Speaking of Kids...

In this Season 2 finale of Speaking of Kids, host Mesellech Abebe revisits the question that quietly connects every conversation this season: when the world feels confusing or frightening, who and what can kids still trust? Through highlights from earlier episodes, Selley brings together Tracy Kaplan of The Ten News on helping kids navigate misinformation, Dr. Liz Marnik on why relationships — not just facts — change minds, Wendy Cervantes on how immigration fears reach into schools and immigrant families, and climate educator Suzy Hicks on telling kids hard truths without fear or shame. Across it all, one theme emerges: kids are paying close attention, they see through what's fake, and what they need from the adults around them isn't perfection — it's honesty.

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

Kym Johnson, CEO of Bananas, and Jamaica Sowell, Director of Programs at Roots Community Health, join host Mesellech Abebe on Speaking of Kids to discuss their Oakland partnership supporting families from pregnancy through the early years. Instead of asking parents to navigate child care, health care, and community support as separate systems, they're building a model where the systems connect themselves. The conversation covers trust-based home visiting, addressing Black maternal and infant health disparities, meeting families without shame, and why community-based organizations should see themselves as anchor institutions worth sustainable, structural funding.

To learn more about Bananas and their services, go to bananasbunch.org. Follow them on social media @BananasBunch on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

To learn more about Roots Community Health and their services, go to rootscommunityhealth.org. Follow them on social media on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe speaks with three educators from across the country—a middle school visual arts teacher in South Central Los Angeles, a high school physical education teacher in rural Ohio, and a veteran English teacher in a large urban district in Connecticut—about what kids are experiencing inside and outside the classroom today. Each teacher brings a distinct perspective shaped by their community, school environment, and years of experience working closely with students. Together, they explore the realities shaping modern childhood, including rising mental health concerns, the impact of cell phones and social media, shifting school policies, and the growing sense of disconnection many students feel despite being constantly “connected.” This conversation highlights how educators are responding on the front lines, and what they believe is most urgently needed to better support students. 

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:

Alliance for Student Liberty: How the ECCA Hurts Public Schools and Benefits the Wealthy

The Heist: How the Powerful Are Robbing America’s Children

Saying ‘No’ to Culture Wars, Crumbs, or Capitulation: Building a Child Advocacy Movement

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe speaks with Shamika Bradley, a consultant in AI accessibility and ethics, about the hidden systems shaping kids’ digital lives. Bradley works at the intersection of technology, policy, and equity, helping organizations understand how data, algorithms, and design choices impact real people – especially children. Together, Abebe and Bradley explore how today’s kids are growing up in environments driven by algorithms, what parents and policymakers often misunderstand about screen time and online safety, and why the real risks go beyond what’s visible on the surface. The conversation highlights the importance of transparency, digital literacy, and “kids-first” design, while offering practical ways families can stay engaged, informed, and empowered in a rapidly changing digital world. 

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:

Alliance for Student Liberty: How the ECCA Hurts Public Schools and Benefits the Wealthy

The Heist: How the Powerful Are Robbing America’s Children

Saying ‘No’ to Culture Wars, Crumbs, or Capitulation: Building a Child Advocacy Movement

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Arnie Fege about what it means to protect public education, why schools remain one of the most important public institutions in a democracy, and how policy decisions shape the daily realities of children and families. Fege is a long-time advocate for public schools and children’s rights in education, with decades of experience working at the intersection of education policy and equity. Together, Abebe and Fege explore what happens when public schools are under-resourced, why access and opportunity cannot depend on geography or income, and how communities can stay rooted in solidarity to ensure every child has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

To learn more about Arnie Fege and his work, you can visit this website.

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:

A Superintendent Speaks Out from the Front Lines of Our Public Schools

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

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

 In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Matthew Henderson and Olga Grays about New Mexico’s historic move to make child care free for all families. Henderson is the Executive Director of the OLÉ Education Fund, and Grays is a leader with the organization as well as a veteran child care provider and social worker. Together, they explore the years of advocacy that led to this change in the state’s constitution, the challenges of putting universal child care into practice, and the ways it strengthens children, parents, and early educators alike. The conversation highlights the transformative impact of accessible child care, the dedication of caregivers, and how public policy can shape stronger, healthier communities for the next generation. 

To learn more about Olé New Mexico and their work, you can follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. 

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:

The State of the Union: Leaving Children and Families Behind

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 
To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Dr. Emil Cunningham and Eunice Na about the Pratt Free Market, a free grocery store inside the Enoch Pratt Free Library that is helping Baltimore families access food with dignity. Dr. Emil Cunningham is the executive director of the library’s Office of Equity and Fair Practice, and Na coordinates the day-to-day operations of the market. Together, they discuss how libraries are expanding beyond books to meet basic needs, why food access is critical for children’s well-being and learning, and how trusted public spaces can play a powerful role in supporting families facing food insecurity. 

To learn more about the Pratt Free Market, you can visit the Enoch Pratt Free Library website.

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:

A Superintendent Speaks Out from the Front Lines of Our Public Schools

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with award-winning filmmaker, author, and educator Suzie Hicks — also known as the Climate Chick — to explore how climate change shapes the world children are growing up in. Together, they discuss why climate education is often avoided, how fear and misinformation impact kids and adults alike, and what it looks like to talk honestly about the planet without overwhelming children. The conversation highlights the power of storytelling, emotional literacy, and community action in helping kids understand climate change not just as a crisis, but as a challenge they can face together.

To learn more about Suzie Hicks and their work, you can visit the Suzie Hicks The Climate Chick and Sprout website, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

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:

Born In The USA: The Constitution is Clear - Babies Are Citizens

Born Equal: Defending The Constitutions Fourteenth Amendment For Every Baby

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Wendy Cervantes about how immigration enforcement policies are shaping children’s daily lives, why fear and instability can have lasting developmental consequences, and what it would mean to truly center kids in immigration reform. Cervantes is the Director of the Immigration and Immigrant Families team at the Center for Law and Social Policy and co-founder of the Children Thrive Action Network. Together, Abebe and Cervantes explore the trauma many children in immigrant families experience, the ripple effects of detention and deportation on schools and communities, and the policy solutions that could better protect children’s safety, stability, and long-term well-being.

To learn more about Wendy Cervantes and her work, you can visit the Center for Law and Social Policy website, the Children Thrive Action Network website, and follow her on X, and BlueSky.

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:

Born In The USA: The Constitution is Clear - Babies Are Citizens

Born Equal: Defending The Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment For Every Baby

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. 

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Chad Bolt about what happens when the food safety net millions of children rely on suddenly fails, why access to nutrition is foundational to kids’ health and learning, and how political decisions can have immediate consequences for families. Bolt is Senior Vice President for Economic Security at First Focus on Children, and an anti-hunger policy expert who has worked extensively on SNAP and child nutrition programs. Together, Abebe and Bolt explore the unprecedented lapse in SNAP benefits during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, what it revealed about the fragility of food access, and why protecting nutrition programs is essential to giving kids a fair chance to grow, learn, and thrive.

To learn more about Chad Bolt and his work, you can visit the First Focus on Children website. 

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:

Children Need Congress to Reverse the SNAP Cost Shift to States

Big Ideas For Kids: A Blueprint for Building Government That Works for Children

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.