Speaking of Kids...

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Madeline Brown to explore what it would mean if every child began life with a financial head start. Brown is a senior policy researcher at the Urban Institute and an expert on economic mobility, poverty reduction, and the racial and generational wealth gaps. Together, Abebe and Brown unpack the concept of baby bonds and child savings accounts, why policy design matters, and how these tools could help disrupt generational poverty. This conversation examines the realities families face when saving for their children’s futures, the growing wealth divide in the U.S., and what it would take to ensure every child enters adulthood with real opportunity — not just aspiration.

To learn more about Madeline Brown and her work, you can visit the Urban Institute website, and connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently:


Children Need Congress to Reverse the Snap Cost Shift to States


Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children

Big Ideas for Kids: A Blueprint for Building Government That Works for Children

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here.

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Adriana Cadena about the real-life impact of immigration policies on children and families, why access to basic needs like food, health care, and stability shouldn’t depend on a parent’s immigration status, and how states can step up when the federal government falls short. Cadena is the leader of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, a national movement ensuring families get the resources they need to thrive no matter where they were born. Together, Abebe and Cadena explore the fear and trauma many children in immigrant families face, the importance of telling these stories to shift public perception, and how communities and policymakers can act to protect children and families while strengthening neighborhoods and economies.

To learn more about Adriana Cadena and her work, you can visit the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition website, and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X. 

Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently:


Born In The USA: The Constitution is Clear - Babies Are Citizens


Born Equal: Defending The Constitutions Fourteenth Amendment For Every Baby

H.R. 1 Puts Children Last: An Unprecedented Betrayal of America’s Future

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Maury Mendenhall to discuss what happened when USAID - the United States Agency for International Development - was suddenly dismantled, how that decision rippled into the daily lives of children around the world, and what it means for families who lost life-saving support overnight. Mendenhall is a longtime humanitarian and former USAID leader who spent nearly two decades helping communities access food, safety, and critical HIV care. Together, Abebe and Mendenhall explore the human cost of abrupt policy change, the resilience of local partners who continue the work against all odds, and why protecting global child welfare remains urgent and essential.

To learn more about Maury Mendenhall and her work, you can keep up with her emergency campaign A Crisis in Care.

Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently:


Remembering, Reflecting, and Acting: Supporting Children Affected by HIV/AIDS


What the “America First Global Strategy” Means for the World’s Children


Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Kai Kung about what it means to help every child find purpose, possibility, and pride in their future. Kung is the CEO of San Joaquin A+, a community organization reimagining what education and opportunity can look like for young people in the Central Valley of California. Together, Abebe and Kung discuss why traditional pathways don’t work for every student, how paid internships and local partnerships are opening new doors, and why listening to kids — and believing in their dreams — is the foundation for lasting change.

To learn more about Kai Kung and his work, you can visit the San Joaquin A+ website, and follow him on Instagram.

Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently:


Three Ways That The Reconciliation Bill’s School Voucher Program Hurts Public Schools


Alliance For Student Liberty: How Trump’s Executive Orders Undermine Public Education

Clawbacks From Education Funding Would Help Disable Department

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.

In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe sits down with Juana Silverio to talk about what happens when systems claim to protect kids—but don’t. Silverio is a civil rights strategist, political organizer, and leadership coach who spent years inside the federal government and now works to help others lead with alignment, honesty, and rest. By leading with rest, she emphasizes sustainable leadership, self-care, and setting boundaries so you can show up fully for your community. Together, Abebe and Silverio explore what real advocacy looks like, why community matters, and how “aunties” everywhere step in when the system falls short. This conversation dives into generational trauma, radical self-trust, and the joy of seeing children dream for themselves—reminding us that rest, love, and showing up for one another are all forms of resistance.

To learn more about Juana Silverio and her work, you can visit the VIP Coaching website, listen to her podcast JinTransit, and follow her on Instagram. 

Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently:


Testifying For Children Before A House Committee That, Far Too Often, Ignores Them 


Against The Public Will: How Policymakers Are Failing Our Nation’s Children

H.R. 1 Puts Children Last: An Unprecedented Betrayal of America’s Future

To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Send us comments on thoughts via email: [email protected]

Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus

Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. 

To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.