Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children

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.

Join Matt Gillard, President and CEO of Michigan's Children, as he engages in a candid conversation with Jeff Cobb, Director of Government Affairs at Education Trust-Midwest, on the pressing need for equity in education funding. Delving into the Opportunity Index—a proposed funding formula inspired by successful models like Massachusetts—the discussion highlights the importance of prioritizing resources for districts serving low socioeconomic backgrounds and minority students.Gillard and Cobb advocate for increased investment in education, stressing the long-term benefits and cost savings associated with improving educational outcomes. They draw parallels between Michigan and Massachusetts' academic success, emphasizing the need for strategic investments to narrow the gap. Despite recent progress, they call for continued efforts to fully fund the Opportunity Index and double funding for English learners, setting Michigan on a path toward greater opportunity and prosperity for all.

Michigan’s Children’s Matt Gillard sits down with Jeff Capizzano, President of the Policy Equity Group, to talk frankly about Governor Whitmer’s “PreK for All” plan now that expanding free 4-year-old preschool is moving closer to becoming reality with major state funding outlined in Whitmer’s proposed FY2025 budget recommendations. They discuss the plan’s “roadmap” for quickly expanding the state-funded preschool program at no cost to families, regardless of household income, while guarding against negatively impacting enrollment counts of private-pay, community-based child care providers. 

Capizzano, whose Washington, D.C. firm was hired by the Governor's office to work on an implementation strategy, said the final recommendations represent a comprehensive strategy to better compensate early childhood educators, support the varied needs of families, and maintain viable privately owned child care businesses. He warned against “cherry picking” certain recommendations over others.

To debrief Governor Whitmer’s 2024 State of the State address,

Michigan’s Children’s Speaking for Kids Podcast Host Matt Gillard

welcomes back two veteran Lansing lobbyists who have spent their careers

working on children’s issues in Michigan. Specifically, they look at what she

plans to champion on behalf of kids & families in the second year of her

second term in office. Listen in and learn how you can raise your voice for

the issues you care about. Returning guests are Andrea M. Cascarilla,

Government Policy Advisor, Dykema; and Matt Kurta, Partner, Karoub

Associates.

In the December episode of Speaking for Kids, the Podcast, Michigan’s Children’s host Matt Gillard welcomes Gongwer News Service Managing Editor Alethia Kasben to talk about the accomplishments and shortcomings of the Michigan Legislature’s 2023 legislative year. Among big investments for kids and families were greater family tax relief through the expanded earned income tax credit, the adoption of free school meals, expanded free PreK for 4 year olds, and $50 million for afterschool programming. Also discussed were a few key issues that didn’t make it to the finish line, including paid family and medical leave. Listen or watch it today.

Michigan’s Children President & CEO Matt Gillard welcomes state Rep. Jasper Martus to the Speaking for Kids podcast to discuss efforts to advance making paid family medical leave mandatory in Michigan. The Genesee County Democrat is a point person in the House on the issue and has introduced a measure calling for an actuarial cost study to keep the issue moving forward into the new Legislative year. Lawmakers are expected to finish the current session next week without action on the promising bill hailed by family advocates including Michigan’s Children and favored by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.