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

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