Hello! I’m Messellech Abebe, but you can call me Selley. I’m your host for Speaking of Kids…, a podcast by First Focus on Children that examines how laws and public systems impact kids — not just in theory, but in real life.
Our goal is simple: To sort out who’s actually for kids and who’s just kidding.
And for that, we need your help.
In this second season of Speaking of Kids… I’ll talk with an economist, a librarian, a labor journalist, parents, teachers, organizers and advocates about what it means to be an ambassador for children — and why children’s voices, needs, and futures must be at the center of our policies and budgets. What our guests will share is that anyone — anyone — can be an ambassador for children. And likely, you already are.
The word might sound intimidating. But the truth is that nearly everyone is a natural ambassador for the things they care about. It comes organically. And if you care about children, you are already halfway there.
You don’t have to follow every policy debate to know when something isn’t working for kids — and to say something about it. You just have to believe that kids matter and consider their needs. That their lives are worth protecting, their joy worth preserving, and their futures worth fighting for.
We need everyone! Parents. Teachers. Young adults. Elders. People with kids. People without. People who were once kids — and even people who never stopped being one at heart.
We’re hoping to pique your interest in learning a little more about some of the most complex issues facing children and families today. We’ll offer research, training, tools, and wide perspectives on the most pressing things affecting kids and the people who care for them. You can devote as much or as little time as you have to official ambassadorial activities. Every little bit really does help.
Right now, many of our nation’s elected officials are making decisions that aren’t prioritizing the health, safety and well-being of our next generation. Together, we can change that. Join us.
Keep your heart open, your mind curious, and your voice steady,
