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Politics & Policy

Child Watch® Column: Honoring Sojourner Truth: Courageous Warrior for Justice, Equality and Freedom for All

September 30, 2016
I was recently deeply honored to be asked by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to serve as sponsor for a Navy ship being named for Sojourner Truth, my lifelong heroine and North Star in the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice in our land.
Marian Wright Edelman's picture
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We’ve got less than 24 hours - Push to Reform Sentencing and Repair Families!

September 29, 2016
I know firsthand how harmful our country's harsh sentencing policies can be for children and families. When my father was incarcerated for a non-violent drug charge it was devastating for our family. He was a veteran with no prior criminal history, but due to our country’s harsh sentencing laws, he...
Nadia's picture

Why White Parents Need to Talk About Race

September 28, 2016
Thursday, I took my children to school and came home to cook my breakfast, to drink a reheated cup of coffee, to write in the silent safety of my home. I spent Wednesday on keyboard advocacy and deliberately teaching my kids about race. I’m white, my sons, 9 and 7, are also white. This wasn’t the...
Stephanie Lormand's picture

My Family Won't Wait

September 25, 2016
I was supposed to spend the first part of last week in Washington, D.C. coming together with women activists from around the U.S. to learn and organize so that women are poised to act and lead in this 2016-2017 election. #WeWontWait is about raising our voices to prioritize the needs of women and...
Meredith Tweed's picture

Child Watch® Column: The National Museum of African American History and Culture: Changing America’s Narrative

September 23, 2016
The September 24 opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture is the realization of a dream that’s been a very long time coming, beginning a century ago when Black leaders first proposed a memorial to Black Civil War veterans. Dr. Rex M. Ellis, the museum’s Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs, speaking to young teachers during the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)’s 2016 Freedom Schools® training, shared his hopes that the museum will help light the way for the next generation of Americans and that the museum’s vision will “change the master narrative of our nation:”
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

Two Black fathers shot dead for nothing.

September 23, 2016
Keith Lamont Scott of Charlotte, North Carolina, had been waiting in his car for his son to arrive home from school, and Terence Crutcher, of Tulsa, Oklahoma had been waiting at the side of the road after his truck stalled. Both men are now dead, wrongfully gunned down by police. Both are Black men...
Monifa Bandele's picture

Quick Action: Support workers who want to vote!

September 21, 2016
Four years ago, Regina got up early to vote before her workday started at Walmart. It ended up taking two hours to cast her ballot. Thankfully, she made it to work just in time, but voting shouldn’t be that stressful! No worker at Walmart, or any other business, should have to worry about facing a...
Felicia Burnett's picture

One Minute Justice

September 14, 2016
Recently, I addressed the NC Commission on the Administration of Law & Justice public hearing held in Wilmington, NC, advocating raising the age from 16 to 18 years old for prosecution under the adult justice system. There are only 2 states that prosecute 16- and 17-yr-olds as adults, North...
Rodney Robbins's picture

Childhood violence and the Whac-A-Mole effect

September 6, 2016
Violence is just one part of childhood trauma. So why are we focusing so much on childhood violence?
Jane Stevens's picture
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How I talked to cities about early learning

September 1, 2016
I’ve been living in the District for a few short weeks and I’ve already hit the ground running by visiting with local mayors to talk about early learning! As part of MomsRising’s Strong Start for Strong Cities initiative, my colleague and I stopped by city offices in Maryland and Virginia to show...
Abbie Gately's picture

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