Children's Defense Fund

The well-being of every young person is crucial to the future of our nation. By July 29, pledge to vote for candidates you believe will prioritize the needs of children and youth and be a part of Children's Defense Fund's (CDF) Voices for Child Well-being digital album. Share your photo and take the pledge: https://lnkd.in/gxZ8HhFZ

This week, Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota State Director Alisha Porter penned a column for the Minnesota Reformer on how the state can further its work to improve the living standards of young Minnesotans. While Minnesota has already accomplished a great deal more than other states on issues impacting youth, there’s still more to be done. “We fell a spot to the 19th best state for education after an evaluation of the 2021-2022 school year,” Porter said. “Many things happen outside the classroom that impact results inside of it. As a state, we need to focus on these issues, so we see better results.” “Above average” or “good” isn’t sufficient when it comes to accomplishing our mission to ensure EVERY child in this country grows up with dignity, hope, and joy. Read Alisha’s entire commentary in the Reformer to understand just how hard our CDF-MN staff are fighting for the interests of young people in Minnesota and beyond: https://lnkd.in/embqcsU6 Photo: Will Jacott/Minnesota Reformer

On Tuesday, Children's Defense Fund President & Chief Executive Officer Rev. Dr. Starsky D. Wilson joined the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., to formally announce the kick-off to this year's #VoteOurFutureTour. The #NunsOnTheBus will hit the road for the first time in six years to promote the need for a more inclusive democracy in a coast-to-coast trip with their multi-faith and secular partners. Dr. Wilson will join the tour for multiple stops on the northeastern leg of the tour. "We're pleased to join not just for the vote, but for the future," Dr. Wilson said. "A future that we pray for in this final moment of blessing together." Nuns on the Bus & Friends is a non-partisan project of NETWORK Advocates. NETWORK Executive Director Mary Novak said the purpose of the tour is to fight for an America where everyone thrives. "We at NETWORK have read the signs of the time and have reached an inescapable conclusion, the world needs what Catholic sisters have offered for 50 years, and we at NETWORK continue to offer, grounded in their vision," Novak said. If you missed today's announcement, you can watch it in its entirety here: https://t.co/pVfAfwg6us #VoteOurFuture #NunsOnTheBus

We are so proud of the work Rev. Dr. Cheryl L. Cook-Posley has done to ensure young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy as Children's Defense Fund's National Movement Building Director.   Old Dominion University, where Dr. Cook-Posley is currently working to complete her second doctorate degree, recently wrote a profile piece about how she's working to transform lives.   “We want Black and Brown children, particularly those who are most impoverished, to thrive, whether it’s feeling safe at school or getting the right medical care," Dr. Cook-Posley said.   Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4bLZ8Hh

Today is our National Day of Social Action! Thousands of K-12 scholars at our #CDFFreedomSchools across America are participating in events to promote the freedom to read and bring awareness to the need for access to literature that reflects the diversity of all children and youth.   We hope the effort will allow our young people to learn how they can use their own voices to make change in their communities as legislation meant to marginalize diverse voices continues to take effect across our country.   Take a look at some of the events CDF Freedom Schools scholars organized from California to South Carolina for the big day!

Today, we kicked off the start to the 2024 Hall-Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry at CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee.   We hold this event, named for Rev. Dr. Prathia Hall and Rev. Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor, every summer to refresh and renew faith leaders in their efforts to pursue justice and joy for all young people. Hall-Proctor is where faith leaders and advocates alike can share their stories of hurt and hope, pain and passion in beloved community.   However, this year will be a particularly special one for our attendees at CDF Haley Farm. Not only does it mark our 30th  Hall-Proctor Institute; this is also the 30th anniversary of our owning Alex Haley Farm.   We look forward to making so many more memories on these sacred grounds, including ones we will cherish for a long time to come later this week!   Catch us live on Facebook and YouTube throughout the week: https://lnkd.in/e_n3BEVh

Rev. Dr. Starsky D. Wilson kicked off his second listening sessions tour this week at St. Luke's United Methodist Church’s #CDFFreedomSchools in Indianapolis! This time, we hit the road to learn more about the challenges families face ahead of the election. Check out what he had to say on the first stop of this multi-state tour. Follow along for more content from our executive listening sessions tour and check out the findings from our 2022 tour here: https://lnkd.in/eYeCuJHA #CDFListens

This year holds special historic importance for Children's Defense Fund and our #CDFFreedomSchools program. Sixty years ago, Civil Rights Movement activists participated in the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964, which among other things, included the use of Freedom Schools to educate Black Mississippians during the notoriously divisive Jim Crow era. Those schools ultimately inspired the CDF Freedom Schools model that our Founder and President Emerita Marian Wright Edelman would create in 1995.   While there has been much progress regarding the civil rights of marginalized populations in America since Freedom Summer, we know there is much more to be done to deliver equity to everyone in our nation. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor Dr. Jon Hale recently laid out the reasons freedom schools are still needed in a TIME op-ed. Hale, who also authored the books “The Freedom Schools" and "The Choice We Face,” explains why the CDF Freedom Schools curriculum is so important.   Read here: https://lnkd.in/ebf9yC-4

Thank you to Rev. Dr. Starsky D. Wilson and the Children's Defense Fund for hosting LIVE FREE USA faith and community leaders from across the country shared powerful stories, provided updates on our work, and discussed national policy and gun violence prevention and CVI strategies while prepping for our meeting with the The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in Washington, DC. Faith leaders, join us by taking action and joining our network. https://lnkd.in/eHjVtZgF PC: Matt Anderson #EndGunViolence #LiveFreeUSA #FaithLeaders #CommunityLeaders #PublicHealth #CVI Antonio Cediel Hannah Naomi Jones michael mcbride Ciera Bates-Chamberlain Rosie Bryant

We want to give a big congratulations to @CDFOhio Senior Policy Associate Katherine Ungar. The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance (Ohio Alliance) recognized her as a G.R.I.T. advocate for her work on school-based health care in Ohio. We love when our passionate staff is recognized for all they’re doing to help young people thrive. Way to go, Katherine!