Randi Schmidt

I am the Executive Director of the Children's Leadership Council. I
have 17 years of legislative and advocacy experience, including
experience analyzing, researching and advocating for public policies. My
experience includes serving a Legislative Aid for Congresswoman Gwen
Moore (D-WI) and working for a variety of research and advocacy
organizations.

Having worked on public policy at all levels of government, and having
worked at a YWCA, I understand the link between federal, state, and
local policies and programs, as well as, how potential changes in these
policies and programs may affect women, children and families.

Blog Post List

Families & The Federal Budget

April 25, 2016

I grew up in a family that was long on challenges and short on money. To be frank, my parents were both alcoholics and had untreated mental health issues, and we didn’t have much money after my dad lost his job in the 1980’s and we moved to a small town in rural MN. Because of where I have been, and what I have been through, however, I find that I am an eternal optimist when it comes to the resilience, strength and potential in children and youth who grow up in difficult situations, whether it is abuse, poverty, or drug and alcohol addicted parents. I am also an eternal optimist that there...

MomsRising Together

Blog Carnivals Families & The Federal Budget

October 20, 2015

Dear women nationwide, My name is Randi Schmidt. I am a child advocate who is writing to every woman who, as a child, lived through economic hardships such as hunger, a parent losing their job, falling ill or dying, or whose family struggled to get by paycheck-to-paycheck. I ask you to remember who and what helped you when you were young and to speak out for the solutions that can help give all of our nation’s children the best opportunities today and for their future. I am asking you this for a very personal reason. Like many of you, I grew up during a recession. Specifically, I grew up...

MomsRising Together

Childcare & Early Education Health Care MomsVote Family Economic Security

March 20, 2013

Years ago, I attended an event on economic policy where now-Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), was speaking. After the event, I introduced myself to him and shared that I was a former Hill staffer. I told him that, while I disagreed with nearly everything he had said regarding economic policy, I knew from a mutual friend that he was still a good guy. His response was pure Paul Ryan: he threw his head back and laughed. That was the day I joined the Paul Ryan Fan Club. While I don’t agree with him on policy issues, any elected official who can laugh with a...

MomsRising Together

Main menu

Blog Topics Nav

Badges

Blog Post List

When It Comes To Our Nation’s Children, Actions Speak Louder than Words

An Open Letter to Women Nationwide

Why I Like Paul Ryan, But Not His Budget