The Grow Kinder Podcast

In this episode, host Shauna McBride speaks with Nick Butler, artist and illustrator of Committee for Children's Captain Compassion® comic series. Nick explains how he used every design choice to carefully and intentionally craft a visual identity for Captain Compassion® and her sidekick Kid Kinder®. To create Kid Kinder, Nick took visual cues from his little brother and himself as children, making this project an intensely personal one. He tells Shauna, “When I had this opportunity with Kid Kinder to represent the Black community, I dug in. I really wanted to make sure that I was singing the praises of Black boys and Black girls, and I wanted to have the character capture that essence and really represent.” Nick and Shauna also explore how Black creators are forging new, independent paths through the media landscape, no longer relying on traditional gatekeepers to allow them a seat at the table. These stories contain lessons for anyone seeking to create or consume media that represent a diversity of identities and lived experiences. To see more of Nick's work, check out his Instagram account @turtledusttoons, or at turtledustmedia.com. Learn more about the Captain Compassion campaign at CaptainCompassion.org. Visit GrowKinderPodcast.org for more episodes of the Grow Kinder® podcast. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Take our listener survey to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast. We'd love to hear from you! Listener Survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LWN-Qn3OEkeSrzrKSxjPe1fy2tWnuMpOsq-A9xekDc9UQlNYU05BVU5WVTJPOEQyNzc0Sk0wRjJGWi4u Links to other resources from the episode: Manuel Godoy's Black Sands Entertainment https://blacksandsentertainment.com/

On this episode, host Tia Kim speaks with Vicky Rideout, one of the authors of a new report, “Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health.” The report found substantial increases in both depression and social media use among teens and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, it investigated the relationship between those two data points. Could social media be causing the rise in depression? The report suggested that, despite the common media narrative about the dangers of social media, it can be a valuable tool for connection and its effects can be both supportive and uplifting for kids. In this conversation, Vicky and Tia explore the implications of these findings and if they should change how we think about young people's digital media use. “It's really powerful to understand how eager young people are to lift one another up and support one another, whether it's online or face-to-face,” Vicky says. Read more about some of the studies mentioned in the episode: "Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health" https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ba15befec4eb7899898240d/t/604f8af03ad0e7695c9dc79f/1615825650909/Coping-with-COVID19-full-report-FINAL.pdf “Digital Health Practices, Social Media Use, and Mental Well-Being Among Teens and Young Adults in the U.S.” https://hopelab.org/research/national-survey-2018/ “Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences, 2018” https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life-2018 Visit GrowKinderPodcast.org for more episodes of the Grow Kinder® podcast. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Take our listener survey to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast. We'd love to hear from you! Listener Survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LWN-Qn3OEkeSrzrKSxjPe1fy2tWnuMpOsq-A9xekDc9UQlNYU05BVU5WVTJPOEQyNzc0Sk0wRjJGWi4u&fsw=0

In this episode, host Andrea Lovanhill speaks with Dr. Theanne Griffith, PhD, a neuroscientist and author of the children's book series The Magnificent Makers. Theanne explains how the environment of curiosity and exploration fostered by her parents helped her grow into the person she is today and influenced the work she's doing as an author and scientist. “The most important thing a scientist needs, I think, is creativity and openness and curiosity,” Theanne says. “I think any way you can foster that in your child, you're going to create a love for science.” Theanne also talks about how she showcases diverse characters in her books to increase representation for those who are underrepresented in the scientific community, such as people of color and people with disabilities. Learn more about Theanne and her book series at www.theannegriffith.com, or follow her on Twitter at @doctheagrif. Visit GrowKinderPodcast.org for more episodes of the Grow Kinder® podcast. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Take our listener survey to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast. We'd love to hear from you! Listener survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LWN-Qn3OEkeSrzrKSxjPe1fy2tWnuMpOsq-A9xekDc9UQlNYU05BVU5WVTJPOEQyNzc0Sk0wRjJGWi4u

We're back with a new mini-season of the Grow Kinder® podcast! In this teaser episode, hosts Andrea Lovanhill, Dr. Tia Kim, and Shauna McBride get together to catch up, reflect on a busy summer, and preview the conversations we'll be sharing this season. All three hosts will explore media topics, including the relationship between depression and social media use, the importance of diverse representation in children's media, and how we can foster a sense of curiosity in our kids. Also included in this episode are Andrea's take on what social-emotional learning is and what it isn't, Tia's thoughts on Squid Game, and why Shauna is reevaluating her relationship to social media. Visit GrowKinderPodcast.org for more episodes. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Take our listener survey to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast. We'd love to hear from you! Listener Survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LWN-Qn3OEkeSrzrKSxjPe1fy2tWnuMpOsq-A9xekDc9UQlNYU05BVU5WVTJPOEQyNzc0Sk0wRjJGWi4u

In this season finale of Grow Kinder®, co-hosts Andrea Lovanhill, Dr. Tia Kim, and Shauna McBride come together to explore what it really means to amplify diverse voices. They reflect on the importance of treating communities as non-monolithic entities; the positive impact of diversifying the workforce; and the power in making room for others to take center stage. We'll be back with a new season of Grow Kinder later this year. Until then, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org for more episodes from our archives. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

On this episode, host Andrea Lovanhill speaks with Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality, affordable after-school programs. At the helm of the organization, Jodi works to ensure that out-of-school-time programs not only help students stay engaged and recover from the pandemic, but also provide their families with essential supports. In this conversation, Jodi talks about the correlation between affordability and equity in summer learning programs, funding opportunities in the American Rescue Plan, the role of social-emotional learning in after-school programs, and supporting after-school staff. Learn more in the special report, “Time for a Game-Changing Summer:” http://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/ To learn more about Jodi and the Alliance, visit AfterschoolAlliance.org. For more episodes of Grow Kinder, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

In this episode of Grow Kinder®, host Dr. Tia Kim speaks with clinical psychologist and social-emotional learning researcher Dr. Mylien Duong. An accomplished researcher, Dr. Duong has been funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and the National Institutes of Health and has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and books. Dr. Duong speaks about the importance of building educators' self-awareness in equity work and how educators can use perspective-taking and equity audits to help improve DEI in education. She describes how she applies David Foster Wallace's idea of “seeing the water” to these practices. Visit the links below to learn more about the books Dr. Duong mentions in the podcast. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/653196/caste-oprahs-book-club-by-isabel-wilkerson/ How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564299/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi/ For more episodes of Grow Kinder, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

On this episode of Grow Kinder®, host Andrea Lovanhill speaks with Melanie Willingham-Jaggers (they/she), the Interim Executive Director at GLSEN, a national nonprofit that works to ensure K–12 education is safe and affirming for all students, including LGBTQIA+ youth. A lecturer at City University New York in the Master of Applied Theater program, Melanie has extensive experience in social justice organizing within and beyond the LGBTQIA+, immigrant, disabled, incarcerated, and other marginalized and intersecting communities. From 2016 to 2019, they served as board chair of The Audre Lorde Project, one of the oldest centers for community organizing for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color in the New York City area. And before joining GLSEN in 2019 as deputy executive director, they served as the program associate director of The Worker Institute at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. In this conversation, Melanie talks about the critical importance of having windows and mirrors for students, and they share their insights into how schools can create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ youth, educators, and families. You can follow Melanie on Twitter at twitter.com/themelster. To learn more about GLSEN, visit glsen.org. Visit the links below for some of the resources mentioned in this episode. LGBTQ+ Student Rights Guide: https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/LGBTQ-Student-Rights.pdf LGBTQ+ Educator Rights Guide: https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/LGBTQ-Educator-Rights.pdf “Erasure and Resilience: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color” Reports: • glsen.org/AAPI • glsen.org/black • glsen.org/latinx • glsen.org/native GLSEN 2021 Legislative Agenda • https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/2021-Legislative-Agenda-Policies-Inclusive-LGBTQ-Students-Schools_0.pdf For more episodes of Grow Kinder, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

In this episode, host Tia Kim speaks with Justina Schlund, Senior Director of Content and Field Learning at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). In her role, Justina leads the translation of CASEL's learning and expertise into content to deepen and expand social-emotional learning (SEL) knowledge across the education field. Prior to joining CASEL, Justina was the executive director of Chicago Public School's Office of Social and Emotional Learning, where she led districtwide strategies to promote the social and emotional development of all students. While at CPS, Justina also launched a districtwide initiative to build organizational commitment to addressing issues of race and equity. Justina talks with us about the connections between SEL and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. During the conversation, she addresses some common critiques of SEL in relation to DEI and provides practical recommendations for how educators, schools, and districts can effectively approach SEL and DEI. To learn more about CASEL, visit casel.org. To read more about CASEL's resources on Transformative SEL as a Lever for Equity and Social Justice, visit casel.org/research/transformative-sel. For more episodes of Grow Kinder, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

In this episode, host Shauna McBride speaks with Baionne Coleman, founding partner of the nonprofit Global Majority Consortium and CEO and principal of Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, an anti-racist middle and high school focused on dismantling systemic oppression through scholar leadership. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Baionne is a community leader who works with scholars and families to decolonize education systems and provide a safe and inviting environment for scholars and other educators. In this podcast, Baionne talks about common missteps taken by schools and organizations in approaching diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-racist work. She also discusses how educators can use social-emotional learning to better align their intentions with the impact of their actions, and how to make amends for any mistakes they make on their journeys to become anti-racist. To learn more about Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, visit myrvla.org. To learn more about Global Majority Consortium, visit globalmajorityconsortium.com. For more episodes of Grow Kinder, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

In this episode of Grow Kinder®, co-hosts Andrea Lovanhill and Shauna McBride reflect on all of the changes and challenges of the past year. They talk about how listeners can use lessons from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s foundational text "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" to approach the next school year. Andrea and Shauna also discuss how teacher diversity relates to Dr. King's concept of “the world house,” the relationship between education and social action, and the pros and cons of teachers either waiting for a DEI program to implement or taking messy action towards equity without one. For more episodes of Grow Kinder, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. You can rate and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, or Stitcher—we'd love to hear from you. And to let us know more about you and what you think of the podcast, take our listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

In this teaser episode, Committee for Children CEO Andrea Lovanhill gives listeners a sneak peek into the upcoming season of Grow Kinder and reveals two new hosts who've joined the podcast: Dr. Tia Kim, our VP of Education, Research, and Impact, and Shauna McBride, our VP of PR and Communications. New episodes begin airing next week. Listen, rate, and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or anywhere podcasts are found. To learn more, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org. And while you're there, take our listener survey and let us know what you think of the show. We'd love to hear from you! Listener survey: https://forms.office.com/r/2WttRZdfgW

In this episode of Grow Kinder®, we look back on some of the meaningful conversations that helped us through this tumultuous year and some of the moments we grew kinder. We highlight conversations with Angela Duckworth, Dr. Stephanie Hull, Dr. Monique Morris, Rachel Kamb, Anya Kamenetz, Tabatha Rosproy, and Rachel Lovan. To listen to our full conversations with these thought leaders and other experts in education, business, and the arts, visit GrowKinderPodcast.org.

October marks the start of National Bullying Prevention Month and Committee for Children's Captain Compassion® campaign to prevent bullying. Senior Research Scientist Dr. Jasmine Williams joins us on the podcast to talk about the 2020 Captain Compassion campaign, new comic strips that empower kids to stand against racially motivated cyberbullying, and the Secret Decoder Wheel contest to win a one-of-a-kind illustration with Captain Compassion herself. To read the comics, download the Secret Decoder Wheel, and learn more about the campaign, visit CaptainCompassion.org!

The Grow Kinder Podcast will be going on a short hiatus. We'll be back in the Fall with brand new conversations with leaders in education, tech, business, and the arts. Until then, you can listen to past episodes at GrowKinderPodcast.org.

As educators and families across the country get ready for back to school, we're thrilled to share this pre-pandemic conversation with Greg Lucas, from New Visions for Public Schools in New York City. As Deputy Director of School Culture and Climate, Greg oversees social-emotional learning, school safety, and restorative discipline initiatives. Whether students are returning to learning environments with in-person teaching, continuing remote instruction, or learning in a hybrid model, the culture and climate of a school community will be especially important this year. In this episode of Grow Kinder, Greg talks with us about the subtle differences between school culture and school climate, the importance of SEL for adults, and why we should never take kindness for granted.

This back-to-school episode of Grow Kinder features 2020 National Teacher of the Year, Tabatha Rosproy. A teacher with 10 years of experience, Tabatha is the first early childhood educator to be named National Teacher of the Year. She teaches an intergenerational preschool program at Winfield Early Learning Center, which is housed in Cumbernauld Village, a retirement community and nursing home in Winfield, Kansas. In her program, members of the retirement community are daily visitors and volunteers in the children's classroom. Tabatha speaks with us about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her multigenerational classroom, the importance of social-emotional learning for all age levels, and why educators should take every possible opportunity to connect with students and their families during remote instruction this fall. To learn more about Tabatha: https://ntoy.ccsso.org/tabatha-rosproy/ To follow Tabatha's journey as 2020 National Teacher of the Year, follow her on social media: https://twitter.com/TabathaRosproy https://www.facebook.com/NTOY20 https://www.instagram.com/ntoy2020/ To get a sneak peek into Tabatha's classroom at Cumbernauld Village before the pandemic, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC_xENwbjMQ

On this mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home), Andrea and Mia discuss why it's so hard to ask for help at work, at school, and at home. They also speak about a recent TED talk on the value of allowing mental health days for K–12 students, as well as their own experiences with burnout during their school years. Watch the TED talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/hailey_hardcastle_why_students_should_have_mental_health_days

This episode of Grow Kinder features a pre-pandemic conversation with Anya Kamenetz, National Public Radio (NPR) education correspondent and a host of the NPR podcast Life Kit. Anya joined NPR in 2014 as part of a new initiative to coordinate on-air and online coverage of learning. A contributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Magazine, and Slate, Anya is the author of several books, including The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life. With families physically distancing and staying inside, children are engaging in the digital world more and more. Anya talks with us about technology's effect on social-emotional learning, how her research and reporting influence her own parenting style, and common challenges for young families. To learn more about Anya's work, visit www.anyakamenetz.net.

In this mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home), Andrea and Mia discuss the importance of leaning into discomfort in conversations about race and centering the voices of the black, indigenous and POC communities. They also ask Grow Kinder listeners which experts they would like to hear from in upcoming episodes. Email suggestions to growkinder@cfchildren.org.

This mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home) features Committee for Children Director of Research Dr. Sherri Widen, PhD. She talks with us about how she became a character on The Imagine Neighborhood podcast in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, what it's like working on a creative project as a researcher, and what parents can do to help bolster kids' social-emotional skills through summer. To listen to The Imagine Neighborhood and join Dr. Sherri, P!h!D!, on some Daily Adventures, visit ImagineNeighborhood.org.

In this mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home), Andrea and Mia discuss what school might look like for kids once classrooms reopen in the fall. They also introduce two guest hosts for this special episode: Colleen Oliver, CEO of Committee for Children, and Jordan Posamentier, director of policy and advocacy at Committee for Children. Colleen and Jordan interview Mike Magee, CEO of Chiefs for Change, a nonprofit bringing the CEOs of our nation's state departments of education and city school districts together to influence the future of learning in America. A cofounder and former CEO of Rhode Island Mayoral Academies, Mike has a long history of building statewide networks of regional, diverse-by-design public charter schools and has advocated for dramatic changes to state education policy. Mike discusses how superintendents across the nation responded to the COVID-19 pandemic; a brand-new report that provides education leaders with recommendations to prepare for reopening schools this fall; and the role social-emotional learning will play as students transition back to the classroom. To learn more about Chiefs for Change, visit chiefsforchange.org. To hear more from Mike Magee, follow him on Twitter at @mcmageejr. To read the Chiefs for Change report, visit https://chiefsforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/CFC-TheReturn_5-13-20.pdf

In this mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home), hosts Mia Doces and Andrea Lovanhill discuss the joys and challenges of sheltering in place when many generations are under one roof. They talk about how their families have navigated isolating together over the past two months, whether children can parent their parents, and how they think their family relationships will be altered after the stay-at-home order is lifted.

This mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home) features Rachel Kamb, product manager at Committee for Children. Rachel discusses why social-emotional skills can be beneficial for adults, ways to practice gratitude during this difficult time, and easy ways for listeners to take care of their own wellness. To access a free, digital gratitude exercise inspired by the forthcoming Committee for Children social-emotional learning (SEL) for adults program, visit SecondStepSELA.org.

In this mini-episode of Grow Kinder (at Home), hosts Andrea Lovanhill and Mia Doces discuss their families' responses to stay-at-home orders and a recent article in The Atlantic about childhood anxiety. Andrea and Mia work through challenging questions including whether the world is more stressful now for kids, how parents can use social-emotional skills to support anxious kids during and after the pandemic, and why offering kindness and compassion to anxious children is not accommodation. To read “What Happened to American Childhood?” by Kate Julian, click here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/05/childhood-in-an-anxious-age/609079/

During COVID-19-related school closures, many educators are working harder than ever to support their kids' academic, social, and emotional learning from a distance. In honor of Teachers Appreciation Week and teachers everywhere, this mini-episode of Grow Kinder features a pre-pandemic conversation with Rachel Lovan, an elementary school teacher from rural Kentucky. Rachel is an educator with more than seven years of experience, and she believes social-emotional learning can positively transform the lives of students. Rachel talks with us about formative experiences early on in her career as a teacher, the importance of self-care in preventing teacher burnout, and what her grandmother taught her about kindness.

Hosts Andrea Lovanhill and Mia Doces announce Grow Kinder (at Home), a new series of Grow Kinder mini-episodes designed to help listeners through the dramatic changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. In each mini-episode, Andrea and Mia talk about how kindness affects their day-to-day lives while sheltering in place. They also explore how social-emotional learning and empathy can help listeners navigate crises and weather any storm.

From school closures to social distancing, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has altered our everyday lives and highlighted the significance of not only implementing public health best practices like handwashing, but also taking care of our mental health. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Grow Kinder features Committee for Children's Director of Policy and Advocacy, Jordan Posamentier. Posamentier talks with us about student mental wellness, youth suicide prevention, and how the pandemic has affected these issues. He walks us through recent data on youth suicide, how social-emotional learning can act as a protective factor, and what educators and policymakers are doing to support prevention. To learn more about how social-emotional learning can address and mitigate risk factors for youth suicide, visit https://www.cfchildren.org/policy-advocacy/sel-and-youth-suicide-prevention/. To support Posamentier's and Committee for Children's policy and advocacy work, visit https://www.cfchildren.org/policy-advocacy/. For help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free anytime by calling 800-273-8255 or texting "TALK" to 741741.

With the spread of COVID-19 and school closures, we're in a time of great uncertainty and change. But one thing remains constant: We all want to keep kids healthy and safe. This special episode of Grow Kinder features Dr. Tia Kim, Vice President of Education, Research, and Impact at Committee for Children. Dr. Kim tells us about Hot Chocolate Talk, a public awareness campaign that emboldens parents to use this extra time at home to talk with their kids about sexual abuse. She discusses some of the most effective, evidence-based ways to protect against child sexual abuse. Dr. Kim also shares how she approaches these topics with her own kids. For free resources to support you during the COVID-19 crisis, visit SecondStep.org/Covid19Support. To learn how you can talk with your kids about sexual abuse, visit HotChocolateTalk.org.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Dr. Stephanie Hull, President and CEO of Girls Inc., a national organization focused on inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Dr. Hull talks with us about helping young people “bloom where they are planted,” and about how neighborhood schools and out-of-school interventions help to cultivate talent wherever it's found. Learn more about Dr. Hull's work at https://girlsinc.org/.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Dr. Monique Morris, an award-winning author and social justice scholar with three decades of experience in the areas of education, civil rights, and juvenile and social justice. She is the Founder and President of the  National Black Women's Justice Institute (NBWJI), an organization that works to interrupt school-to-confinement pathways for girls and reduce the barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated women.  Dr. Morris talks with us about her latest book, Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues. She also discusses why exclusionary discipline is such an issue for girls of color, and how educators and parents can work together to improve conditions in schools around discipline. Dr. Morris' new book, Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues, has been called a groundbreaking and visionary call to action on educating and supporting girls of color.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Eric Liu, co-founder and CEO of Citizen University, and director of the Aspen Institute's Citizenship & American Identity Program. Eric is a leader in local and national citizen reform movements. He served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and later as the President's deputy domestic policy adviser. Eric talks with us about his new book, Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy. He also talks about his efforts to build a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship across the country. To learn more about Eric and his work, visit citizenuniversity.us.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Angela Duckworth, author of the New York Times bestseller, Grit. She is the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studies grit and self-control, and she is also the Founder and CEO  of  Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance the science and practice of character development. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, Angela has advised the White House, the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs.  Angela talks with us about the role parents play in character development, and what it means to be career ready today.   Learn more about Angela Duckworth's work at characterlab.org.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Deborah Delisle, president and CEO of the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization. The Alliance is dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school well prepared for success in college, work, and citizenship.    Deborah talks with us about making SEL equitable for underserved communities, and advice she has for educators and parents who want to get involved in policy conversations but don't know where to start.     To learn more about Deborah Delisle and the Alliance for Excellent Education, visit all4ed.org.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Elissa Salas, CEO of College Track, a comprehensive college completion program that helps students from underserved communities graduate. As a first-generation college graduate herself, Elissa has dedicated her career to improving educational outcomes for students of color from low-income communities.  Elissa talks with us about the experiences of first-generation college students, the importance of mentorship, and how social-emotional skills play a large role in a student's college success.   Visit collegetrack.org to learn more about Elissa's work.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Dr. Susan Swearer, a licensed psychologist and bullying prevention expert. Dr. Swearer is the Willa Cather professor of educational psychology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is the co-director of the Bullying Research Network, which connects bullying and peer-victimization researchers internationally. For the past two decades Dr. Swearer has developed and implemented a data-based decision-making model for responding to bullying among school-aged youth, and she's trained educators in strategies for helping reduce bullying behavior. She's authored more than 100 book chapters and articles on the topics of bullying, depression, and anxiety in school-aged youth. Dr. Swearer talks with us about what bullying is and the signs of bullying, how parents can use media as a learning tool for kids, and how social-emotional skills can help prevent bullying. Learn more about Dr. Swearer's work at the Bullying Research Network (https://cehs.unl.edu/BRNET/), part of the Nebraska Bullying Prevention And Intervention Initiative (https://cehs.unl.edu/empowerment/).

Live at the 2019 SEL Exchange Conference in Chicago, we talk with Dr. Lisa Delpit, an award-winning author, American educationalist, and MacArthur award recipient. Dr. Delpit is executive director of the Center for Urban Educational Excellence in Miami and a distinguished professor at Southern University, Baton Rouge. As an African American researcher, she's transformed the educational system for minority groups with her groundbreaking work in elementary education with a focus on language and literacy development. On this special episode, Dr. Delpit talks with us about the current state of educational equity, her advice for teaching to diverse groups of students, and the importance of social-emotional learning in student voices. Learn more about Dr. Delpit's work by reading her book "Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom" and her latest title, "Teaching When the World Is on Fire", a collection of advice for K–12 teachers on engaging students around today's toughest issues.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk to Peter DeWitt, author, keynote speaker, former K–5 principal—and a strong proponent of social-emotional learning. His blog Finding Common Ground has been featured on EdWeek since 2011. Peter runs competency-based workshops and provides keynotes nationally and internationally, focusing on collaborative leadership, inclusive school climates, and connected learning. Peter talks with us about how important it is for children to have a social-emotional connection to their education, the topics he explores in his blog at Education Week, and how mindfulness has had a significant impact on his life. Learn more about Peter's work at PeterMDewitt.com and read his blog Finding Common Ground at EdWeek.org.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, host Andrea Lovanhill talks with Scarlett Lewis, chief movement officer of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. Inspired by a note left by her son Jesse shortly before he was murdered in the Sandy Hook tragedy, Scarlett founded the organization, which advocates teaching kids social-emotional skills to help them make positive choices in challenging situations, have courageous conversations, and respond to difficult situations by “choosing love.” Scarlett talks with us about her courageous ability to overcome the unthinkable and why social-emotional learning is the answer to preventing future tragedies. Visit jesselewischooselove.org to learn more about Scarlett's work.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Dr. Mitch Prinstein, whose research on popularity and peer relations has established him as a thought leader in adolescent psychology. As director of clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mitch leads the Peer Relations Lab, which, for nearly twenty years, has studied why popularity plays a key role in childhood development and how it influences our lives as adults. We talk with Mitch about popularity in terms of likeability and status, its positive and negative impacts, and how parents can help kids navigate social dynamics in the twenty-first century. Learn more about Mitch's work and his book Popular: Finding Happiness and Success in a World That Cares Too Much About the Wrong Kinds of Relationships, at www.mitchprinstein.com.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with Karen Pittman, an award-winning sociologist who has dedicated her career to starting organizations and initiatives that promote youth development. Co-founder, president, and CEO at the Forum for Youth Investment, Karen is a recognized leader in her field whose work with the Children's Defense Fund, the Clinton administration, and America's Promise has influenced US policy in youth development and education. Karen shares with us how she became interested in youth development, what creates an optimal learning environment for children, and the power that educators have to shape how young people learn. Learn about Karen and the Forum for Youth Investment at forumfyi.org

On this episode of Grow Kinder, host Andrea Lovanhill is joined by special guest host Joan Cole Duffell, executive director at Committee for Children. Together they chat with Dr. Maurice Elias, professor of psychology at Rutgers University, about his work in social-emotional learning (SEL), which spans over four decades. As director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab, Dr. Elias has made SEL the foundation of his research, clinical studies, and advocacy work, all of which support students' emotional intelligence, school success, and social-emotional and character development. Learn more about the Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab at secdlab.org and read Dr. Elias's blog posts on the George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia website at edutopia.org.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with General Craig McKinley, commissioner of the Aspen Institute National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development and former president of the Air Force Association. A four-star general with a record of youth advocacy, McKinley discusses how he became involved in social-emotional development, SEL's role in the military, and A Nation at Hope, the Institute's latest report on how a growing movement dedicated to the social, emotional, and academic well-being of children is changing lives across the nation. Learn more about the Aspen Institute's work at aspeninstitute.org and A Nation at Hope at nationathope.org.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we talk with 2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning, an English language learning educator for immigrant and refugee students at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, WA. Both frank and inspiring, Manning shares her thoughts on being an ambassador for U.S. culture, building community in the classroom, and how small acts of kindness influence her approach to teaching. Learn more about Mandy's work at mandymanning.com or follow along on social media.

On this episode of Grow Kinder, we sit down with Maya Enista Smith, executive director of Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, for a conversation about improving the mental well-being of young people through evidence-based programming. Smith gets candid about what drew her to a career in community-building, her first meeting with Lady Gaga, and the power of young people to make change.

The Grow Kinder podcast is live! To kick off our 40th anniversary, Committee for Children has launched a first-of-its-kind, SEL-centric podcast hosted by Mia Doces and Andrea Lovanhill. Grow Kinder features conversations with thought leaders in education, business, tech, and the arts who all have one thing in common: a dedication to growing kinder and helping others do the same.