Podcasts
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 Children’s Institute’s Director of Communications Rafael Otto.
It is also airing on 99.1 FM on the second and fourth Sunday of every month at 4:30 PM thanks to Portland Radio Project.

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Podcast Posts
Podcast: Coalition Building & Advocacy with Amanda Manjarrez and Dana Hepper
In this episode of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto explores the topic of advocacy and the details of two legislative agendas focused on building an inclusive, equitable, and just public education system. Guests: Amanda Manjarrez is the public policy &...
Podcast: Hadiyah Miller, Black Child Development PDX
In this week’s episode, host Rafael Otto speaks with Hadiyah Miller, president of the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC) and chairperson of Black Child Development PDX, about combating the expulsion and suspension of Black children in...
Podcast: Jax Richards, Safeguard Youth
In this week’s episode, host Rafael Otto talks with Jax Richards, the president and founder of Safeguard Youth, about Oregon’s child welfare system. Guest: Jax Richards is an economics and public policy student at Oregon State University. In 2019 he started...
Podcast: BLM Organizer La Mikia Castillo on Systemic Change and Dismantling Racism
In this week’s episode, host Rafael Otto talks with La Mikia Castillo, a Black Lives Matter activist and community organizer, about what it looks like to dismantle systemic racism. Guest La Mikia Castillo is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern...
Podcast: Tabatha Rosproy, First Early Childhood Educator Named National Teacher of the Year
In this week’s episode, host Rafael Otto speaks with Tabatha Rosproy, the first early childhood educator to be named National Teacher of the Year. Guest: Tabatha Rosproy, a 10-year veteran Kansas teacher, is the first early childhood educator to be named National...
Podcast: Janice Lewis on Distance Learning for Preschoolers
In this week’s episode, host Rafael Otto talks with veteran teacher Janice Lewis about what it means to provide distance learning for preschoolers. Guest: Janice Lewis is a preschool teacher at Vose Elementary in the Beaverton School District. Background: Distance...