The Recap

Emily and Jason recap a powerful conversation about Desiree Vallo’s journey living with spinal muscular atrophy, and the family, cultural, and community strengths that helped her thrive.

Together, they unpack the importance of listening to parents, advocating through barriers, and seeing the whole person beyond a diagnosis.

This episode explores the intergenerational Black family as a living archive, tracing how slavery, welfare policy, and land loss fractured family lineages and wealth. It also highlights the power of fictive kin, village-based care, faith, and chosen family in preserving legacy and building resilience.

To learn more about the Parenting While Black webinar series, please go to this link:

https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/family-talk/parenting-while-black-2026/

This episode explores the history, urgency, and community roots of Black parent advocacy, from Head Start organizers to grandparents, PTAs, and long-time neighborhood advocates. It also shares practical tools for parents: documenting patterns, observing classrooms, and helping children build their own voices in school settings.

To learn more about the Parenting While Black webinar series, please go to this link:

https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/family-talk/parenting-while-black-2026/

Dr. Quinette Walton and Deutron Kebebew explore how race-related stress shapes Black parenting, from hyper-vigilance and weathering to the emotional toll carried through the whole household. They also discuss reparenting, chosen family, and radical rest as acts of healing and self-preservation.

To learn more about the Parenting While Black conversation series, please go to this link:

https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/family-talk/parenting-while-black-2026/

This episode explores black parental love as a practice of steady showing up, intentional reflection, and building environments where children can see themselves with dignity. It also unpacks the talk as an ongoing form of preparation, alongside the need for rest, beauty, art, and play as essential tools of care and survival.

To learn more about the Parenting While Black webinar series, please go to this link:

https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/family-talk/parenting-while-black-2026/