Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, we examine Michigan’s early literacy crisis and what it will take to improve reading outcomes for students. With fewer than 40% of third graders reading proficiently, we explore why Michigan is falling behind while states like Mississippi are making gains. The conversation highlights the Science of Reading, how teachers are being trained and supported, and whether current funding approaches are meeting student needs. We also discuss the role of early intervention programs like Early On and what advocates and policymakers can do to move Michigan forward.

In this urgent episode of Speaking for Kids, we examine how increased immigration enforcement is impacting children and families across Michigan. According to Bridge Michigan, more than 2,349 people were detained in the state between January and October 2025, nearly three times the number detained during the same period in 2024, with the vast majority having no criminal record. At the same time, long-standing federal protections that once limited immigration enforcement in sensitive spaces like schools, hospitals, and churches have been rolled back. State Senator Mary Cavanagh joins representatives from the ACLU of Michigan and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center to discuss how immigration actions in child-centered spaces affect students, families, and entire communities. The conversation explores proposed legislation to create “safe spaces” in Michigan, including Senate Bill 508 and related efforts, and what these policies could mean for protecting children from traumatic enforcement actions. We also discuss what happens next in the legislative process and how advocates can help build bipartisan support to ensure Michigan kids are safe, supported, and able to learn without fear.

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, we take a deep dive into Michigan’s teacher shortage through the lens of equity and opportunity. Joined by Dr. Curtis Lewis, President and Founder of Boldly Moving Education Ahead, and Charlotte Pierce, Senior Policy Analyst at EdTrust Midwest, the conversation explores new research on why Michigan continues to struggle to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers of color, and why this matters for student success across the state. With nearly 40 percent of Michigan students being students of color but only about 11 percent of teachers sharing that background, the gap has real implications for learning, belonging, and long-term outcomes. Our guests break down the key findings, the barriers in the educator pipeline, and the evidence-based strategies that can help build a stronger, more diverse, and better-supported teacher workforce, especially in Southeast Michigan and Detroit.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Michigan State Representative Gina Rigas and Heather Morey-Pols, the mother of Rowan Morey-Pols, to discuss the tragic loss that inspired the Rowan Act (HB 4517 and 4518). Together, they walk us through what happened to Rowan, why Michigan families need stronger seat belt laws for children, and how this legislation aims to prevent future tragedies. We explore the gaps in current child passenger safety laws, the data behind why proper restraints save lives, and the challenges of turning personal tragedy into public policy. Representative Rigas also talks about the progress of the legislation and what supporters can do to help move the bill forward. This episode is a conversation about grief, advocacy, and hope. It lifts up a family’s story while highlighting a life-saving effort that could protect children across Michigan.

Michigan’s maternal and infant health outcomes reveal deep inequities that continue to harm families, especially families of color. Voices for Birth was created to change that. In this episode, we talk with leaders from the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) about their groundbreaking Voices for Birth initiative, the second edition of the 2021 Birth Equity Education Project, designed to lift programs, policies, and lived experiences that can improve birth outcomes and advance equity for Michigan families. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Voices for Birth centers the real stories of parents and caregivers across Michigan to show how systemic barriers in maternal and infant health can be addressed through collaboration, compassion, and evidence-based policy change. You’ll hear how these family stories are shaping advocacy priorities, influencing state-level decision-making, and inspiring nonprofit leaders to take action in their own communities.

This episode of Speaking for Kids honors Kinship Care Awareness Month with guest BeAnka Masefiade, Executive Director of Osofomaame, a Black-founded and led organization addressing systemic disparities facing Black youth in Michigan’s child welfare system. Black children make up 16% of Michigan children, but are overrepresented in the child welfare population, making up 29% of children in foster care. This conversation highlights why kinship care matters, the challenges caregivers face, and the urgent need for culturally competent support. Listeners will hear how Osofomaame is working to transform the system, uplift kinship families, and ensure every child can grow up in a safe, connected, and supportive environment.

This episode features a conversation with Ov’Var’Shia “Shay” Gray-Woods, who participated in the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute internship program, where she was able to intern for Senator Elissa Slotkin. We explore the day-to-day experience of working on Capitol Hill, the process of developing a federal policy proposal, and the vision behind “Reforming Workforce Development and Youth Engagement in Permanency Planning for Foster Youth Transitioning Out of Care.”

In this episode, Michigan’s Children President & CEO Matt Gillard sits down with Suzanne Greenberg of Children Trust Michigan and regional leaders Stephanie and Heather to explore the life-changing work happening across the state to prevent child abuse and neglect. From mobile resource centers delivering support to rural communities, to proven prevention programs that reduce maltreatment rates, this conversation breaks down what’s working — and what’s at risk if funding is cut. Learn why family resource centers matter, how over 44,000 children were reached in 2024, and why the fight for $4 million in state support is more urgent than ever. Prevention works. Communities are ready. But we need your voice. Visit childrenstrustmichigan.org and michiganschildren.org to learn more and take action.

In this special Pride Month episode, we’re focusing on the urgent challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth in Michigan — and what it will take to protect and uplift them. Matt is joined by Representative Emily Dievendorf (D-77) and Emme Zanotti, Senior Director of Movement Building & Political Affairs at Equality Michigan. Together, they break down the real impact of harmful legislation, the rising threats to queer youth, and the role that advocates, allies, and lawmakers must play in creating safe and affirming spaces. This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about youth, equity, and justice.

In this episode, we explore what mental health looks like across the early years and into adolescence — and what adults need to understand to truly support kids. Matt is joined by an expert in infant and early childhood mental health (ages 0–3) and a professional working closely with middle and high school youth. Together, they unpack the signs of struggle, the systems that help (or hurt), and what it will take to create real change for young people’s mental wellness in Michigan. What does mental health look like in toddlers? What challenges are older youth facing today? What can we do to make things better? Tune in for practical insights, honest reflections, and a better understanding of how we can all support the mental health of Michigan’s kids.

In this episode, we dive into the real-life consequences of proposed U.S. Department of Education budget cuts, specifically their impact on children with disabilities in Michigan. With guests from an Intermediate School District (ISD), the Autism Alliance of Michigan, and an agency serving people with developmental disabilities, we explore how federal education dollars currently support essential services, what’s at risk if that funding disappears, and how local communities can respond. From early intervention to IEP implementation and long-term equity concerns, our panel unpacks the cascading effects these cuts could have on students, families, and schools across the state.

In this episode, we reflect on the 2023 Michele Corey Child Advocacy Summit and the powerful moments that reminded us why youth voices must be at the center of our work. Advocacy is most effective when it’s inclusive, and we explore what it truly means to uplift the voices of those we serve.

Our Host and CEO Matt Gillard is joined by special guests from the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center and Centro Multicultural to discuss the recent changes in Immigration Enforcement and their impacts on Michigan kids and families. Tune in to hear a very timely episode from experts on the matter.

Special Guest Brian Jordan sits down with our President and CEO, Matt Gillard, to discuss the policy of reading. You might remember Brian from his days of playing for the Falcons and Braves, but since retiring, Brian has become a champion for children. Listen to this episode to learn about his foundation, living with dyslexia, and why advocating for children is important to him.

Following our recent Lunch and Learn on key child and family advocacy issues in this election, join Matt Gillard as he sits down with Charles Bruner, the director of InCK Marks and a leading voice in child policy. Together, they discuss critical issues on the ballot and explore what advocates need to prepare for—no matter the outcome in November.

On the latest episode of the Speaking for Kids podcast, host Matt Gillard interviews Dennis Niemiec, the Executive Producer of the documentary "Kiss the Babies," and India Williams, an advocate against gun violence and the inspiration behind the film. Gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., often only gaining attention after mass shootings. "Kiss the Babies" aims to highlight the everyday impact of gun violence on youth. India, a victim of gun violence, shares how her life was forever changed by a stray bullet. Tune in as Dennis and India call for increased awareness around this critical issue. Watch the 2x Emmy award-winning documentary here, https://youtu.be/QFgummOxb9g?si=Q5csd-8TwayNVQyc to delve deeper into the conversation.

Speaking for Kids host Matt Gillard, president and CEO of Michigan’s Children, welcomes participants from Peckham - Flint’s recent “Exchange for Change” program, the multi-week roundtable between law enforcement officers and court-involved youths. Over four weeks, seven officers from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and Flint Police sat down with seven youths enrolled in Peckham’s Youth Services Program with the goal to find ways to “bridge the gap” between the community and police. They explored difficult topics including trauma, implicit bias, policing practices, and individual rights, and discovered a shared desire to improve their home community. In this podcast, Matt talks with the guests about the impact the Flint Water Crisis had on youth behavior and the distrust of authority that emerge from that environmental disaster. The Flint cohort is the third in a series of dialogues that started with meetings between local law enforcement and youth enrolled in Peckham’s Lansing program since the program launched in November 2021. A fourth session is planned in the fall. The program is a collaboration between Peckham and Michigan’s Children. Listen to it today.

Michigan's Children Speaking for Kids podcast host Matt Gillard welcomes Schools Superintendent John M. Searles, head of the Midland County Educational Service Agency, to discuss the expansion of Pre-K for All. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the expansion in light of a contentious House budget plan that would negatively impact funding to community-based child care providers in favor of those operated by intermediate school districts. Listen in to this timely conversation around the Governor's plans for universal Pre-K.

Join Matt Gillard, President and CEO of Michigan's Children, as he engages in a candid conversation with Jeff Cobb, Director of Government Affairs at Education Trust-Midwest, on the pressing need for equity in education funding. Delving into the Opportunity Index—a proposed funding formula inspired by successful models like Massachusetts—the discussion highlights the importance of prioritizing resources for districts serving low socioeconomic backgrounds and minority students.Gillard and Cobb advocate for increased investment in education, stressing the long-term benefits and cost savings associated with improving educational outcomes. They draw parallels between Michigan and Massachusetts' academic success, emphasizing the need for strategic investments to narrow the gap. Despite recent progress, they call for continued efforts to fully fund the Opportunity Index and double funding for English learners, setting Michigan on a path toward greater opportunity and prosperity for all.

Michigan’s Children’s Matt Gillard sits down with Jeff Capizzano, President of the Policy Equity Group, to talk frankly about Governor Whitmer’s “PreK for All” plan now that expanding free 4-year-old preschool is moving closer to becoming reality with major state funding outlined in Whitmer’s proposed FY2025 budget recommendations. They discuss the plan’s “roadmap” for quickly expanding the state-funded preschool program at no cost to families, regardless of household income, while guarding against negatively impacting enrollment counts of private-pay, community-based child care providers. Capizzano, whose Washington, D.C. firm was hired by the Governor's office to work on an implementation strategy, said the final recommendations represent a comprehensive strategy to better compensate early childhood educators, support the varied needs of families, and maintain viable privately owned child care businesses. He warned against “cherry picking” certain recommendations over others.