective action can ensure kids have the nutrition they need to grow and learn.

From finding a first job to tackling hunger, substance use, and early education, today’s show connected the dots between real-life struggles and the solutions that help children and families thrive.

This is Growing Up in America! Where kids are always at the center of the conversation.