Podcasts about first focus

Two staunch child advocates, Bruce Lesley of First Focus on Children and Phoebe Boyer of Children's Aid, talk about the detrimental impact of poverty on children and the crucial role of social safety nets and nonprofit organizations in mitigating this harm.“Every aspect of the life of a child is negatively impacted by poverty. It impacts their health, their education, their early childhood, their nutrition, their housing situation, and also abuse and neglect,” Lesley states. “I look at every child that comes into our programs as having incredible potential, and there are all these barriers in their way, and our job is to remove those barriers,” says Boyer. Both guests stress that all of us have a role to play in protecting children against proposed changes and cuts to safety net programs that threaten kids' wellbeing and ability to thrive.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's epsiode of ASEAN Speaks our host Thilan dives deeper into our Singapore Strategy amidst tariff uncertainty, highlighting 40 stocks that we have screened with more than 50% of revenue derived in the domestic market.Eric Ong, one of our analysts comes on the show to talk about Raffles Medical being a local champion, explaining his upgraded target price and some catalysts for the stock.Hussaini also comes along having published a preview on Sea Limited and Grab Holdings highlighting their relatively shielded position from tariff uncertainty and explaining his bear case sensitivity analysis in case the tariff war escalates.Edited by Xuan Hao, Dion, Bruce

Leslie is joined by Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children, a bipartisan advocacy organization working to make children the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. With policy experts in the many areas that affect our nation's more than 70 million children, First Focus on Children offers thorough, bipartisan, achievable solutions to ensure the well-being of children in the U.S. and around the world. The two discuss how the budget resolution recently passed by House Republicans would force hundreds of billions of dollars in funding cuts to Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), which would decimate their ability to deliver health care to the more than 37 million children they currently serve.  Medicaid and CHIP currently cover:     - 80% of children living in poverty     - 42% of all children under 6     - Over 40% of births in the U.S.     - Nearly half of the 13 million U.S. children with special health care needs     - 99% of children in foster care     - More than 40% of children in rural and underserved communities     - One-third of all school-age children (5-18 years old) Taking support away from children's health through Medicaid/CHIP cuts is a prescription for disaster that will:     - Force states to cut services, eligibility, or provider payments that directly affect children     - Create significant financial pressure on children's hospitals and pediatric specialty providers that depend heavily on Medicaid/CHIP     - Threaten school-based health services that rely on support from Medicaid/CHIP     - Jeopardize mental health and developmental services for children     - Hit hardest in rural and underserved areas, exacerbating existing health disparities You can read more about why the cuts would be so disastrous here: https://firstfocus.org/update/prescription-for-disaster-the-impact-of-proposed-medicaid-and-chip-cuts-on-childrens-health/ The website for First Focus on Children is FirstFocus.org and their handle on BlueSky is @FirstFocus.bsky.social.  Bruce's handle there is @BruceLesley.bsky.social.

3.30 First Focus by First Baptist Church, Zeeland

In 1916, the National Institution for Moral Instruction had a contest to see who could come up with the best morality code. For kids. Evolving views on childhood, child labor laws, patriotism, and eugenics influenced this effort. Research: “$5000 Prize Winners Announced Oct. 1” Dean Bennion in Race.” Daily Utah Chronicle. April 23, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/289878324/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%22%20winner “93 Virtues Make the Perfect Man.” Tulsa World. Dec. 22, 1919. https://www.newspapers.com/image/884436330/?match=1&terms=Iowa%20%22character%20education%22%20 Brimi, Hunter. “Academic Instructors or Moral Guides? Moral Education in America and the Teacher’s Dilemma.” The Clearing House, vol. 82, no. 3, 2009, pp. 125–30. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30181093 Character Education Inquiry. “Studies in the nature of Character.” New York. Macmillan. 1928. https://archive.org/details/studiesinnatureo0001char/page/n7/mode/2up “Character Education Methos Research.” Atlanta Constitution. Sept. 30, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/26907400/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22 “The Children’s Morality Code.” Virginia Teacher. March 1924. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2194&context=va-teacher “College Professors and Others in All States Take Part in Contest to Decide Best Method of Character Building in the Growing Generation.” Washington Post. March 4, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/28849374/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22 Davis, Emily C. “Why Children Lie.” Springfield Daily Republican. May 20, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1062989775/?match=1&terms=%22Character%20Education%20Inquiry%22 “Dean Competes in $5000 Contest.” Daily Utah Chronicle. Nov. 23, 1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/289875150/?match=1&terms=%22National%20Morality%20Codes%20Competition%22 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF EDUCATION. “Character Education.” REPORT OF THECOMMITTEE ON CHARACTER EDUCATION OFTHE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. Washington Government Printing Office. 1926. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED541955.pdf “Educational Body Offers Big Prize.” New Britain herald. April 4, 1922. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1922-04-04/ed-1/seq-12/ “Efficiency Methods Applied to Task of Codifying Ethics.” Times Herald. Jan. 27, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/79883841/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22 “Educating Body Offers Big Prize.” New Britain Herald. April 04, 1922. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1922-04-04/ed-1/seq-12/ Fairchild, Stephen G. “Character education in the United States.” University of Georgia, PhD Dissertation. Mary Frances Early College of Education. 2006. https://esploro.libs.uga.edu/esploro/outputs/doctoral/Character-education-in-the-United-States/9949334479002959 Hartshorne, H., & May, M. A. (1930). A Summary of the Work of the Character Education Inquiry. Religious Education, 25(7), 607–619. https://doi.org/10.1080/0034408300250702 Hutchins, William J. “The 5,000 Prize Code of Morals for Children.” The Mahoning Dispatch. September 13, 1918. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028473/1918-09-13/ed-1/seq-4/ Jackson, Allison. “THE CHARACTER EDUCATION WORK OF MILTON FAIRCHILD: A PRISM FOR EXPLORING THE DEBATE BETWEEN LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES AND CONSERVATIVE PROGRESSIVES IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.” Notre Dame of Maryland University. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/character-education-work-milton-fairchild-prism/docview/2125417636/se-2 “Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916).” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/keating-owen-child-labor-act “New Statement of Old Principles.” Democrat and Chronicle. April 4, 1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/135312787/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22 “The plans of the Interstate Character Education Method … “ Kansas Teacher. April 1, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/390015780/?match=1&terms=%22Character%20education%20methods%22 “VERIFIED AND REVISED CHILDREN’S MORALITY CODE.” The Journal of Education, vol. 100, no. 5 (2491), 1924, pp. 130–32. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42750282 “What a Child Should Do in a Moral Emergency.” Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 21, 1916. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045389/1916-05-21/ed-1/seq-49/ Yarrow, Andrew L. “History of U.S. Children’s Policy, 1900-Present.” First Focus. April 2009. https://firstfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Childrens-Policy-History.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fr. Mark interviews Ken and Mary Anne Duppong, parents of Michelle Duppong, a remarkable Catholic laywoman whose life of faith and service is now being considered for sainthood. Michelle served as a campus minister with FOCUS, guiding college students in their faith, and later as the Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Bismarck. Despite passing away from cancer at just 31, her legacy of holiness and joy continues to inspire many. Learn more about her extraordinary story in this moving episode!

With the holidays and year-end reflections upon us, it's the perfect time to reassess our focus. This episode discusses the balance between pursuing personal goals and seeking God's will and how putting him first can transform not just our hearts but our lives. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that will challenge you to realign your priorities and live with purpose!Matthew 6:33Matthew 6Matthew 6:24Mark 2:15-17Genesis 3:5,6Ecclesiastes 1:2,3John 3:16Luke 19:10Song: Lauren Daigle~ First You can now also WATCH C.L.! That's right: C.L. is also recording The Nonmicrowaved Truth on video! Just go to our Time of Grace video site (timeofgrace.org/TV), search for the Time of Grace app on your devices, or watch on C.L.'s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmL7jUfMBm0FKV-I0Op_Vg or on Time of Grace's YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Hcyk5JAbout "The Nonmicrowaved Truth":How fast do you have to have "IT"? Our culture tells us to find a microwave to speed up the process. C.L. Whiteside, a man who sees and hears multiple perspectives through his life of coaching sports, serving in education, and attempting to conform to Christ, searches for the nonmicrowaved truth. C.L. gets that what's cool and acceptable now, may not be cool and acceptable tomorrow—and most importantly, may not be what's best.Hit up C.L. on social media:- Twitter or Instagram: @ChampionLife23- TikTok: @clwhiteside 

In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat about the the importance of children's issues in the upcoming election. Despite children making up over 20% of the population, children's issues are often overlooked and ignored in policymaking. Lesley and Looby outline some of the major disparities in policies between the candidates, particularly focusing on the child tax credit, children's health, and funding for public education. Learn more about children's issues in the election:Blog: Children on the 2024 Ballot: Where do Harris/Walz and Trump/Vance stand? By Bruce Lesley Analysis: Project 2025, First Focus on Children staffTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat with Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer of Zero to Three. Miriam has dedicated her life to ensuring that all children have access to essential resources such as child care, nutrition programs, and maternal health services. In today's episode, Miriam addresses the importance of the first 1000 days of a child's life and highlights the need for holistic approaches to early childhood policies, including policies that support mental health services, reproductive rights, and economic security. She also discusses the flaws of our current child care, health, and education systems, where opportunity and outcomes are often determined by zip codes. Learn more about Zero to Three's work: Resource: Building Strong Foundations:Advancing Comprehensive Policies for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, By Zero to Three and Center for Law and Social Policy's (CLASP) Article: Why is child care so expensive? By Zero to Three Follow Miriam Calderón on X and LinkedIn. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with pollster and political strategist Celinda Lake. Lake is President and Founder of Lake Research Partners, a national public opinion and political strategy research firm.Lake walks our hosts through public polling that shows voters strongly favor investing in children and centering them in public policy. The data contradicts lawmakers' inclination to treat children's issues as an afterthought. Lake outlines the unique challenges facing child advocates and ways to increase public attention to the needs of children and families.To see the full results of the Lake Research Partners poll for First Focus on Children, go to https://firstfocus.org/blog/fact-sheet-voters-support-investments-in-kids. As a pollster, Lake hears every variety of opinion on contentious political issues. Yet, she's found that Americans are more united than they seem and she's passionate about using that information to fight the rising problem of political polarization. Be sure to check out Lake Research Partners and follow on Twitter at @celindalake and @lake_research. Lake's recent book with Ed Goaes, A Question of Respect, can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Question-RESPECT-Bringing-Together-Divided/dp/1636980406/. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids @BruceLesley and @First_Focus And please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are past Labor Day and just 62 days from the 2024 election and children are on the ballot. We wanted to bring back this very relevant podcast for a SECOND LOOK. In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with pediatrician and former congressional candidate Dr. Annie Andrews and political strategist Renee Harvey about their new political action committee (PAC) for children, Their Future. Our Vote. Dr. Andrews, a children's hospital doctor, highlighted the invisibility of children in policymaking during her recent run for Congress. When the race didn't end the way they'd hoped, Harvey and Dr. Andrews created the PAC to offer financial support to urgently needed kid-first policies, such as improving the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and child care while also opposing efforts to ban books in our public schools and libraries.Learn more about the political and policy challenges faced by children: Blog: The Invisibility of Children: The Other Form of Neglect, by Bruce LesleyArticle: ​​Pediatrician launches new PAC focused on children, by Daniela AltimariStay up to date Dr. Annie Andrews and Renee Harvey on social media. Be sure to check out their PAC website and follow them on Twitter, @HReneeHarvey, @annieandrewsmd, and @Their__Future. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children to support our work and this podcast here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a courageous leader? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 17. I've titled this chapter "Battling Giants." So far, we have the battle scene. In today's text, David will head out to battle. As I read, I want you to notice David's curiosity. Let's read 19-30: Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him." Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?" And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before. — 1 Samuel 17:19-30 Verse 26 is an incredible first declaration from David. Surrounded by men paralyzed by fear, he issues a rhetorical question followed by a declaration of contempt. It is not a question that was meant to be answered. It was a statement of disbelief that no one had responded and that a reward was required to rally them when Goliath had offended God. David's courage is curious, controlled, and concerned about the things of God. The contrast between David and every man on this battlefield is profound. Every other man is paralyzed by a giant, while David is compelled by God. His courage is so great that the men are confused about it, his brothers are angry about it, and the king will hear about it. Courageous leadership does not involve mustering moral strength to defend one's beliefs. Instead, courageous leadership is an act of faith based on trust in God despite threats or apparent danger. David epitomizes this. And so should we. To develop courageous faith like David had, consider these two practical steps: First | Focus on God's Perspective, Not the Size of the Challenge. David's courage came from his unwavering trust in God. Instead of focusing on the size of your problems, focus on the greatness of God. Remind yourself of God's power and past faithfulness. This perspective will encourage you to face challenges head-on, knowing God is with you. Second | Take Bold Action Rooted in Faith. David's faith led him to take decisive action. We must move our faith into bold action, build courageous leadership, and deepen our trust in God. #CourageousLeadership, #FaithOverFear, #DavidVsGoliath Ask This: How can you shift your focus from the size of your challenges to the greatness of God in your current situation? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of God's power and faithfulness? In what areas of your life is God calling you to take bold action rooted in faith, similar to David's approach with Goliath? How can you step out in courage to lead with conviction and trust in God's guidance? Do This: See God's perspective, act in faith, and be courageous. Pray This: Lord, grant me the courage to face my giants with unwavering faith, just as David did. Help me focus on Your power and take bold action rooted in trust, knowing that You are with me every step. Amen. Play This: Courageous.

On the Labor Day Special from CBS News Radio hosted by Gil Gross, education has an effect on the labor force. But 77% of all teachers in America have classrooms with hungry children in them making it near impossible for them to learn. Billy Shore, the creator of the No Kid Hungry Campaign, explains why bi-partisan support of bipartisan legislation that fully funds supplemental food programs is still failing our most vulnerable population, our children. And, points the way to an achievable solution.Horrific stories of the sometimes fatal injuries to child workers are gaining more prominence as some states are eliminating safeguards for young workers in dangerous jobs, Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus on Children is championing an effort to safeguard our children called the Child Safety and Wellbeing Act 2024.Seasoned, experienced, and reliable workers have a difficult time getting employment past the age of 50. Maura Porcelli, the Senior Director of the Senior Community Service Employment Program at the National Council on Aging, has tips for older job-seekers to land that interview and get that job. Professional sleeper? Chicken Sexer? Gil Gross takes a peek at some the strangest and funniest professions in the world. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat with Dr. Glenn Flores, Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Glenn Flores explains that the most important lesson in child health research and policy is that children are not little adults - they have vastly different anatomy and physiology depending on their age, which requires taking a developmental perspective. Dr. Flores also discusses several pressing health inequities that children face, caused by racial, financial, and geographic disparities. There is also a discussion of the current most pressing concerns facing child health, such as medicaid unwinding and the rise in mood disorders. Learn more about current challenges in children's healthcare: Blog: Children Are Not Little Adults: Ensuring Adequate Pediatric Emergency Care in U.S. Hospitals, By Bruce Lesley Webinar: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - One Size Does Not Fit All, By Averi Pakulis and Elaine Dalpiaz Blog: Nearly 5 Million Children Have Lost Health Care Due To “Unwinding,” By Abuko Estrada and Tim Smith To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat with Dr. Cynthia Osborne, founder and executive director of the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, about the importance in investing in our youngest: infants and toddlers. Bruce and Selley also highlight the recent vote on the child tax credit and their disappointment with the bill failing, despite the credit previously cutting child poverty in half. Cynthia shares that the earlier we invest in children, the better the impact is for both our children and society as a whole. This includes efforts like child care, home visiting programs, and paid family leave. In fact, she found that every dollar invested in a paid family medical leave program has an $18 benefit back to the community. Throughout the episode, Cynthia emphasizes that economic stability is the crux for the well-being of families. Learn more about the importance of investing in our youngest: Resource: Babies in The Budget 2024, by First Focus on Children Report: Early Investment, a Lifetime of Returns: Articulating the Value of Early Childhood Investments in Virginia, By Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center Resource: Community-Based Home Visiting: Fidelity to Families, Commitment to Outcomes by Averi Pakulis and Nadia Gronkowski Blog: Babies in the Budget: The Case for Investing Toward a Brighter Future by Bruce LesleyTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat with Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, a nonprofit watchdog for Kentucky's kids. Dr. Brooks has successfully worked with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to make necessary improvements for the lives of children across the state, such as supporting kinship caregivers and kids in foster care. Dr. Brooks tells our hosts that Kentucky's children, like those around the country, are at a crossroads. Society has accepted issues such as child poverty as normal, he says, and he shares his efforts to press policymakers to focus on issues such as child care and child poverty, rather than on distractions like the culture wars. Dr. Brooks also discusses the complexities of a Kentucky ballot initiative that would allow the general assembly to use public money for private schools. Learn more about Kentucky Youth Advocates: Resource: Kentucky KIDS Count, By Kentucky Youth Advocates Podcast: The American Rescue Plan & Efforts to End Child Poverty, By Kentucky Youth Advocates, Featuring Bruce LesleyTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out one of our favorite episodes! Our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby welcome Dr. C. Kirabo Jackson, a researcher, professor, journal editor, and member of President Biden's Council of Economic Advisors. Dr. Jackson discusses his findings that research with respect to investing in both early childhood and K-12 education consistently demonstrates a high return on investment, particularly for low-income children, and sets future generations on a path to greater success. Dr. Jackson also discusses the role that investments in education can play in reducing disparities in educational outcomes and the well-being of children in both the short- and long-term.Learn more about the crucial need to invest in our future generations: Academic Journal: “Do School Spending Cuts Matter? Evidence from The Great Recession”, By C. Kirabo Jackson, Cora Wigger & Heyu XiongBlog: “Money Does Matter After All”, By C. Kirabo Jackson, Cora Wigger & Heyu XiongBlog: “Congress is Shortchanging Children,” By Bruce LesleyTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech Looby chat with Phyllis Rabinowitz, Co-Founder and Co-President of the R Baby Foundation. Phyllis co-founded the R Baby Foundation with her husband, Andrew, after the loss of their nine day old daughter, Rebecca Eva, due to a misdiagnosis in the emergency room. The R Baby Foundation is the first and only foundation dedicated to making sure every emergency room is prepared to give babies and children lifesaving care. Phyllis emphasizes the importance for emergency care to be tailored to the needs of babies and children. Each year, 1400 children pass away in emergency rooms because of the lack of pediatric preparedness. Phyllis recommends that parents research the emergency room to see if have pediatric care coordinators and urges policy changes that would ensure better training, staffing, equipment, research, and education to improve the delivery of emergency care and treatment to children.Learn more about pediatric emergency room care: Blog: Children Are Not Little Adults: Ensuring Adequate Pediatric Emergency Care in U.S. Hospitals, By Bruce Lesley Resource: Sponsor Your ER, by The R Baby Foundation App: find ER now Article: Children Are Dying in Ill-Prepared Emergency Rooms Across America, By Liz Essley Whyte and Melanie Evans Follow the R Baby Foundation on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, co-host Bruce Lesley chats with Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), chair of the Dads Caucus. Rep. Gomez launched the Dads Caucus after a photo of him holding and caring for his son Hodge on the House floor went viral. Rep. Gomez talks about moms have been the “default parent” and the importance of fathers stepping up for kids both at home and in Congress. Learn more about the Dads Caucus: https://gomez.house.gov/dadscaucus/Article: Dads in Congress reflect on working in Washington while making sure 'kids come first', ByJay O'Brien and Arthur Jones IIArticle: They're Not Just Dads, They're Congressional Dads, By Marc Tracy Video: Invest in Kids Briefing with the Dads, Mamas, and Baby Caucuses and First Focus on Children, Zero to Three, and the Children's Defense FundTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, co-host Bruce Lesley chats with Mike Hixenbaugh, a senior investigative reporter for NBC News about the ongoing attacks on public schools across the country. They discuss Hixenbaugh's new book, “They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms,” which documents the culture wars in Southlake and Grapevine, Texas. Hixenbaugh argues that challenges to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory (CRT) stem from resistance to dealing with racism and repeat previous patterns in our society. Hixenbaugh compares the current attacks on public education by groups such as “Moms for Liberty” with prior movements, such as efforts to stop the teaching of evolution, opposition to desegregation of public schools, and groups like Phyllis Schlafly's “Eagle Forum,” which waged a campaign to purge classrooms of books and curriculums that they deemed anti-God, anti-American, and anti-family. In the podcast, Hixenbaugh also discusses why he centered the students as the protagonists in his book.Learn more about attacks on public education: Book: They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms, By Mike HixenbaughBook Review: Texas Schools at a Crossroads: Identity, Politics, and Public Education in Hixenbaugh's 'They Came for the Schools', By Bruce Lesley Newsletter: The Alliance for Student Liberty, By Lily Klam Article: When Conservative Parents Revolt, By Mike HixenbaughBlog: Texans Standing Up for Their Students and Public Schools, By Bruce LesleyPodcasts: Southlake and Grapevine, By Mike Hixenbaugh and Antonia HyltonTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, co-host Messellech Looby chats with Academy Award-nominated actor Taraji P. Henson about the complexities and opportunities around supporting Black youth in the midst of the country's current mental health crisis. Henson created The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in memory of her late father, who struggled with mental health challenges after returning from the Vietnam War. The foundation promotes mental health awareness and destigmatizing mental illness within the Black community by uplifting culturally relevant mental health support. The foundation's Executive Director, Tracie Jade, joins the conversation to discuss its efforts to promote mental health awareness and support within marginalized communities.Learn more about the youth mental health crisis: Fact Sheet: Children's Mental Health, First Focus on Children Testimony: Taraji P. Henson on Mental Health, C-SPANArticle: Black Adolescent Suicide Rate Reveals Urgent Need to Address Mental Health Care Barriers, PewTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate Mother's Day, we're showcasing the voices and stories of some of our moms at First Focus on Children. Host Messellech Looby shares the mic with First Focus on Children's Vice President for Early Childhood and Public Health Policy Averi Pakulis, Vice President of Operations Trenessa Freeman, and Vice President of Advocacy and Mobilization Leila Nimatallah to chat about their experiences as moms and the policy challenges they face in their homes and on The Hill. As mothers, they grapple with the idea that their children are growing up in a society that is rolling back hard-won victories for moms and children. As policy wonks, they reflect on the important work they do to secure federal policies that support children and families and the many challenges that lie ahead. Related reading:Blog: Truly Valuing Babies, By Bruce Lesley Blog: Nearly 5 Million Children Have Lost Healthcare Due to Unwinding, by Abuko EstradaFact Sheet: Babies in the Budget, First Focus on Children To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgFind us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with Abby McCloskey, who directed the Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families, a project bringing together 31 family policy leaders of diverse ideologies and included our co-host Bruce Lesley. The Convergence process issued a final report entitled In This Together: A Cross-Partisan Action Plan to Support Families with Young Children in America.McCloskey discusses some of the collaborative's cross-partisan policy recommendations, such as creating government structures focused explicitly on children and offering 12 weeks of paid parental leave. McCloskey emphasizes that bringing these recommendations to fruition will require bipartisan effort.Today's children are in crisis. They face rising maternal and infant mortality rates, a mental health epidemic, a public education system under attack, increasing homelessness, and other challenges. McCloskey outlines the importance of working through political polarization to create bipartisan solutions that address these and other issues affecting our nation's children. Learn more about the need to prioritize children in policy: Article, Our kids are not OK. Neither is our child policy, Abby McCloskey, Dallas Morning NewsReport: Beyond Rhetoric: A New American Agenda for Children and Families, the National Commission on Children, 1991Article, States With Abortion Bans Are Among Least Supportive for Mothers and Children, Emily Badger, Margot Sanger-Katz and Claire Cain Miller, New York TimesArticle, ‘Couples Therapy,' but for Politics, Jessica Grose, New York TimesBe sure to check out Abby McCloskey's website and follow her policy work on X. Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with Representative Rosa DeLauro, a top champion for children in Congress and the chair of the babies caucus. Rep. DeLauro, who is the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, has spent decades in Congress and consistently advocated for kids to be a priority in the federal budget. She has been a Champion for Children every year since we began publishing our legislative scorecard. Rep. DeLauro discusses the impact of the Child Tax Credit on child poverty, and says it is on the top of her agenda, along with early childhood education and the Head Start program. Rep. DeLauro tells our hosts that her main concern isn't the opposition to policies that help children, but the indifference that many policymakers feel. Learn more about policies that help children thrive: Book, The Least Among Us: Waging the Battle for the Vulnerable, By Representative Rosa DeLauro Blog, Children at the Heart: Why Kids Deserve an Improved Child Tax Credit, By Bruce Lesley Fact Sheet, The Need for Baby Bonds in the United States, First Focus Campaign for Children Be sure to follow Representative DeLauro on X. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus on Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children (need some kind of link for easy access to connecting with FF). Donate to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-founder and executive director of MomsRising, an organization that champions workforce issues facing women, mothers and families. Rowe-Finkbeiner co-founded MomsRising in 2006 after a family health crisis pushed her out of the labor force and helped her realize the challenges that American women and families face. In this episode of Speaking of Kids, Rowe-Finkbeiner discusses the policies that she advocates for in her role as the organization's executive director, such as paid family and medical leave, affordable child care, fair pay for child care workers, and the Child Tax Credit.Learn more about policies and advocacy work that can help families thrive: Article, It's Impossible to Raise Children in the U.S. It Doesn't Have to Be | Opinion, By Kristin Rowe-FinkbeinerBook, Keep Marching: How Every Woman Can Take Action and Change Our World, By Kristin Rowe-FinkbeinerBlog, Children at the Heart: Why Kids Deserve an Improved Child Tax Credit, By Bruce Lesley To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus on Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children (need some kind of link for easy access to connecting with FF). Donate to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Quah (Q & A), Sal, Adam & Justin answer four Pump Head questions drawn from last Sunday's Quah post on the @mindpumpmedia Instagram page.  Mind Pump Fit Tip: When developing power, fatigue is the ENEMY. (2:26) Sal's goal is to improve his lateral stability. (23:00) How creatine is the HOT new supplement. (25:34) The health impacts of low vitamin D. (29:39) Shia LaBeouf was in on the joke. (33:09) What skill would you like to do if you had all the time in the world? (38:20) What do you want to be remembered for? (43:51) The truth about bullies. (52:00) Hairstyles and outfits. (54:33) Organifi's Shilajit Gummies are back in STOCK! (58:03) Shout out to the Mind Pump x Pre-Script L1 Live Event! (59:26) #Quah question #1 - Is it ok to work out sore even after 24-48 hours of rest? (1:01:18) #Quah question #2 - I was rewatching some old episodes, and you guys were saying how the optimal amount of protein is .5-.7 grams per body weight. Now it's 1 gram. Could you explain how and why the number changed? (1:04:14) #Quah question #3 - Is it better to build muscle then lose weight or lose weight then build muscle? (1:07:25) #Quah question #4 - What are the pros and cons of a shoulder vs elbow rack on a front squat? (1:11:22) Related Links/Products Mentioned Visit Organifi for the exclusive offer for Mind Pump listeners! ** Code MINDPUMP for 20% off. Buy any product and get 15 free Green Juice travel packs! ** Special Launch: MAPS Performance Advanced ** Promo code PALAUNCH at checkout for $80 off (Bonuses: Grip Strength Reference Guide + Eat for Performance + 30 Day Money Back Guarantee) ** Ends March 3rd, 2024 February Promotion: MAPS Performance | Extreme Fitness Bundle 50% off! ** Code FEB50 at checkout ** Mind Pump #2255: The Smart Way To Improve Speed, Power, & Performance With Brian Kula Mind Pump #2280: Why Everyone Should Train Like An Athlete Landmine University Landmine Exercise | WeckMethod Coiling Core Training New Study Finds Dietary Creatine Associated with Reduced Cancer Risk The Definitive Guide to Creatine Monohydrate (THE TRUTH!!) | MIND PUMP "Shia LaBeouf" Live - Rob Cantor MP x Pre-Script: Join us March 15-17 for an unprecedented collaborative education event hosted by Mind Pump Media and Pre-Script® Visit Butcher Box for this month's exclusive Mind Pump offer! ** New users will receive their choice of 2 lbs. of Ground Beef, 3 lbs. of Chicken Thighs, or 1 lb. of premium Steak Tips for a Year! + Use the code MINDPUMP and get $20 off your first box! ** Sore muscles…what does it mean? - Mind Pump Media The Myth of Optimal Protein Intake - Mind Pump Media Front Squats- How to Place & Hold the Bar - YouTube Mind Pump Podcast – YouTube Mind Pump Free Resources People Mentioned Brian Kula (@kulasportsperformance) Instagram Christian McCaffrey (@christianmccaffrey) Instagram Jason Khalipa (@jasonkhalipa) Instagram Jordan Shallow D.C (@the_muscle_doc) Instagram  

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with poverty experts Megan Curran and Sophie Collyer about the Child Tax Credit. As top researchers at Columbia University's Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Collyer and Curran produce groundbreaking work on poverty and the child tax credit. In this episode, they explain why the U.S. needs the Child Tax Credit and help unpack the economic contradictions that place a burden on families. They also discuss the fact that child poverty is a policy decision and explain why lawmakers continually interpret “child-focused” policies around the perceived deservedness of adults. Learn more about child poverty and the child tax credit: Report: A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty, By The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Policy Brief: The Promise of Universal Child Benefits: the Foundational Policy for Economic and Social Development, By The International Labour Organization (ILO) with UNICEF and the Learning for Well-Being Institute and featuring two CPSP co-authors, Megan Curran and David Harris Policy Brief: Children Left Behind by the Child Tax Credit in 2022, By Sophie Collyer Megan Curran, David Harris, and Christopher Wimer. Blog, The Child Tax Credit: Boosting the Lives and Well-Being of Our Children, By Bruce Lesley Be sure to check out the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University and follow them on twitter. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus on Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children (need some kind of link for easy access to connecting with FF). Donate to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with Representative Suzanne Bonamici. Rep. Bonamici, who has represented Oregon's 1st district in Congress since 2012, has been an avid Champion for children throughout her career and achieved the #1 slot on First Focus Campaign for Children's 2023 Legislative Scorecard. The Congresswoman discusses her legislative priorities, including passing the Child Tax Credit, advocating for a strong public education system, ending child hunger, supporting youth experiencing homelessness, and protecting food programs such as SNAP and WIC. She talks about her belief that funding the health, well-being, and safety of children is the best investment our society can make, and offers advice for listeners on how to affect change themselves. Learn more about Rep. Bonamici's work supporting kids:Blog: Unveiling the 2023 Champions and Defenders of Children: Who Commits to Kids?, By Bruce Lesley Blog: Recognizing Children in the Debate Over Education and Schools, By Bruce Lesley Article: The First Five Things to Know About: Representative Suzanne Bonamici, By The First Five Years FundBe sure to check out Representative Bonamici's website and follow her on Instagram and Twitter. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusWant to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus on Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children (need some kind of link for easy access to connecting with FF). Donate to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode we first talked to Kat McCloud about the new season of “Self-Taught,” a podcast from foster youth, for foster youth that just joined our SafeCamp Audio Network. McCloud talks about the first season of the show, what to expect in the second (which is now out) and how she decides what she is comfortable sharing publicly.Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus on Children, joins us to discuss a new tax reform bill that includes a big proposal to provide more financial support for low-income parents and children, as well as federal budget deliberations and what states are doing related to child spending. Bruce Lesley is president of First Focus on Children. Prior to his work at First Focus on Children, he served as Senior Health Policy Advisor on the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman. Reading RoomSelf-Taught: Former Foster Youth on Sex, Health, and Lifehttps://safecampaudio.org/show/self-taught/Money and Maltreatmenthttps://bit.ly/3hcelIUNew Research Links Increased Minimum Wage to Reduced Child Maltreatmenthttps://bit.ly/2RvAqr7Support Grows For No-Strings-Attached Cash For Families To Prevent Foster Care Removalshttps://bit.ly/3DD1NUYLet the Child Tax Credit Workhttps://bit.ly/3aALZHh

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with pediatrician and former congressional candidate Dr. Annie Andrews and political strategist Renee Harvey about their new political action committee (PAC) for children, Their Future. Our Vote. Dr. Andrews, a children's hospital doctor, highlighted the invisibility of children in policymaking during her recent run for Congress. When the race didn't end the way they'd hoped, Harvey and Dr. Andrews created the PAC to offer financial support to urgently needed kid-first policies, such as improving the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and child care while also opposing efforts to ban books in our public schools and libraries.Learn more about the political and policy challenges faced by children: Blog: The Invisibility of Children: The Other Form of Neglect, by Bruce LesleyArticle: ​​Pediatrician launches new PAC focused on children, by Daniela AltimariStay up to date Dr. Annie Andrews and Renee Harvey on social media. Be sure to check out their PAC website and follow them on Twitter, @HReneeHarvey, @annieandrewsmd, and @Their__Future. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children to support our work and this podcast here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever witnessed the courtroom magic that a well-prepared lawyer can weave? Imagine the edge a legal team could have by understanding a jury's mind before even stepping into the courtroom. That's exactly what Florida attorney Brooke Grogan and I peel back the layers of in our insightful conversation. Brooke brings to the table her experiences with focus groups, revealing how these mock juries can drastically alter the trajectory of a trial. From honing opening statements to fine-tuning courtroom tactics, this episode is a masterclass for any trial lawyer eager to absorb the tactical know-how of leveraging focus groups for legal victories.  Picture this: a tool so powerful it could swing a $3 million verdict in your favor. That's the story Brooke recounts as we delve into how early focus group feedback reshaped her case strategy. We also tackle the virtual evolution of focus groups, discussing the conveniences and complexities of platforms like Zoom. Whether you're a seasoned attorney or just legally curious, our exchange is packed with practical insights that underscore the transformative effects of blending technology with trial preparation. Join us to unearth the art of legal strategy through the lens of focus groups – a truly eye-opening dialogue for the courtroom tactician in all of us. In this episode, you will hear: Brooke's first focus group experience Focus group evaluation Importance of focus groups in evaluation Value of focus groups and input Adjustments and progress in focus groups  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: To learn more about Brooke Grogan & her practice: https://www.injurylawyers.com/attorney-brooke-grogan/ To follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-larrick-942447101/ If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, please email Elizabeth: elizabeth@larricklawfirm.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know I sent you.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby speak with Nell Menefee-Libey, public policy manager for the National WIC Association. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC, supports healthy pregnancy, healthy postpartum recovery and optimal child development. The National WIC Association represents state and local WIC agency staff across more than 12,000 direct service sites and the nearly 7 million participants served by WIC. The program has led to significant measurable improvements in cognitive development scores, obesity rates, overall quality of diet and other outcomes. WIC has traditionally enjoyed strong bipartisan support, but for the first time in this millennium, Congress is threatening to turn its back on the families who rely on the program. The House and Senate are currently considering appropriations bills that underfund the program and that inflict major cuts on fruit and vegetable allowances. Learn more about the importance of funding WIC: Blog: New data shows WIC reached only 50% of eligible moms & children, By Abbie Malloy Article: Millions of American families struggle to get food on the table, report finds, By Maria Godoy To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby speak with leading children's rights expert Jonathan Todres. Todres, a professor at Georgia University College of Law, says rejecting children's rights is an attack on human rights. He explains the divisiveness around children's rights as the result of pitting them against parental rights and notes that they are, instead, a critical tool for parents. Diving deep into important policy debates, Todres considers why the United States is the only country that has not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and emphasizes the urgent need for society to address issues like child housing insecurity, the youth mental health crisis, and lack of child participation in the government. Learn more about child rights: Book: The Oxford Handbook of Children's Rights Law, Edited by Jonathan Todres and Shani M. KingBook: Human Rights in Children's Literature: Imagination and the Narrative of Law, By Jonathan Todres Webpage: Child Rights, First Focus on Children To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby welcome Dr. C. Kirabo Jackson, a researcher, professor, journal editor, and member of President Biden's Council of Economic Advisors. Dr. Jackson discusses his findings that research with respect to investing in both early childhood and K-12 education consistently demonstrates a high return on investment, particularly for low-income children, and sets future generations on a path to greater success. Dr. Jackson also discusses the role that investments in education can play in reducing disparities in educational outcomes and the well-being of children in both the short- and long-term.Learn more about the crucial need to invest in our future generations: Academic Journal: “Do School Spending Cuts Matter? Evidence from The Great Recession”, By C. Kirabo Jackson, Cora Wigger & Heyu XiongBlog: “Money Does Matter After All”, By C. Kirabo Jackson, Cora Wigger & Heyu XiongBlog: “Congress is Shortchanging Children,” By Bruce LesleyTo join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some lessons are learned the hard way. This week's episode of The Second of Strength Podcast delves into three proven strategies that help sustain longterm growth and success in any aspect of life. First: Focus on daily discipline The foundation of success starts with daily habits and small wins. Second: Create an environment of change Too often we fall short because we haven't fostered the right environment for continued growth. Third: Believe in yourself The amount of belief you have will determine how high you rise. Let's work on this together. Remember that lasting success is not a destination. It's a journey. This episode will help you on that road to lasting success. Share with someone you love and tag me on instagram @realtannerclark Don't forget to leave a 5 star rating for the show.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with children's activist Arnold “Arnie” Fege about the importance of defending public education against attacks both past and present. As a longtime teacher, principal, superintendent and now president of Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK), a national organization devoted to education and child advocacy, Arne brings a thorough perspective to education policy and practice. Arne champions parental engagement, but challenges the motives of so-called “parental rights” groups who want to privatize public education, ban books, and minimize the voices of LGBTQ+ students and students of color. Arnie, who worked with Robert F. Kennedy and served as school desegregation director in Michigan, traces the roots of this movement all the way back to Brown v. Board of Education and efforts to maintain racial segregation in schools.Learn more about the far-right's attempts to dismantle public education:Newsletter: The Alliance for Student Liberty, By Lily Klam Blog: Why Education Is a Children's Issue and a Matter of Child Rights, By Bruce Lesley Publication: Children's Budget 2023 by First Focus on ChildrenBe sure to check out Arnold Fege's publications and follow him on Twitter. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids, @BruceLesley and @First_Focus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with law professor Adam Benforado about the lack of attention paid to children in the policymaking process. Benforado, who focuses on criminal justice and children's rights, argues that many of the societal problems we see all around us - incarceration, homelessness — are prevented most effectively by investing in our children. For the U.S. to remain competitive and produce healthy, happy, and thriving adults, Benforado believes we must prioritize the well-being of our youth. Benforado explains that American society has gone backwards on children's rights. We haven't made the same progress as our peer nations on leading causes of childhood death, like gun and automobile safety, which jeopardizes the well-being and security of our youth as well as our nation. Learn more about children's rights: Book: A Minor Revolution: How Prioritizing Kids Benefits Us All, By Adam Benforado Book Review: A Minor Revolution Proposes Improving the Rights of Children By Bruce LesleyArticle: 'Two Little Texans' in Thick of Textbook Battle for Young Minds, By Dan Balz Be sure to check out Adam Benferado's website and follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids @BruceLesley and @First_Focus And please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby chat with pollster and political strategist Celinda Lake. Lake is President and Founder of Lake Research Partners, a national public opinion and political strategy research firm.Lake walks our hosts through public polling that shows voters strongly favor investing in children and centering them in public policy. The data contradicts lawmakers' inclination to treat children's issues as an afterthought. Lake outlines the unique challenges facing child advocates and ways to increase public attention to the needs of children and families.To see the full results of the Lake Research Partners poll for First Focus on Children, go to https://firstfocus.org/blog/fact-sheet-voters-support-investments-in-kids. As a pollster, Lake hears every variety of opinion on contentious political issues. Yet, she's found that Americans are more united than they seem and she's passionate about using that information to fight the rising problem of political polarization. Be sure to check out Lake Research Partners and follow on Twitter at @celindalake and @lake_research. Lake's recent book with Ed Goaes, A Question of Respect, can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Question-RESPECT-Bringing-Together-Divided/dp/1636980406/. To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at: Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @SpeakingOfKids @BruceLesley and @First_Focus And please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this introductory episode of Speaking of Kids, co-hosts Bruce Lesley and Messellech “Selley” Looby discuss the fact that children are often an afterthought in public policy. While most people care deeply about the children in their lives, there is a clear disconnect between personal opinions and policy goals. Children can't vote, they don't have political action committees, and they don't have paid lobbyists. They are in dire need of strong advocates, which is why Speaking of Kids will highlight the most urgent issues facing children at home and abroad, and will prepare the public to advocate for them. In this episode, Bruce, Selley and First Focus on Children Vice President of Advocacy and Mobilization Leila Nimatallah share what drew them to child advocacy and offer takeaways from their career experiences.Join the conversation. Follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Connect with our hosts and tell us what you would like to hear on the podcast at:Email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.orgTwitter: @BruceLesley and @First_FocusAnd please rate and review this podcast and share it with friends and family.Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. Connect with First Focus Campaign for Children for easy training on how to be a powerful advocate for children. Please consider donating to First Focus on Children here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the radio show this week, we cover why the national budget is also a moral document that shows the deep priorities of our country – and where kids stand in that budget; we uncover the latest with Fox News, dive into double standards and false equivalencies in the media, and learn tactics to get real news; we hear about the #ChildcareCliff why it impacts businesses too and hear how we can help our nation avoid it; and we close the show discussing tactics to get every member of Congress on the bus… the Momnibus!   *Special guests include: Michelle Dallafior,  First Focus on Children, @First_Focus; Angelo Carusone, Media Matters, @mmfa; Lauren Hipp, MomsRising, @MomsRising; and Tina Sherman, MomsRising, @MomsRising. 

On the radio show this week, we cover why the national budget is also a moral document that shows the deep priorities of our country – and where kids stand in that budget; we uncover the latest with Fox News, dive into double standards and false equivalencies in the media, and learn tactics to get real news; we hear about the #ChildcareCliff why it impacts businesses too and hear how we can help our nation avoid it; and we close the show discussing tactics to get every member of Congress on the bus… the Momnibus! *Special guests include: Michelle Dallafior, First Focus on Children, @First_Focus; Angelo Carusone, Media Matters, @mmfa; Lauren Hipp, MomsRising, @MomsRising; and Tina Sherman, MomsRising, @MomsRising.

As a new leader you have a million new assignments, but what should be your first focus? For those in a charge of a small office or unit with less than 150 employees, your first event will be your staff meeting. I know it's not fun or exciting, but it is where you will set the tone and will start the information flow. I'm going to share with you a few of the essentials and a few of the never do's. Again, leadership is always about leading people, so come find out how to lead them better. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tuco-talks/message

In episode 42 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, hosts Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss consumer-first approach to brand management, sustainability, and more with Cherie Leonard, Director of Insights, North America at Colgate-Palmolive. Have a topic you'd like to have covered? Contact us: Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast Barry's contact information: barry.thomas@kantar.com Barry's LinkedIn Rachel's contact information: rachel.dalton@kantar.com Rachel's LinkedIn https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/gen-zs-cpg-buying-habits-and-ad-preferences-revealed-tinuiti-study/2512616?utm_source=ad-age-wake-up-call-thursday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20230823&utm_content=hero-headline https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/comparing-the-costs-of-generations.html https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/late-night-traffic-rising-fast-food-chains/691853/ https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2023/09/05/why-tennessee-based-tractor-supply-co-plans-to-open-100s-more-stores/70605091007/​ https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/tractor-supply-won-over-city-slickers-now-it-needs-to-keep-themand-farmers-e97ed4fa?mod=retail_news_article_pos2 https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/01/walgreens-ceo-roz-brewer-steps-down.html​ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/business/rosalind-brewer-walgreens.html?searchResultPosition=1

Start your repotting engine! With that in mind, I chat about my first and most important focus when I start repotting any bonsai. I also discuss the mindset you need as a bonsai enthusiast for design versus maintenance and how you need to ensure you're on the right path before starting any work on your bonsai. And wiring, good old wiring, it's the bonsai practitioners magic wand. When done correctly, it works beautifully and allows your and your bonsai to achieve your goals. But when it's not it is a real disaster. Any one can learn to wire and it should be a real target for us all.Support the showWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

We welcome YOU back to America's leading higher education podcast, The EdUp Experience! It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, President Series #214 YOUR guest is Prof. Ami Moyal, President of Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio & YOUR sponsor is Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era In Higher Education! Why did Ami & his team start their journey with an output first focus? How is Ami & his team leaning into AI? What does Ami see as the future of Higher Ed? Listen in to #EdUp! Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp! Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio ● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience! We make education YOUR business! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edup/message

Summary & Application: Why can't we get ahead of the busyness and overwhelmed feelings? Because we keep seeking balance instead of harmony. Balance is about scales and weighing things against each other. Balance is about math. But life isn't a math problem to be solved to achieve even distribution for productivity. Harmony is finding beauty and joy in the imperfect present and along the path of progress. Harmony is not a feeling that we chase…it's a state of mind that we learn through experiences. And harmony can be nurtured or killed because of our Head - or Mindset Our heart - or relationships Our hands - or execution And our Guts - Or accountability As you think about these four areas of your life and work, here are a few pieces of advice to consider as you think about application of the 4 areas of developing a harmony First Focus on the spirit of strategy (“big picture”) of each areas Second, know that the ideas or specific tactics you come up with are possible actions that are flexible and interchangeable And third, Start Small and stay consistent…celebrate small wins and focus on progress over perfection Are you ready to transform your life and leadership? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Go to https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ Choose your growth plan On-Demand Survival Guide Course Personalized Coaching Corporate Training Begin to thrive in and create harmony between your professional and personal life. Not quite ready for the jump into transformation? That's ok, check out our FREE leadership resources here. I've put together these free resources to help you have the tools you need to focus on & take critical action in the most essential areas of leadership. CONTACT US: Visit our website at https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ Follow us online at: Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks Instagram: @leadershipontherocks Linked In: Bethany Rees Twitter: @Leadontherocks TikTok: @leadershipontherocks Email us at contact@bressentialservices.com References: “Harmony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmony. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022. McKeown, Greg. Essentialism. New York: Crown Business, 2014. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

While the allure of customer acquisition can pull a founder's attention, it's equally important to dedicate resources to fighting churn and expanding revenue from existing customers. One company that has unlocked the secret to solid retention and revenue expansion is Brex, an easy-to-use corporate cards and spend management software in an integrated global solution.   In this edition of CRO Confidential, Sam Blond (former CRO at Brex and current Partner at Founders Fund) hosts his former colleague Lucas Fox (GM of Brex for Startups). They discuss how Fox helped build a churn-fighting, upselling, and cross-selling machine that continues to generate revenue.   Video: https://youtu.be/_dfDqPJqqFU Blog post: https://www.saastr.com/cro-confidential-how-customer-first-focus-drives-retention-and-revenue-with-brex-gm-of-startups-lucas-fox-pod-635-video/   Want to join the SaaStr community? We're the

On the radio show this week we talk about infant brain development and why it's a high return on investment for affordable childcare to be widely available; we cover the latest with our economy and inflation — and what it means to you; we get the scoop on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program and how you can help it pass through Congress; and we hear organizing tips for making much-needed policy changes near you! *Special guests include: Daniel Hains, ZERO TO THREE, @zerotothree; Angela Hanks, Demos; @Demos_Org, @angelahanks; Averi Pakulis, First Focus on Children, @Campaign4Kid;  and Monifa Bandele, MomsRising, @MomsRising

On the radio show this week we talk about infant brain development and why it's a high return on investment for affordable childcare to be widely available; we cover the latest with our economy and inflation — and what it means to you; we get the scoop on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program and how you can help it pass through Congress; and we hear organizing tips for making much-needed policy changes near you! *Special guests include: Daniel Hains, ZERO TO THREE, @zerotothree; Angela Hanks, Demos; @Demos_Org, @angelahanks; Averi Pakulis, First Focus on Children, @Campaign4Kid; and Monifa Bandele, MomsRising, @MomsRising