PNºB Episode 33

Summary

This podcast episode features an interview with Madeline Thakor, President and CEO of the Children's Movement of Florida, an advocacy organization focused on early childhood development from birth to five years. The organization's mission is to ensure every child in Florida has the chance to reach their full potential, primarily through policy change and investments rather than direct family services.

Thakor details the Children's Movement's four main areas of focus: legislative engagement, business engagement (through the "Bosses for Babies" program), community engagement (including the "Future Project"), and the "Reading Pals" program, which provides one-on-one literacy mentoring for PreK-3rd graders across 21 counties. Success is measured by progress in legislative funding, policy changes in healthcare and early learning, and expanding their network of ambassadors.

A key theme is the importance of relationships in advocacy, emphasizing collaboration over confrontation when engaging with policymakers. The organization is primarily funded by key families in Florida and national foundations, with additional support from over 1,400 small donors.

Thakor discusses challenges, such as the ongoing need to re-engage new leaders and build upon past successes like universal VPK. She highlights the "Bosses for Babies" program as a way to encourage businesses to adopt family-friendly practices, framing them as a benefit to workforce and community prosperity. Early childhood education's dual impact on today's and tomorrow's workforce is stressed, improving retention and happiness now, and building essential skills for future generations.

The "Future Project" is presented as a community engagement initiative that gathered input from parents and teachers across the state to develop a "road map for early learning policy and funding" with 41 recommendations. Thakor also mentions her role as policy chair for the Miami-Dade Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission for Children, focusing on issues like School Readiness eligibility.

Regarding collaboration, the Children's Movement actively partners with local Early Learning Coalitions, Children's Services Councils, and the Florida Chamber, while also engaging in national learning networks with similar organizations.

Thakor shares her personal background, growing up in Miami, and her path to becoming an "ambassador for babies." Being a mother has profoundly influenced her perspective, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of the struggles and needs of parents.

Looking ahead, the movement aims to significantly increase investment in early education, challenging the perception of it as mere "babysitting" and emphasizing its critical role in child development. Priorities include expanding "Bosses for Babies" to all 67 counties, revolutionizing early childhood systems, and exploring new solutions for parent support.

Thakor's advice for those wanting to make an impact in early learning is to vote and engage with elected officials, providing local data and personal stories to advocate for change. She stresses that everyone's voice and vote matter.

Key topics

• Early Childhood Development: Focus on the critical 0-5 age range, emphasizing high-quality learning, healthcare access, and supported parents.

• Advocacy and Policy Change: The core mission of the Children's Movement of Florida, achieved through legislative engagement and building relationships with policymakers.

• Programs and Initiatives:

  • Reading Pals: One-on-one/two-on-one mentoring for PreK-3rd graders to develop literacy and confidence.

  • Bosses for Babies: Engaging business leaders to implement family-friendly practices, viewing them as a benefit, not a cost.

  • Future Project: Community engagement initiative gathering parent and teacher input to inform early learning policy recommendations.

• Measuring Success: Progress in legislative funding, policy changes in healthcare and early learning, and expanding the network of "ambassadors."

• Funding Sources: Primarily key families in Florida and national foundations, supplemented by numerous small donors.

• Challenges in Leadership: Continually re-engaging new leaders and building upon existing successes in early childhood advocacy.

• Economic and Workforce Impact: Early childhood education strengthens the current workforce (retention, happiness) and prepares the future workforce (essential skills like communication, cooperation, emotional regulation).

• Collaboration: Working extensively with local and state partners (Early Learning Coalitions, Children's Services Councils, Florida Chamber) and engaging in national learning networks.

• Personal Motivation: Madeline Thakor's background, including her parents' focus on global connection, her career path from international affairs, and her experience as a mother, shaped her dedication to this field.

• Future Goals: Achieving significant investment in early education, challenging misconceptions about its value, and ensuring access to quality opportunities for all children. Tackling issues like kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading proficiency.

• Call to Action: Encourage individuals to vote, research candidates' stances on early learning, and engage with elected officials using local data and personal stories.