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Community Engagement

Molly of Denali takes a selfie with her friends

PBS’ “Molly of Denali” a Hit with Kids and Parents

Young, Indigenous Vlogger Introduces Life in Rural Alaska

Kim Baca·September 6, 2019·5 min read

Molly Mabray is a 10-year-old of three Athabascan tribes, Gwich’in, Koyukon, Dena’ina, who lives in a small Indigneous village in rural Alaska. She’s also PBS’ newest character in the slate of children’s animated shows and the first Native American lead in history. So far “Molly of Denali” has been a hit not only among its target audience of ages 4 to 8 but with their parents and those who have grown enamored with Molly.

Five Takeaways from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Early Ed Summit

The Editors·March 5, 2020·2 min read

On February 28, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held a summit for early education advocates and professionals, highlighting the work...

3 Top Takeaways from the Webinar: CSSP Invites Applications for DULCE Initiative Planning Grants

Apply by August 21

Mark Swartz·August 11, 2020·3 min read

Because we can’t take our Early Learning Nation Studio on the road during this time, stay tuned as ELN recaps...

Working from Home in West Virginia, Championing #PaidLeaveforAll in Her Spare Time

Mark Swartz·September 27, 2021·3 min read

If Tiffany Gale got eight full hours of sleep a night, she’d never be able to get everything done. In...

Tackling the Play Deficit

Mark Swartz·February 6, 2020·4 min read

Our kids need to put the devices down and to play outdoors more. This isn’t just another parent waxing nostalgic...

Beth Duda reads to an adorable toddler in a laundromat

Mobilizing Communities So All Children Make the Grade

Pop Up Neighbor events, community, collaboration, mobilization

K.C. Compton·August 8, 2019·9 min read

Even without advance promotion, when word got out that the SuperMatt Laundromat in Sarasota, Florida, was offering free laundry all day, neighborhood residents formed a steady stream of customers. Not only was laundry-and-all-the-fixings free—a boon to low-income families who can ill afford the $35 to $50 a week they spend trying to keep their kids in clean clothes—the food bank was there with abundant food to restock their pantries. Best of all, there were books—lots of books—and plenty of volunteers to read to children while the adults did as many loads of laundry as needed. When the children left, books went home with them.

Meeting (and Teaching) Families in Unexpected Places Can Transform Cities

Grocery stores, bus stops, laundromats… what’s next?

Mark Swartz·June 25, 2019·5 min read

School is a great place to learn, but it’s not the only place. No matter how excellent our teachers are, no matter how enriching the curricula, school accounts for only about 20 percent of children’s waking hours. That’s why a growing number of education pioneers are building out nontraditional sites for young minds to develop their language skills and to learn about their world.

Mr. Johnson reading Dr. Seuss to his kids via video

Parenting from Prison, Preparing for Coming Home

Mark Swartz·June 12, 2019·4 min read

2.7 million children (1 in 28) currently have an incarcerated parent. How are programs like the Family Connections Center helping them get ready to be with their families again-- while still behind bars?