I recently attended a memorial service for my dear friend and former Children’s Defense Fund Board Chair Ambassador James Joseph. Ambassador Joseph was a civil rights, corporate, and philanthropic leader, including his transformative service as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Foundations and a co-founder and chair of the Association of Black Foundation … [Read more...] about A lesson from Ambassador James Joseph
Marian Wright Edelman
It’s always the guns
Gun violence takes a relentless toll in our nation. Every day more than 300 people are killed or injured by guns in the United States, and most of their stories never make the news at all. But this was yet another week when multiple gun tragedies made national headlines. One of those tragedies started out as a celebration: Alexis Dowdell’s sweet 16 birthday party at a dance … [Read more...] about It’s always the guns
Still fighting for families
"If you want to change the world, you change the world of a child." –Rep. Patricia Schroeder When former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder passed away March 13, 2023, many people were quick to remember the Harvard-educated lawyer who became the first woman member of Congress from Colorado as a trailblazing feminist politician. As a founding member and co-chair of the … [Read more...] about Still fighting for families
Women’s History Month
There is an African proverb that says “women hold up half the sky.” Women constitute half the world’s population, but still have not realized half of the world’s potential, received half of the world’s resources, or exercised half of the world’s power. But women have always been the invisible backbone—unseen but strong—of transforming social movements and of anchoring … [Read more...] about Women’s History Month
“You either care about protecting kids or you don’t”
“As we sat at our desks working on our computers, we began to hear loud pops…I thought I was going to die. As I laid there, I begged God to please make it fast… My classmates pulled me behind a filing cabinet where I called my mom and my dad and said what I thought would be my last goodbyes. I told them how much I loved them, and asked that they please tell my brothers the … [Read more...] about “You either care about protecting kids or you don’t”
Persevere
The last few months have been a very difficult time for so many of us. I repeat here this “Request for Transfer” by an unknown author that has gotten me through some dark times when I’ve wanted to give up. I wanted to share it to help keep spurring us forward today. “Request for Transfer” To: Commander-in-Chief From: Battlefield Soldier Subject: Request for … [Read more...] about Persevere
Much more than summer school
Close your eyes and think about the words 'summer school.' What comes to mind? If you picture a room full of children clapping, cheering, laughing and falling in love with reading you could be imagining the experience thousands of children across the country are about to have as they participate in the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® program. More than 1,400 … [Read more...] about Much more than summer school
A summer to remember
As the school year ends and families look ahead to summer plans, I hope many will be able to consider travel that is not just a vacation, but an education and inspiration. Several years ago I had the opportunity to take my granddaughters with me to Selma, Alabama, where they got to meet Mrs. Amelia Boynton Robinson and other civil rights s/heroes during celebrations … [Read more...] about A summer to remember
You can’t win like that
“I can’t do a lot of the extra stuff that I would like to do for my kids or with my kids because I just can’t afford to. No vacations. There’s not too much going to the movies or little outings. Even getting school uniforms together is expensive. Sometimes they have to wear stuff from last year. I have a lot of guilt because I can’t provide for them the way that I want … [Read more...] about You can’t win like that
Succeeding against the odds
After two years of divisive, hateful rhetoric from the highest levels of government, the profoundly inhumane treatment of immigrant families, and the placing of corporate profits ahead of the basic needs of children—the poorest age group in America—the results of the November 6th election instilled in many that most precious resource: hope. Change began sweeping across our … [Read more...] about Succeeding against the odds