Show Notes
The tour makes a virtual stop in Birmingham, where host Gloria Riviera learns how local advocates successfully lobbied lawmakers to make a historic investment in funding for both voluntary pre-k as well as initiatives that bolster the quality of early childhood education. This week we meet Catrice Pruitt, the director of programs at Childcare Resources, and Allison Muhlendorf, the executive director of the Alabama School Readiness Alliance, both of whom are leaders in movements to increase access to high-quality early childhood education in Alabama. Catrice and Allison speak with Gloria about the importance of working across the aisle to get buy-in from fiscally conservative governors and legislatures in order to improve childcare across the country. They also talk about how care is a multigenerational occupation, the importance of early brain development in children, and how advocates demonstrated that investing in child care would expand the state’s economy. Show Notes Presented by Neighborhood Villages. Neighborhood Villages is a Massachusetts-based systems change non-profit. It envisions a transformed, equitable early childhood education system that lifts up educators and sets every child and family up to thrive. In pursuit of this vision, Neighborhood Villages designs, evaluates, and scales innovative solutions to the biggest challenges faced by early childhood education providers and the children and families who rely on them, and drives policy reform through advocacy, education, and research. This season was made possible with generous support from Imaginable Futures, a global philanthropic investment firm working with partners to build more healthy and equitable systems, so that everyone has the opportunity to learn and realize the future they imagine. Learn more at www.imaginablefutures.com We also thank the Women’s Foundation of Alabama and the Prosper Foundation for their partnership and sponsorship of this event. Check out these resources from today’s episode: Visit Childcare Resources to find education resources for Alabama families and to learn about efforts to expand early childhood education. Learn about the Alabama School Readiness Alliance’s statewide work to expand access to high-quality pre-k education. Learn more about the Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s effort to support women and expand opportunities for their families. Visit the Prosper Foundation to learn more about their work in Alabama. Laugh, cry, be outraged, and hear solutions! Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nooneiscomingtosaveus. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from No One is Coming to Save Us
Every young person deserves access to high-quality education and career opportunities. But for young parents, none of that is possible without first solving for the basic need of childcare. In the sixth episode of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's series on what young people need to thrive, host Gloria Riviera talks with Bella Agee, a 21-year-old student, worker, and mom, and Quanic Fullard, Senior Associate of Family and Youth Financial Stability at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about why access to childcare sets young parents up for success – and benefits the collective good.
People are going to space for fun, yet building a supportive child care system can seem impossible. What gives? In this episode, we’re looking at the work of Neighborhood Villages, an organization that's spent nearly a decade creating the blueprint and putting into action what a truly supportive child care looks like – one that values kids and caregivers alike. From providing material goods like coats and diapers to supporting kids’ development through relational health, they’re proving that a supportive child care system isn't just achievable, it's long overdue. This series is created and produced with Neighborhood Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming child care through innovative program-building and policy design. Visit www.neighborhoodvillages.org to learn more. If you’d like to contribute to the fight for a better child care system, consider a donation to Neighborhood Villages by visiting www.neighborhoodvillages.org/donate-now. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Finding child care is too often a maze of confusion and financial strain. Families struggle to secure a spot, navigate different options, and afford care – if they can find it at all. In this episode, we talk to Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University Jeff Liebman, to break down the root causes of the child care crisis, and we hear from listeners about the ripple effects all of this has on families nationwide. Then, we imagine what a better system could look like – one that works for all families, not just the lucky few. This series is created and produced with Neighborhood Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming child care through innovative program-building and policy design. Visit www.neighborhoodvillages.org to learn more. If you’d like to contribute to the fight for a better child care system, consider a donation to Neighborhood Villages by visiting www.neighborhoodvillages.org/donate-now. To learn more about Jeff Liebman’s research, watch this presentation or check out this Harvard Kennedy School post. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
High-quality child care isn’t about fancy buildings or high-tech gadgets - it’s about relationships. Meaningful connections between caregivers and children create the foundation for great early education, no matter the setting. In this episode, we talk to early childhood expert Junlei Li to explore what truly defines high-quality early learning, the many places where children can experience it, and why paying teachers like teachers is key to sustaining quality care. We also visit a home child care in Juneau, Alaska, where exceptional early education is happening every day. This series is created and produced with Neighborhood Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming child care through innovative program-building and policy design. Visit www.neighborhoodvillages.org to learn more. If you’d like to contribute to the fight for a better child care system, consider a donation to Neighborhood Villages by visiting www.neighborhoodvillages.org/donate-now. To learn more about Junlei Li’s research, check out this webinar. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What would it mean to have child care for your kid from ages zero to five, no matter what you make, where you live, or whether or not you’re employed? The United States is one of the only countries in the world that doesn’t offer meaningful support to families. But in New York, there’s a movement daring to challenge that status quo by demanding a better system: guaranteed universal public child care. In this episode, we hear from Rebecca Bailin, Executive Director and founder at New Yorkers United for Child Care, about how her organization is fighting to make child care a reality for all children across New York state. This series is created and produced with Neighborhood Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming child care through innovative program-building and policy design. Visit www.neighborhoodvillages.org to learn more. If you’d like to contribute to the fight for a better child care system, consider a donation to Neighborhood Villages by visiting www.neighborhoodvillages.org/donate-now. To learn more about the fight for guaranteed universal public child care in New York, check out united4childcare.org. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.