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Making Oregon the best place to be a kid.
We All May Look Different, We All Still Belong: Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values

We All May Look Different, We All Still Belong: Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values

by | Jan 14, 2025 | Parents and Families, Podcast

A family of four sits on a couch and reads a children's book. The photo is a still shot, so there's a snippet from the closed caption. It says: ”We’re just trying to establish that differences are normal.” Social justice is a major them of this film.

A family reads together during one scene in the documentary film, Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values.

In this episode of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto chats with producer John Nimmo and parents Gabriel and Casey—contributors to the new film Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values (free to stream, 50 minutes). The film features local families considering questions including: ”What kind of world do we want to create with our children?“.
 
These families are intentionally parenting with an anti-bias lens, discussing the acknowledgement of identity in a mixed-race family, forming deep connections, and more. Together, they explore what it means to raise children who recognize, celebrate, and take pride in differences. They discuss the anxiety and hope of parenting in uncertain times, the power of acknowledging mixed-race identities within a family, and how everyday moments—from a “raise your hand” game at home to honest community dialogue—shape kids into empathetic, confident advocates for equity. This episode offers a warm, unvarnished look at how families are pushing back against fear and creating more inclusive, compassionate worlds alongside their children.
 

More about The Early Link Podcast

The Early Link Podcast highlights national, regional, and local voices working in early childhood education and the nonprofit sector. The podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Rafael Otto, Children’s Institute’s director of communications.

Listen to more episodes of the Early Link Podcast here or stream on Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Apple Podcasts.

Amplifying Student Voices: Rob Manning and Elizabeth Miller Discuss the Class of 2025

Amplifying Student Voices: Rob Manning and Elizabeth Miller Discuss the Class of 2025

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Podcast

Summary

“Something that we can all take away is: what do students need? What do young people need? What do they think is working in their school? What’s not working? And hear from them and actually, and don’t just give it lip service and say, ‘student voice, student voice.’ Like, what are the students saying? What are they voicing?” — Elizabeth Miller

In this episode of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto speaks with Rob Manning and Elizabeth Miller from Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) about their groundbreaking long-term reporting project, the “Class of 2025.” Started in 2013, the project follows a group of students from first grade through their anticipated high school graduation in 2025.

Rob and Elizabeth share the origins of the project, sparked by then-Governor John Kitzhaber’s ambitious goal of a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025. They discuss the challenges and rewards of following the same cohort of students over more than a decade, including building deep relationships with families and adapting to significant events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conversation highlights compelling individual stories that shed light on broader issues within the education system, such as student engagement, resource allocation, and the critical importance of relationships between students and educators. They also reflect on shifting educational policies and goals, and what these mean for the students they’ve been following.

As they approach the culmination of the project, Rob and Elizabeth consider its impact on their understanding of education in Oregon and the potential lessons for policymakers, educators, and the community at large.

 

More about The Early Link Podcast

The Early Link Podcast highlights national, regional, and local voices working in early childhood education and the nonprofit sector. The podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Rafael Otto, Children’s Institute’s director of communications.

Listen to more episodes of the Early Link Podcast here or stream on Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Stephanie Curenton Discusses Preschool for All Evaluation with a Racial Equity Framework

Dr. Stephanie Curenton Discusses Preschool for All Evaluation with a Racial Equity Framework

by | Dec 18, 2024 | Podcast

Summary

This episode of The Early Link Podcast features Dr. Stephanie Curenton, a professor at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development and the lead evaluator for Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program. Dr. Curenton brings her personal and professional expertise in early childhood development, emphasizing her passion for creating high-quality early learning experiences, influenced by her own time as a Head Start student.

Dr. Curenton outlines the objectives of the Preschool for All program, which is now in its third year, with a racial equity framework built into its design. The program, offering more than 2,000 preschool slots for the 2024-2025 school year, aims to create equitable access to early learning opportunities for families throughout Multnomah County. She highlights the intentional efforts to reach children from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, emphasizing that equity must extend beyond race to include ability, gender identity, and financial considerations.

“What this mother said is nothing about us without us, and that was really this value of making sure that we center the voices of the children and families who are actually enrolled in this program and that they have a stake in this, and that they have access to all of this information to help learn and grow. I think for me, the responsibility as researchers that is placed upon us to make sure that we are sharing information and that we’re telling the stories of the community in a way that is respectful, a way that is really honoring who they are and the values that they place around this, and what the community has invested.”

 

More about The Early Link Podcast

The Early Link Podcast highlights national, regional, and local voices working in early childhood education and the nonprofit sector. The podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Rafael Otto, Children’s Institute’s director of communications.

Listen to more episodes of the Early Link Podcast here or stream on Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Apple Podcasts.

Talking with Kids About Becoming

Talking with Kids About Becoming

by | Sep 20, 2024 | Podcast

Summary

This co-production, in partnership with The Detour at Oregon Humanities, is part of an ongoing series to elevate youth voice. What do kids think about identity and becoming? Tune in to find out!

In this episode, we asked young people at Slater Elementary School in Burns and Highland Elementary School in Grants Pass about how their schools, their towns, the state of Oregon, and the United States shape who they are. In the process, they told us about other places—other countries, states, towns, and schools—that have contributed to how they understand themselves and who they are becoming. You’ll also hear from a few school administrators and parents about how places inform our ideas about ourselves.

Thank you to everyone at Slater Elementary School and Highland Elementary School for welcoming us into their schools, especially the kids who shared their thoughts with us: Ripley, Jayden, Hazel, Sawyer, Stacy, Hanith, Harshine, Kegan, Cecil, Johnie, Kamden, Kellen, Penelope, Sawyer, Mikeal, Andi, Leiana, and Tucker.

Special thanks to Adam Davis and the production team at Oregon Humanities for their work on this episode!

 

More about The Early Link Podcast

The Early Link Podcast highlights national, regional, and local voices working in early childhood education and the nonprofit sector. The podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Rafael Otto, Children’s Institute’s director of communications.

Listen to more episodes of the Early Link Podcast here or stream on Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Apple Podcasts.

The Power of Inclusive Classrooms at Gilbert Creek Child Development Center

The Power of Inclusive Classrooms at Gilbert Creek Child Development Center

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Podcast

Summary

In this episode, host Rafael Otto visits Grants Pass, Oregon, to talk with Shannon Bilbao and Susan Peck from Gilbert Creek Child Development Center. They discuss why inclusive classrooms are so valuable for the healthy development of all children and share examples of what they see in their classrooms.

“A benefit of an inclusive preschool is that children learn early about their friends needing more time to express their needs or how they can help. It becomes a natural part of their routine.” – Susan Peck

 

“Witnessing some of our children with disabilities interacting with their typically developing peers and just being part of the community, you realize they shouldn’t be as separate as it sometimes is. It is incredibly powerful to see them together forming friendships and their eyes lit up” – Shannon Bilbao.

They also discuss the growing needs among young children in the aftermath of COVID and two of the biggest obstacles to serving more children: appropriately trained staff and the physical space to serve children. A promising venture, however, with Highland Elementary aims to solve those two challenges with a new and growing partnership. Tune in and share!

 

More about The Early Link Podcast

The Early Link Podcast highlights national, regional, and local voices working in early childhood education and the nonprofit sector. The podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Rafael Otto, Children’s Institute’s director of communications.

Listen to more episodes of the Early Link Podcast here or stream on Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Apple Podcasts.