The recently passed American Rescue Plan Act could reduce poverty among families with children by half. How will this work, and why is it a big deal? Host Justin Milner talks with tax policy expert Elaine Maag and Gaynell Brady and M.A. Sheehan from the Lower 9th Ward Homeownership Association in New Orleans about the expansion of the child tax credit and ways to ensure all families benefit from it.

The country has now spent a year dealing with the effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic has brought an array of unprecedented challenges for public leaders. Host Justin Milner speaks with Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks, King County, Washington Executive Dow Constantine, and Pueblo, Colorado Mayor Nick Gradisar on how they worked to support their communities and how they envision the road to recovery.

Nearly a year into the pandemic, the definition of ‘giving’ has been expanding and the idea of philanthropy at multiple levels is more salient than ever. As we think about developing a culture of giving, it is important to start at the beginning and look at how we learn about charitable giving as kids. Host Justin Milner speaks with Shena Ashley, the vice president of Urban's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Alison Body, a lecturer in philanthropic studies at the University of Kent, and Amy Neugebauer, executive director and founder of The Giving Square, to discuss how children develop their philanthropic identity.

Research organizations are increasingly thinking about how to make their research more inclusive. Community-based participatory research is an approach engages people who would normally be research subjects as full partners in a research project, from beginning to end. In this episode, we will hear about a truly inclusive project called Promoting Adolescent Health and Safety, or PASS, in southeast Washington DC. You will hear from four PASS participants, facilitators Stan Hamilton and Dannielle Hamilton and Urban Institute senior research associate Elsa Falkenburger about how PASS centers lived experiences and community expertise.

Related Links: 

Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health and Safety

When Teens Are Aware and Empowered, Healthy Dating Norms Prevail

Making Their Voices Heard: Improving Research through Community Collaboration

How are American Indian tribes and Native communities faring during the COVID-19 pandemic? Host Justin Milner speaks with Lukaya Williams of the White Mountain Apache Housing Authority, Joe Cushman and Justine Capra of the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s planning and economic development department, and Nancy Pindus, senior fellow at the Urban Institute.

Related links:

• White Mountain Apache Tribe
• White Mountain Apache Housing Authority
• Nisqually Indian Tribe, Department of Planning and Economic Development
• Emerging Stronger than Before: Guidelines for the Federal Role in American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes’ Recovery from the COVID‐19 Pandemic
• Federal COVID‐19 Response Funding for Tribal Governments: Lessons from the CARES Act
• Steps States Can Take to Help Break Down Housing Barriers for Native Communities
• Four Ways to Improve Water Access in Navajo Nation during COVID-19

Technological advancements continue to redefine how the world operates. How can government take advantage of technological innovations to improve their services and help American citizens? Host Justin Milner speaks with Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America, and Urban Institute data scientist Alena Stern about how government can put real people at the center of policy design to better meet the needs of vulnerable Americans.

What happens when researchers come from the communities they study? Host Justin Milner speaks with two Latina researchers at different points in their career—one at the pinnacle, and one who is just starting her journey. Both have similar upbringings that influence their motivations and work to this day. Together, their stories show why representation in research matter.

Related links:

Latinx Communities in America

How Social Scientists Can Incorporate a “Latinx Lens” in Their Work

Marta Tienda Biography

Clara Alvarez Caraveo Biography

What role can the federal government play to ensure that all families live in neighborhoods that support their well-being and their children’s ability to thrive? Host Justin Milner discusses ideas around zoning and the Housing Choice Voucher Program with Urban researchers Solomon Greene and Martha Galvez, NYU’s Ingrid Gould Ellen, and Sarah Oppenheimer of Opportunity Insights.

Related links: Breaking Barriers, Boosting Supply: How the Federal Government Can Help Eliminate Exclusionary Zoning Taking Neighborhood Mobility to Scale through the Housing Choice Voucher Program Opportunity for All: Federal strategies to support strong and inclusive neighborhoods

Over the past decade, the number of Latino entrepreneurs increased 34 percent—compared with just 1 percent for all business owners in the US, but the pandemic may affect that growth. How might COVID-19 affect Latino entrepreneurship, and what can we do to help ensure an equitable recovery? Host Justin Milner discusses trends with Marlene Orozco, lead research analyst with the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, business owner Josh Melendez from Crossfit Be Someone, and Urban Institute researcher Jorge González.

Related Links:

Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative

The Pandemic Is Threatening Latino Entrepreneurship, but Local Leaders Can Help

Crossfit Be Someone

Measuring the Latinx "Tsunami" and Its Impact on the US

Latinx Communities in America

The dramatic shift to online learning has many families struggling to balance work and virtual learning, especially parents who aren’t able to work from home. Host Justin Milner speaks with Urban Institute researchers, Megan Gallagher and Gina Adams, and Melissa Hicks, director of the Albina-Rockwood Promise Neighborhood about how remote learning has presented major challenges for students and parents and what can be done to support working parents with school-age children.

Related Links:

Mapping Student Needs during COVID-19

For Students of Color, Remote Learning Environments Pose Multiple Challenges

Meeting the School-Age Child Care Needs of Working Parents Facing COVID-19 Distance Learning

Child Care and Feeding Young Children during the Pandemic

Finding Solutions to Support Child Care during COVID-19

Stabilizing Supports for Children and Families during the Pandemic