Episodios

  • Maria Davis-Pierre and Cheryl Poe Empower Black Neurodivergent Kids!

    Maria Davis-Pierre and Cheryl Poe Empower Black Neurodivergent Kids!
    Aug 6 2025
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Maria Davis-Pierre and Cheryl Poe to explore what it means to be a culturally responsive advocate for Black neurodivergent children. Both mothers and passionate advocates, Davis-Pierre is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the President & CEO of Autism in Black INC, and Poe, who holds an M.A. in Urban Education and Counseling, is the Founder and Executive Director of Advocating 4 Kids, Inc. Together, they discuss the challenges that Black families face in education and health care, the emotional toll of advocacy, and how they transformed their frustration into a movement—creating spaces where parents, professionals, and advocates can connect, stay informed, and feel empowered. To learn more about Maria Davis-Pierre’s work, visit the Autism in Black website, or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. To learn more about Cherly Poe’s work, visit the Advocating 4 Kids website, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently: Cuts to School Mental Health Funding and Threats to MEDICAID/CHIP: A Growing Crisis for Children MEDICAID, CHIP, and Budget Reconciliation: One Choice Will Save Children’s Lives MAHA Moms: What Say You? To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.
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    42 m
  • Kathryn Edwards Imagines a Better Economy for Kids!

    Kathryn Edwards Imagines a Better Economy for Kids!
    Jul 23 2025
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with economist Kathryn Edwards to unpack the economic challenges facing children and families, particularly in child care and education. Edwards is a labor economist and independent policy consultant whose research focuses on the intersection of labor markets and public policy. She joins us to break down complex economic ideas, connecting the dots between big-picture policy and everyday life. This conversation offers both practical knowledge and a sense of hope for those working to build a better economic future for children and families. To learn more about Kathryn Edwards’ work, visit kathrynanneedwards.com. You can follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Lastly, be sure to check out her podcast Optimist Economy. Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently: How H.R. 1 Will Harm Children Now and Far Into the Future Three Ways that the Reconciliation Bill’s School Voucher Program Hurts Public Schools How Funding Cuts Threaten the Future of Early Childhood Education To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.
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    38 m
  • Jered Bruzas believes fatherhood is advocacy!

    Jered Bruzas believes fatherhood is advocacy!
    Jul 9 2025
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe speaks with Jered Bruzas about the importance of engaging fathers as advocates and how their involvement can help build stronger systems for children and families. Bruzas is a father of four, a passionate community advocate, and the Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Greater Waterbury. He brings firsthand insight into the societal and systemic barriers families face, particularly in education, food insecurity, and access to opportunity. This conversation highlights the real-life impact of policy decisions — and the critical role fathers can play in creating meaningful change. To learn more about Jered Bruzas’ work with United Way of Greater Waterbury, visit unitedwaygw.org. You can follow UWGW on Instagram and Facebook. Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently: Privatizing Public School Funds: Threats to Equity, Access, and Educational Quality H.R. 1 Puts Children Last: An Unprecedented Betrayal of America’s Future How Funding Cuts Threaten the Future of Early Childhood Education To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments or thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.
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    31 m
  • Messellech Abebe believes YOU are an ambassador for kids!

    Messellech Abebe believes YOU are an ambassador for kids!
    Jul 9 2025
    Speaking of Kids is back for Season 2! Join host Messellech “Selley” Abebe as she explores what it means to be an ambassador for children — and why children’s voices, needs, and futures must be at the center of our policies and budgets. This season, you’ll hear from an inspiring lineup of guests: an economist, a librarian, a labor journalist, parents, teachers, and organizers. Together, Selley and her guests will explore their unique perspectives, name what’s broken, highlight what’s working, and share tools to help you speak up and take action. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments or thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.
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    11 m
  • #24 - Kids on The Ballot

    #24 - Kids on The Ballot
    Oct 16 2024
    In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat about the the importance of children’s issues in the upcoming election. Despite children making up over 20% of the population, children’s issues are often overlooked and ignored in policymaking. Lesley and Looby outline some of the major disparities in policies between the candidates, particularly focusing on the child tax credit, children’s health, and funding for public education. Learn more about children’s issues in the election: Blog: Children on the 2024 Ballot: Where do Harris/Walz and Trump/Vance stand? By Bruce Lesley Analysis: Project 2025, First Focus on Children staff To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    43 m
  • #23 - The Importance of the First 1000 Days, with Miriam Calderón

    #23 - The Importance of the First 1000 Days, with Miriam Calderón
    Oct 2 2024
    In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat with Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer of Zero to Three. Miriam has dedicated her life to ensuring that all children have access to essential resources such as child care, nutrition programs, and maternal health services. In today’s episode, Miriam addresses the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life and highlights the need for holistic approaches to early childhood policies, including policies that support mental health services, reproductive rights, and economic security. She also discusses the flaws of our current child care, health, and education systems, where opportunity and outcomes are often determined by zip codes. Learn more about Zero to Three’s work: Resource: Building Strong Foundations:Advancing Comprehensive Policies for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, By Zero to Three and Center for Law and Social Policy’s (CLASP) Article: Why is child care so expensive? By Zero to Three Follow Miriam Calderón on X and LinkedIn. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    47 m
  • SECOND LOOK: Who’s for Kids, and Who’s Just Kidding? with Celinda Lake

    SECOND LOOK: Who’s for Kids, and Who’s Just Kidding? with Celinda Lake
    Sep 18 2024
    In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with pollster and political strategist Celinda Lake. Lake is President and Founder of Lake Research Partners, a national public opinion and political strategy research firm. Lake walks our hosts through public polling that shows voters strongly favor investing in children and centering them in public policy. The data contradicts lawmakers’ inclination to treat children’s issues as an afterthought. Lake outlines the unique challenges facing child advocates and ways to increase public attention to the needs of children and families. To see the full results of the Lake Research Partners poll for First Focus on Children, go to https://firstfocus.org/blog/fact-sheet-voters-support-investments-in-kids. As a pollster, Lake hears every variety of opinion on contentious political issues. Yet, she’s found that Americans are more united than they seem and she’s passionate about using that information to fight the rising problem of political polarization. Be sure to check out Lake Research Partners and follow on Twitter at @celindalake and @lake_research. Lake's recent book with Ed Goaes, A Question of Respect, can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Question-RESPECT-Bringing-Together-Divided/dp/1636980406/. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Twitter: @SpeakingOfKids @BruceLesley and @First_Focus And please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family. Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    59 m
  • SECOND LOOK: Prioritizing Kids in Politics with Dr. Annie Andrews and Renee Harvey of Their Future. Our Vote PAC.

    SECOND LOOK: Prioritizing Kids in Politics with Dr. Annie Andrews and Renee Harvey of Their Future. Our Vote PAC.
    Sep 4 2024
    We are past Labor Day and just 62 days from the 2024 election and children are on the ballot. We wanted to bring back this very relevant podcast for a SECOND LOOK. In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with pediatrician and former congressional candidate Dr. Annie Andrews and political strategist Renee Harvey about their new political action committee (PAC) for children, Their Future. Our Vote. Dr. Andrews, a children’s hospital doctor, highlighted the invisibility of children in policymaking during her recent run for Congress. When the race didn’t end the way they’d hoped, Harvey and Dr. Andrews created the PAC to offer financial support to urgently needed kid-first policies, such as improving the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and child care while also opposing efforts to ban books in our public schools and libraries. Learn more about the political and policy challenges faced by children: Blog: The Invisibility of Children: The Other Form of Neglect, by Bruce Lesley Article: ​​Pediatrician launches new PAC focused on children, by Daniela Altimari Stay up to date Dr. Annie Andrews and Renee Harvey on social media. Be sure to check out their PAC website and follow them on Twitter, @HReneeHarvey, @annieandrewsmd, and @Their__Future. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Twitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_Focus And please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family. Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children to support our work and this podcast here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    50 m