Episodes

  • Pratt Free Market Turns Libraries Into Lifelines for Kids

    Pratt Free Market Turns Libraries Into Lifelines for Kids
    Mar 19 2026
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Dr. Emil Cunningham and Eunice Na about the Pratt Free Market, a free grocery store inside the Enoch Pratt Free Library that is helping Baltimore families access food with dignity. Dr. Emil Cunningham is the executive director of the library’s Office of Equity and Fair Practice, and Na coordinates the day-to-day operations of the market. Together, they discuss how libraries are expanding beyond books to meet basic needs, why food access is critical for children’s well-being and learning, and how trusted public spaces can play a powerful role in supporting families facing food insecurity. To learn more about the Pratt Free Market, you can visit the Enoch Pratt Free Library website. 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: The Misguided Push to Abolish the Department of Education A Superintendent Speaks Out from the Front Lines of Our Public Schools Organized Abandonment: How Attacks on Public Systems Are Harming Parents and Children 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.
    Show more Show less
    30 mins
  • Suzie Hicks Believes Kids Can Help Save the Planet

    Suzie Hicks Believes Kids Can Help Save the Planet
    Mar 4 2026
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with award-winning filmmaker, author, and educator Suzie Hicks — also known as the Climate Chick — to explore how climate change shapes the world children are growing up in. Together, they discuss why climate education is often avoided, how fear and misinformation impact kids and adults alike, and what it looks like to talk honestly about the planet without overwhelming children. The conversation highlights the power of storytelling, emotional literacy, and community action in helping kids understand climate change not just as a crisis, but as a challenge they can face together. To learn more about Suzie Hicks and their work, you can visit the Suzie Hicks The Climate Chick and Sprout website, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 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: Born In The USA: The Constitution is Clear - Babies Are Citizens Born Equal: Defending The Constitutions Fourteenth Amendment For Every Baby H.R. 1 Puts Children Last: An Unprecedented Betrayal of America’s Future 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.
    Show more Show less
    38 mins
  • Wendy Cervantes Demands Better Protections for Immigrant Kids

    Wendy Cervantes Demands Better Protections for Immigrant Kids
    Feb 18 2026
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Wendy Cervantes about how immigration enforcement policies are shaping children’s daily lives, why fear and instability can have lasting developmental consequences, and what it would mean to truly center kids in immigration reform. Cervantes is the Director of the Immigration and Immigrant Families team at the Center for Law and Social Policy and co-founder of the Children Thrive Action Network. Together, Abebe and Cervantes explore the trauma many children in immigrant families experience, the ripple effects of detention and deportation on schools and communities, and the policy solutions that could better protect children’s safety, stability, and long-term well-being. To learn more about Wendy Cervantes and her work, you can visit the Center for Law and Social Policy website, the Children Thrive Action Network website, and follow her on X, and BlueSky. 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: Born In The USA: The Constitution is Clear - Babies Are Citizens Born Equal: Defending The Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment For Every Baby H.R. 1 Puts Children Last: An Unprecedented Betrayal of America’s Future 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.
    Show more Show less
    37 mins
  • Chad Bolt Exposes the Real Cost of SNAP Cuts

    Chad Bolt Exposes the Real Cost of SNAP Cuts
    Feb 4 2026
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Chad Bolt about what happens when the food safety net millions of children rely on suddenly fails, why access to nutrition is foundational to kids’ health and learning, and how political decisions can have immediate consequences for families. Bolt is Senior Vice President for Economic Security at First Focus on Children, and an anti-hunger policy expert who has worked extensively on SNAP and child nutrition programs. Together, Abebe and Bolt explore the unprecedented lapse in SNAP benefits during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, what it revealed about the fragility of food access, and why protecting nutrition programs is essential to giving kids a fair chance to grow, learn, and thrive. To learn more about Chad Bolt and his work, you can visit the First Focus on Children website. 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: Children Need Congress to Reverse the SNAP Cost Shift to States Big Ideas For Kids: A Blueprint for Building Government That Works for Children No Child Should Go Hungry: The Fight to Protect School Meals 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.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Madeline Brown Pushes for Economic Opportunity for Kids

    Madeline Brown Pushes for Economic Opportunity for Kids
    Jan 21 2026
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Madeline Brown to explore what it would mean if every child began life with a financial head start. Brown is a senior policy researcher at the Urban Institute and an expert on economic mobility, poverty reduction, and the racial and generational wealth gaps. Together, Abebe and Brown unpack the concept of baby bonds and child savings accounts, why policy design matters, and how these tools could help disrupt generational poverty. This conversation examines the realities families face when saving for their children’s futures, the growing wealth divide in the U.S., and what it would take to ensure every child enters adulthood with real opportunity — not just aspiration. To learn more about Madeline Brown and her work, you can visit the Urban Institute website, and connect with her on LinkedIn. 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: Children Need Congress to Reverse the Snap Cost Shift to States Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children Big Ideas for Kids: A Blueprint for Building Government That Works for Children 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.
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • Adriana Cadena Stands for Immigrant Families and Their Children

    Adriana Cadena Stands for Immigrant Families and Their Children
    Jan 7 2026
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Adriana Cadena about the real-life impact of immigration policies on children and families, why access to basic needs like food, health care, and stability shouldn’t depend on a parent’s immigration status, and how states can step up when the federal government falls short. Cadena is the leader of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, a national movement ensuring families get the resources they need to thrive no matter where they were born. Together, Abebe and Cadena explore the fear and trauma many children in immigrant families face, the importance of telling these stories to shift public perception, and how communities and policymakers can act to protect children and families while strengthening neighborhoods and economies. To learn more about Adriana Cadena and her work, you can visit the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition website, and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X. 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: Born In The USA: The Constitution is Clear - Babies Are Citizens Born Equal: Defending The Constitutions Fourteenth Amendment For Every Baby H.R. 1 Puts Children Last: An Unprecedented Betrayal of America’s Future 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.
    Show more Show less
    34 mins
  • Maury Mendenhall Confronts the Collapse of Global Aid for Kids!

    Maury Mendenhall Confronts the Collapse of Global Aid for Kids!
    Dec 10 2025
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Maury Mendenhall to discuss what happened when USAID - the United States Agency for International Development - was suddenly dismantled, how that decision rippled into the daily lives of children around the world, and what it means for families who lost life-saving support overnight. Mendenhall is a longtime humanitarian and former USAID leader who spent nearly two decades helping communities access food, safety, and critical HIV care. Together, Abebe and Mendenhall explore the human cost of abrupt policy change, the resilience of local partners who continue the work against all odds, and why protecting global child welfare remains urgent and essential. To learn more about Maury Mendenhall and her work, you can keep up with her emergency campaign A Crisis in Care. 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: Remembering, Reflecting, and Acting: Supporting Children Affected by HIV/AIDS What the “America First Global Strategy” Means for the World’s Children Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children 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.
    Show more Show less
    36 mins
  • Kai Kung Creates Pathways that Let Every Child Thrive

    Kai Kung Creates Pathways that Let Every Child Thrive
    Nov 26 2025
    In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Kai Kung about what it means to help every child find purpose, possibility, and pride in their future. Kung is the CEO of San Joaquin A+, a community organization reimagining what education and opportunity can look like for young people in the Central Valley of California. Together, Abebe and Kung discuss why traditional pathways don’t work for every student, how paid internships and local partnerships are opening new doors, and why listening to kids — and believing in their dreams — is the foundation for lasting change. To learn more about Kai Kung and his work, you can visit the San Joaquin A+ website, and follow him on Instagram. 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: Three Ways That The Reconciliation Bill’s School Voucher Program Hurts Public Schools Alliance For Student Liberty: How Trump’s Executive Orders Undermine Public Education Clawbacks From Education Funding Would Help Disable Department 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.
    Show more Show less
    43 mins