In this special Pride Month episode, we’re focusing on the urgent challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth in Michigan — and what it will take to protect and uplift them.

Matt is joined by Representative Emily Dievendorf (D-77) and Emme Zanotti, Senior Director of Movement Building & Political Affairs at Equality Michigan. Together, they break down the real impact of harmful legislation, the rising threats to queer youth, and the role that advocates, allies, and lawmakers must play in creating safe and affirming spaces.

This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about youth, equity, and justice.

In this episode, we explore what mental health looks like across the early years and into adolescence — and what adults need to understand to truly support kids. Matt is joined by an expert in infant and early childhood mental health (ages 0–3) and a professional working closely with middle and high school youth. Together, they unpack the signs of struggle, the systems that help (or hurt), and what it will take to create real change for young people’s mental wellness in Michigan. What does mental health look like in toddlers? What challenges are older youth facing today? What can we do to make things better?

Tune in for practical insights, honest reflections, and a better understanding of how we can all support the mental health of Michigan’s kids.

In this episode, we dive into the real-life consequences of proposed U.S. Department of Education budget cuts, specifically their impact on children with disabilities in Michigan. With guests from an Intermediate School District (ISD), the Autism Alliance of Michigan, and an agency serving people with developmental disabilities, we explore how federal education dollars currently support essential services, what’s at risk if that funding disappears, and how local communities can respond. From early intervention to IEP implementation and long-term equity concerns, our panel unpacks the cascading effects these cuts could have on students, families, and schools across the state.

In this episode, we reflect on the 2023 Michele Corey Child Advocacy Summit and the powerful moments that reminded us why youth voices must be at the center of our work. Advocacy is most effective when it’s inclusive, and we explore what it truly means to uplift the voices of those we serve.

Our Host and CEO Matt Gillard is joined by special guests from the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center and Centro Multicultural to discuss the recent changes in Immigration Enforcement and their impacts on Michigan kids and families. Tune in to hear a very timely episode from experts on the matter.

Special Guest Brian Jordan sits down with our President and CEO, Matt Gillard, to discuss the policy of reading. You might remember Brian from his days of playing for the Falcons and Braves, but since retiring, Brian has become a champion for children. Listen to this episode to learn about his foundation, living with dyslexia, and why advocating for children is important to him.

Following our recent Lunch and Learn on key child and family advocacy issues in this election, join Matt Gillard as he sits down with Charles Bruner, the director of InCK Marks and a leading voice in child policy. Together, they discuss critical issues on the ballot and explore what advocates need to prepare for—no matter the outcome in November.

On the latest episode of the Speaking for Kids podcast, host Matt Gillard interviews Dennis Niemiec, the Executive Producer of the documentary "Kiss the Babies," and India Williams, an advocate against gun violence and the inspiration behind the film. Gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., often only gaining attention after mass shootings. "Kiss the Babies" aims to highlight the everyday impact of gun violence on youth. India, a victim of gun violence, shares how her life was forever changed by a stray bullet. Tune in as Dennis and India call for increased awareness around this critical issue. Watch the 2x Emmy award-winning documentary here, https://youtu.be/QFgummOxb9g?si=Q5csd-8TwayNVQyc to delve deeper into the conversation.

Speaking for Kids host Matt Gillard, president and CEO of Michigan’s Children,

welcomes participants from Peckham - Flint’s recent “Exchange for Change” program,

the multi-week roundtable between law enforcement officers and court-involved youths.

Over four weeks, seven officers from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and

Flint Police sat down with seven youths enrolled in Peckham’s Youth Services Program

with the goal to find ways to “bridge the gap” between the community and police. They

explored difficult topics including trauma, implicit bias, policing practices, and individual

rights, and discovered a shared desire to improve their home community. In this

podcast, Matt talks with the guests about the impact the Flint Water Crisis had on youth

behavior and the distrust of authority that emerge from that environmental disaster. The

Flint cohort is the third in a series of dialogues that started with meetings between local

law enforcement and youth enrolled in Peckham’s Lansing program since the program

launched in November 2021. A fourth session is planned in the fall. The program is a

collaboration between Peckham and Michigan’s Children. Listen to it today.

Michigan's Children Speaking for Kids podcast host Matt Gillard welcomes Schools Superintendent John M. Searles, head of the Midland County Educational Service Agency, to discuss the expansion of Pre-K for All. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the expansion in light of a contentious House budget plan that would negatively impact funding to community-based child care providers in favor of those operated by intermediate school districts. Listen in to this timely conversation around the Governor's plans for universal Pre-K.