In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Washington state Representative Tana Senn from Mercer Island (D-41). They discuss the Fair Start for Kids Act - the comprehensive early learning measure passed by the legislature last session, Rep. Senn's work on gender pay equity and gun control, and more.

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Sage Walund and Lauren Seaton from the Washington state chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Sage and Lauren cover everything from the stigma around mental illness to how youth are faring during the pandemic, as well as the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on youth.

Watch the League of Education Voters 2021 Virtual Event on COVID's Disproportionate Impact on Youth Now and Tomorrow: https://bit.ly/LEV2021Event

Here at League of Education Voters, we talk a lot about advocacy. In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Leah Griffin, who tells an inspiring story of advocacy. Leah took her own experience with sexual assault six years ago and turned it into a powerful story of advocacy, taking on the system, and making true and lasting change in protection for victims of sexual assault.

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Edwin Lindo, a Critical Race Theory scholar at the University of Washington. Professor Lindo addresses the controversy around Critical Race Theory, clarifying what it is and also how incredibly important it is that students learn about our true history. You can find more about him on Twitter @edwinlindo

Book recommendations from Estelita's Library:

* Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic - Critical Race Theory: An Introduction
* Paulo Freire - Pedagogy of the Oppressed
* Howard Zinn - The People's History of the United States

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey interviews Tim Burgess, who has been a policy officer, a nonprofit manager, an advertising executive, a Seattle City Councilmember, and the Mayor of Seattle. Lauri and Tim talk about his own observations about racial equity while he was a police officer in West Seattle, his passion for early learning, and why he fiercely believes in public service.

In this episode, Lauri talks to Estela Ortega, the longtime Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, a backbone of the community in Seattle. Estela talks about how she has stayed centered during the pandemic, how her organization has fared during this time and about her late husband Roberto Maestas, and their early work in creating El Centro. She also talks about the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on students of color.

El Centro de la Raza is located in the old Beacon Hill School in Seattle, creating a gathering place for Beloved Community. Read more about El Centro's historic journey: www.elcentrodelaraza.org/history-evolution

In this episode, Lauri speaks with Sean Goode of Choose 180 about how they truly make a difference in the lives of kids and give an alternative to what many call the "school-to-prison pipeline," particularly for kids of color. Sean’s organization involves the kids in making their own decisions, making commitments, and holding them accountable when they make mistakes. Choose 180 also asks us to examine how our society treats mistakes in youth and how that treatment often is disproportionate. You will be inspired by the work Sean and others do at Choose 180. Sean was inspired by the experience his own brother encountered with the juvenile justice system. Find out more about Choose 180 and Sean Goode at www.choose180.org.

In this episode, Lauri Hennessey talks to Marty Hartman, Executive Director of Mary’s Place, an organization founded on the principle that no one’s child should sleep outside. Mary’s Place provides safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children, and families on their journey out of homelessness.

Marty Hartman talks about homelessness in Seattle, the impact of COVID-19 on families living in homelessness, and what you may not know about families who experience homelessness. Marty also shares inspirational stories about families doing their best with their kids during this tough time of socially-distanced learning and living through the pandemic.

In this episode, Dr. Ben Danielson, formerly the Director of the Odessa Brown Clinic at Seattle Children’s and now with UW Medicine, talks about his personal and career journey, and his work to advance racial equity.