The Latest
“We can’t wait,” A Conversation on Oregon’s Literacy Crisis with Angela Uherbelau
On this segment of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto talks with Angela Uherbelau, founder of Oregon Kids Read, a grassroots literacy and equity group dedicated to ending our state’s literacy crisis.
Join us for a Preview of Right to Read!
Join us on Thursday, July 21, for a preview of a powerful new documentary called Right to Read. The film explores America's literacy crisis and what to do about it.
Portland’s Islamic Preschool Program Offers High-Quality Early Learning, Connects Students to Culture & Community
On this segment of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto talks with Jawad Khan, chief programming officer at Muslim Educational Trust and a member of the Trust’s board of directors.
Abogando por Preescolar para Todos con Yasmin Martinez y Bridget Cooke
En éste podcast, una de las invitadas es Bridget Cooke, la directora ejecutiva de Adelante Mujeres, cuya experiencia incluye trabajar con familias y mujeres inmigrantes y organizaciones sin fines de lucro en Oregon, California y Chile. También estamos acompañados por Yasmin Martinez, una madre que aboga para los niños y las familias de su comunidad, el condado de Washington aquí en Oregon. Ambas están involucradas en el esfuerzo de traer preescolar para todos los niños de tres y cuatro años y están trabajando para llevar este empeño en la boleta electoral este noviembre.
Lacey Hays on the Power of Parent Voice & Advocacy
On this episode of the Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto speaks with Lacey Hays, a parent and advocate in Washington County here in Oregon. She’s currently co-chair for the Early Learning Washington County Steering Committee and a member of both the Preschool for All Technical Advisory Committee and the Organizing and Outreach Committee. All of that work is in support of establishing Preschool for All in Washington County.
Prioritizing Early Childhood in Oregon: A Discussion with State Rep. Karin Power & Rep. Jack Zika
In this episode, host Rafael Otto speaks with Oregon state representatives Karin Power (D), representing Milwaukie, Sellwood, and Southeast Portland, and Jack Zika (R), representing Redmond. Power and Zika serve as the chair and vice-chair of the House Committee on...
Portland’s Mxm Bloc is Eliminating Barriers for Black Moms & Their Children
In this segment of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto speaks with Rashelle Chase-Miller, who is an activist and a mom. She’s authored many articles and works in early childhood curriculum development. She’s also founder of Mxm Bloc, a Black mxm led mutual-aid group that supports Black families, and Reproductive Rights PDX.
We’re Harnessing the Power of Moms!
Moms are tenacious. Moms are strong. And most importantly, moms give all they've got to make sure their kids have what they need. We need tenacity and strength from moms in our movement! We know that a brighter future for our state rests on a foundation of love...
Building an Infrastructure for Early Learning & Care with Alyssa Chatterjee
On this episode we chat with Oregon's Early Learning System director, Alyssa Chatterjee. She is the fifth Early Learning System director and will oversee the transition as the division becomes the Department of Early Learning and Care. Alyssa was among the first employees at the Early Learning Division, when it was formally created. She has served under Governor Kate Brown as deputy education policy advisor and has focused on early learning policy for the state since 2012.
An Update on Preschool for All Multnomah County with Leslee Barnes
On this segment of The Early Link, we're following up with Leslee Barnes, Director of the Preschool and Early Learning Division at Multnomah County, who gives us an update on the implementation of Preschool for All (PFA) in Multnomah County. Barnes is a fourth-generation Oregonian who grew up in Northeast Portland, and a leading figure working alongside commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, in the development of Preschool for All which was approved by voters in November 2020.