Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children

Apr 05 2024
Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children artwork

Each month, Speaking for Kids the podcast will bring you a variety of crucial conversations with people making public policy – and the voices of the people impacted by those decisions in Michigan. Our goal will be to help you strengthen your voice to speak up for the changes we need to improve Michigan’s kids' & families' lives. In this and future podcasts, we’ll explore encouraging champions like you to get involved in the issues we’re fighting for. Including child care, early childhood education and development, the child welfare and foster care systems, family supports and kinship care, family supports, the needs of adult learners & family literacy, youths involved in the juvenile justice system, and more.

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The New Movement for Equity in School Funding

Apr 05 2024 22 mins  
Join Matt Gillard, President and CEO of Michigan's Children, as he engages in a candid conversation with Jeff Cobb, Director of Government Affairs at Education Trust-Midwest, on the pressing need for equity in education funding. Delving into the Opportunity Index—a proposed funding formula inspired by successful models like Massachusetts—the discussion highlights the importance

Making ‘PreK for All’ Work for All

Feb 29 2024 22 mins  
Michigan’s Children’s Matt Gillard sits down with Jeff Capizzano, President of the Policy Equity Group, to talk frankly about Governor Whitmer’s “PreK for All” plan now that expanding free 4-year-old preschool is moving closer to becoming reality with major state funding outlined in Whitmer’s proposed FY2025 budget recommendations. They discuss the plan’s “roadmap�

Debriefing the Governor’s State of the State Address

Jan 26 2024 30 mins  
To debrief Governor Whitmer’s 2024 State of the State address,Michigan’s Children’s Speaking for Kids Podcast Host Matt Gillardwelcomes back two veteran Lansing lobbyists who have spent their careersworking on children’s issues in Michigan. Specifically, they look at what sheplans to champion on behalf of kids & families in the second year of hersecond term in office. L

Michigan Capitol Report: What's Ahead in 2024?

Dec 18 2023 29 mins  
In the December episode of Speaking for Kids, the Podcast, Michigan’s Children’s host Matt Gillard welcomes Gongwer News Service Managing Editor Alethia Kasben to talk about the accomplishments and shortcomings of the Michigan Legislature’s 2023 legislative year. Among big investments for kids and families were greater family tax relief through the expanded earned income tax

What's Next for Paid Family Medical Leave in Michigan?

Nov 08 2023 24 mins  
Michigan’s Children President & CEO Matt Gillard welcomes state Rep. Jasper Martus to the Speaking for Kids podcast to discuss efforts to advance making paid family medical leave mandatory in Michigan. The Genesee County Democrat is a point person in the House on the issue and has introduced a measure calling for an actuarial cost study to keep the issue moving forward into t

Kinship Care in Michigan: The Case for More Support

Sep 27 2023 33 mins  
As Advocates from the Michigan Kinship Care Coalition (MKCC) gathering for aLegislative Day in Lansing to address state lawmakers, host Matt Gillard talks totwo guests about the changes needed to assist more kinship parents in raisingchildren outside the formal foster care system. Joining him this month areStephanie Armendariz, senior policy analyst, Chapin Hall at the University o

Big Wins in Michigan’s FY24 Budget for Afterschool, Adult Ed, Homeless Youth

Jul 18 2023 32 mins  
Speaking for Kids podcast host Matt Gillard from Michigan’s Children talks with three top state advocates about the sizeable funding wins in the new FY24 state budget for afterschool programming, services for homeless and runaway youths, and adult education and literacy help. Listen in as Matt welcomes Patrick Brown, Executive Director of the Michigan Adult, Community and Alterna

As FY24 State Budget Talks Finalize, Insiders Share What Advocates Should Know

May 24 2023 29 mins  
Speaking for Kids podcast host Matt Gillard talks inside politics around the FY24 State Budget with two veteran Lansing lobbyists. As state budget negotiations begin winding down to a conclusion next month, Matt welcomes two Capitol insiders experienced in the fight for children’s issues to discuss what the new fiscal year’s budget holds for kids and families. What do the lates

Students Empowered: Youth Rise Up, Speak Out Against Gun Violence

Mar 27 2023 26 mins  
Speaking for Kids host Matt Gillard speaks with Sen. Rosemary Bayer about bills in the Michigan Legislature that she and other Democrats have sponsored to reform gun laws as the state deals with the aftermath of the mass shooting on campus at Michigan State University in February. They are joined by MSU Senior Dylan Gebhard, active in the Sit Down MSU and Students Demand Action mov

How Gov. Whitmer’s Universal PreK Plan Impacts Early Childhood

Mar 01 2023 26 mins  
Michigan’s Children’s Speaking for Kids Host Matt Gillard explores GovernorGretchen Whitmer’s “universal PreK plan” to expand access and eligibility to thestate’s Great Start Readiness Program to all interested families of 4-year-olds.Presented in the Governor’s recent State of the State address, it’s a bold plan thathas raised interest and some concern among early