In this episode, LFC’s Executive Director, Nichole Parks, and Executive Assistant, Amy White, reflect on the role intention has played in shaping their work together—and the ripples that have followed. They show that practicing intention isn’t a lofty ideal or an extra task on a to-do list, but a simple, powerful tool we can draw on in moments throughout the day—one that helps us thrive, and to create spaces where children can thrive.

Set Intention is the first step in the Mutual Learning Method’s Four-Part Facilitation Arc strategy. Used in sequence, this approach promotes equity by providing a familiar, predictable structure for conversation. Each part plays a distinct role in the larger goal of creating safe, equitable spaces where adults can share wisdom, build trust, and foster agency.

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LFC practices the groundbreaking Humanity First Model, developed by Judy Jablon, to improve early learning. The Mutual Learning Method honors the wisdom and dignity of everyone who cares for and educates our children.

Stronger Adults = Stronger Children = Stronger Communities

Learn more at leadingforchildren.org.

In this episode of the Leading for Children Podcast, Nichole Parks and Julia Connolly have an inspiring conversation with Kaylee Phillips, a dedicated Arkansas teacher of adolescents who leads with her values—modeling integrity and empowering her students to find their voices. From guiding young people to reflect on their choices to creating spaces where they feel fully seen, Kaylee is the kind of educator who makes a lasting impact.

A quote to take away: Julia shared, "We share so many values. The way we talk about them might look different, but if you break them down to their very center, they're usually about love and care and relationships."

In honor of the Month of the Military Child in April, we spotlighted two powerful voices from our Humanity First community: KiOwana Phillips, a U.S. Army Sergeant Major and mother, and Shannon Newman, a mother, military spouse, and LFC team member. Through their stories, they offer meaningful insight into what it looks like to show up for military children—fostering a sense of safety, support, and belonging in the face of their unique challenges.

A quote to take away: Shannon shared, " Resilience isn't built in isolation. It's really nurtured in relationship. And when military children are being relocated and moved, it's important that we are building that relationship and sustaining it with them."

Thanks for listening!

To learn more about Leading for Children, visit our website at leadingforchildren.org.

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from father and son duo, Jonathan and Noah Fribley, as they share the tender, yet powerful story of their relationship—its beautiful and challenging evolution over its multi-decade course.

Storytelling can be life-changing. As we express our truths and listen to those of others, we have a profound opportunity to be known, to know others more deeply, to expand our capacity for empathy, and to strengthen the foundation of wisdom that unites and activates us as a greater community.

A Quote to Take Away: Noah Fribley shared, “ You can have grand theories about how society and family should structure themselves, but at the end of the day, it's small things that make that difference. It's neighbors helping each other or family members making meals when somebody has a baby. And I think that's something that you, in particular, really modeled. You don't have to have a lot to have a big impact, and that's stuck with me.”

Thanks for listening!

To learn more about Leading for Children, visit our website at leadingforchildren.org.

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, we hear from a courageous lineup of mother-daughter duos who are deeply committed to embodying mutuality in their relationships with one another.

Each duo brings authentic moments of connection, their beautiful and messy humanity, and unique and uplifting insights into how they perceive their relationship as a partnership based on equity, kindness, empathy, respect, and a Humanity First approach.

A Quote to Take Away: Serene Stevens shared, “Having a daughter introduced a different dynamic of my reflective practice as it relates to being a mom. I get a chance to practice empowerment, and Shiloh actually helps me and encourages me to be braver.”

Thanks for listening!

To learn more about Leading for Children, or Judy Jablon’s Humanity First Model and Mutual Learning Method, visit our website at leadingforchildren.org.

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Kyson Bunthuwong, Vivian Matalon, and show producer Julia Connolly for a timely conversation about how kindness, empathy, and respect are among our greatest human strengths—and what a world grounded in these values might look and feel like.

To learn more about Leading for Children’s Humanity First Model, visit our website here.

A Quote to Take Away: Nichole shared, “I think it's very important that we don't lose ourselves and the core of who we are, and our kindness, and our humanity, when we stand up for ourselves. I want to be clear, I think now is the time we definitely should stand up. However, I think that we can always stand up with kindness.”

Thanks for listening!

Episode Notes:

In this episode of The Leading for Children Podcast, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Shannon Bracamonte, Program Operations Director at the Early Childhood Services Center at the University of New Mexico. Shannon shares about her experience bringing the Humanity First Model into her community, emphasizing how awareness of who we are and intention in how we show up in the world help us feel stronger, more connected, and more effective.

Together, they explore the central role of community in the Humanity First Model and discuss how the Mutual Learning Method supports putting these principles into practice. To learn more about Leading for Children’s Humanity First Model, visit our website here.

A Quote to Take Away: Shannon Bracamonte shared, “How do you want to be in this world and how do you want to inspire or impact others through your modeling and how you interact with them? You can interact with kindness, you can interact with respect, and we can have perspective-taking––agree to disagree and still have a connection based on this conversation—and I think that's so important.”

Thanks for listening!

In the premiere episode of The Leading for Children Podcast’s second season, show producer Julia Connolly revisits highlights from a compelling conversation in Season 1, Episode 3. Hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Leigh Sargent, Preschool Development Grant Supervisor at the Mississippi Department of Education K-12 (at the time of this recording, Leigh was the Executive Director of the Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance in the Mississippi Delta) for a discussion on the power of putting Humanity First.

Together, they explore LFC’s Humanity First Model, and dive into its core principles of connection, equity, agency. Listen in as Judy, Nichole, and Leigh discuss how centering humanity helps us realize our guiding belief that Stronger Adults = Stronger Children = Stronger Communities.

To learn more about Leading for Children’s Humanity First Model, visit our website here.

A Quote to Take Away: Leigh Sargent shared, “It’s about intentionally making decisions so that you can pour positive impact into those Children. They are our future, and if we want to change the outcome of what happens in the world, we're going to have to start pouring some humanity into our children.”

Thanks for listening!

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by Tsundzukani Whatsi, Wildlife Tracker at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. Together, they engage in a dynamic conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate actionable learning experiences, as well as how they support inspired, capable, and thriving communities for children. Tsundzukani shares how her passion for nature has driven her to overcome challenges in the field, as she has pursued a career that isn’t typical in her village, and almost unheard of for women.

Show Notes:

• LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here.
• To view photos of Tsundzukani at work as a wildlife tracker, visit our podcast episode webpage.

A Quote to Take Away:

Tsundzukani shared, “There are no female trackers in the whole of South Africa. I wanted to be one of the examples that we can do it as females. I wanted to encourage a lot of girls out there that we can do it as well. Learning something from a very young age that, at the end of the day, is going to benefit other kids — it's a big deal for me.”

Thanks for listening!

In this episode, your hosts Judy Jablon and Nichole Parks are joined by mother, wife, and LFC’s Former Chief of Staff, Gretchen Henderson, for a conversation about what it can look and feel like to have and cultivate exploratory learning experiences, and how this helps to create thriving communities for children.

Show notes: LFC's book 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children is available for purchase here.

A quote to take away: Gretchen shared, “When I think about exploratory, I think about curiosity. The big phrase for me is, 'what if?' I think about experiments - creativity, hands-on, trial and error - and especially, I think, with a little bit of risk taking."

Thanks for listening!