Speaking of Kids...

Speaking of Kids...

Who speaks for kids when lawmakers, the government, and elected officials are making decisions about their education, health and safety? You do! Children need our collective attention and voice. You’ve found Speaking of Kids…, a podcast series from First Focus on Children that examines how laws and public systems impact kids — not just in theory, but in real life. We’re here sorting out who’s actually for kids and who’s just kidding. Join our host, Messellech “Selley” Abebe, as she gathers voices from every corner of the kid-policy world: congresspeople, public health leaders, political organizers, parents, and the dogged advocates doing the hard work of imagining something better. Selley explores the ‘kid angle’ in policy and politics. What’s working? What’s not? And how can we take action to create a better future for the next generation? Listen and discover the hidden power that each of us has as an ambassador for children. We believe that kids matter. Their lives are worth protecting, their joy is worth preserving, and their futures are absolutely worth fighting for.

Episodes

August 19, 2026 • 35 mins
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 mi...
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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 tr...
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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 ...
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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 k...
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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 edu...
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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’...
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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 ...
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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 withou...
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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 ...
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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...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Madeline Brown to explore what it would mean if every child began life with a financial head start. Brown is a senior policy researcher at the Urban Institute and an expert on economic mobility, poverty reduction, and the racial and generational wealth gaps. Together, Abebe and Brown unpack the concept of baby bonds and child savings accounts, why policy design m...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Adriana Cadena about the real-life impact of immigration policies on children and families, why access to basic needs like food, health care, and stability shouldn’t depend on a parent’s immigration status, and how states can step up when the federal government falls short. Cadena is the leader of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, a national mo...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Maury Mendenhall to discuss what happened when USAID - the United States Agency for International Development - was suddenly dismantled, how that decision rippled into the daily lives of children around the world, and what it means for families who lost life-saving support overnight. Mendenhall is a longtime humanitarian and former USAID leader who spent nearly t...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Kai Kung about what it means to help every child find purpose, possibility, and pride in their future. Kung is the CEO of San Joaquin A+, a community organization reimagining what education and opportunity can look like for young people in the Central Valley of California. Together, Abebe and Kung discuss why traditional pathways don’t work for every stude...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Juana Silverio to talk about what happens when systems claim to protect kids—but don’t. Silverio is a civil rights strategist, political organizer, and leadership coach who spent years inside the federal government and now works to help others lead with alignment, honesty, and rest. By leading with rest, she emphasizes sustainable leadership, self-car...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Kate Wilson about how she’s working to keep siblings in foster care under the same roof, why stable housing is key to family bonds, and what community support can look like in action. Wilson is the founder of Foster + Heart, a grassroots movement that builds homes designed for siblings to stay together and feel a true sense of belonging. Together, Abebe and Wil...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Precious about how parents can raise confident, critical thinkers in a world shaped by artificial intelligence. They talk about why it’s important to guide kids toward curiosity instead of fear, how families can set simple guardrails around new technologies, and what it takes to help children become creators rather than just consumers of tech. Tate is a parenti...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Elisabeth Marnik, PhD about bridging the gap between science and everyday life, especially when it comes to kids’ health. Dr. Liz is a scientist, mom, and powerful science communicator who grew up in a fundamentalist, anti-science household and is now a trained immunologist translating research for everyday families. Together, Selley and Dr. Liz discuss why emp...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Tracy Kaplan about why kids deserve honest, age-appropriate news, and the importance of slowing down in a world full of misinformation. Kaplan is the creator of The Ten News, a podcast that makes current events accessible for curious kids and their families. Together, Abebe and Kaplan discuss how to navigate misinformation, why fairness is at the heart of what kids c...
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe chats with Kim Kelly about the ongoing fight against child labor, the vital role unions play in protecting families, and why labor rights are children’s rights. Kelly is a journalist, organizer, and author whose work highlights the often-overlooked struggles of young workers. Together, Abebe and Kelly explore how historical and modern labor movements have shaped protectio...
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