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Politics & Policy

Child Watch® Column: Changing Our Racial Narrative

August 5, 2016
Bryan Stevenson, the brilliant founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, believes it’s possible to change our nation and world despite the inequality and violence that sometimes threaten to overwhelm us. He’s thought long and hard about the steps needed and believes a key to changing America’s future is changing the narrative we tell ourselves about our shared past. This is especially true about our legacy of Native American genocide, slavery and Jim Crow, and the injustices throughout our history that linger and simmer under the surface then boil over again and again. He speaks often about the urgent need to confront our historic narrative including recently to young servant leaders preparing to teach children in Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs across America.
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

Moms Aren’t Taking a Recess from Advocating for Recess

August 4, 2016
With a new school year upon us, it seems a good time to give you an update on our effort to ensure Florida's public elementary school students receive the 20 minutes of daily recess they so desperately need and deserve. While our recess bill made it through the House last session, Sen. John Legg,...
Angela Browning's picture

My Mother, My political Inspiration, My rock

August 3, 2016
Nancy Knighton, the best mom ever, a successful IT professional that did so well she was able to retire early to raise me and my brother, a breast cancer survivor, a public servant, a single mother, a super volunteer, a role model, a woman of faith, a good friend, all around one of the finest women...
Jeffrey Knighton's picture

Child Watch® Column: Our Nation’s Unfinished Business

July 22, 2016
[The summer] brought racial disorders to American cities, and with them shock, fear and bewilderment to the nation. The worst came during a two-week period in July, first in Newark and then in Detroit. Each set off a chain reaction in neighboring communities . . . What happened? Why did it happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening again?
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

I Mourn, With Hope

July 21, 2016
Today I mourn. Yesterday I mourned. I mourned for the history that has brought us to these days. I mourned for slavery, for lynching, for Rodney King to Philando Castile and everyone in between. I mourn for the officers killed in Dallas last night. I mourn for the African-American man who's heart...
Jaime Farkas's picture

Child Watch® Column: Don’t Make Our Most Vulnerable Children Wait Longer!

July 12, 2016
In an important show of bipartisanship, Congress is on the cusp of an historic step to help many of the most vulnerable children in our nation who are abused and neglected and at risk of entering foster care and lingering in group care.
Marian Wright Edelman's picture

Speak up to keep our daughters safe from female genital mutilation

July 12, 2016
I am a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM). I am also a mother. I’ve dedicated my life to ending FGM and other gender-based violence; I refuse to see my children’s peers undergo the same trauma I endured. While many consider FGM to be an international issue, it affects women and girls here...
Jaha Dukureh's picture

I’m an early childhood educator and a mom – and here’s what I wish all parents knew

July 11, 2016
** Para leer este blog en español en MamásConPoder.org , haga clic aquí : Soy una educadora de temprana edad y madre – y quiero que todo padre sepa esto As a mother of three and an early childhood educator, I’ve seen the power of high-quality early learning from both perspectives. I’ve become an...
Sonia Rivas's picture

Soy una educadora de temprana edad y madre – y quiero que todo padre sepa esto

July 11, 2016
Como una madre de tres y una educadora de temprana edad, he visto el poder del aprendizaje temprana de alta calidad de ambos perspectivas. Me he convertido a una defensora, creyente, y activista de la educación de temprana edad no solo por lo que veo en mi clase, pero también de lo que veo en casa...
Sonia Rivas's picture

Both Moms and Children Benefit from Early Learning Opportunities

July 11, 2016
Today, the majority of moms with young children are working and high-quality child care and early learning opportunities can help them support their families. Nearly two-thirds (64.2 percent) of women with children under age six are in the labor force. The evidence is clear that high-quality early...
Helen Blank's picture

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