In the Arena with NOW Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:09:21 -0400 https://www.networksofopportunity.org en-us © 2026 In the Arena with NOW yes 030bc579-2caf-5672-ac78-1626fc02dd2f NOW Vital Village episodic false In the Arena with NOW lifts up the voices of community leaders who are “in the arena” -- in classrooms, playgrounds, Congressional halls, hospitals, and neighborhood streets -- working to make sure that all children and families can live healthy, thriving lives. Each episode will delve into the experiences of local coalitions, residents, and experts who are working to create equitable systems of care and education. We’ll learn about what they are doing and why, challenges and successes faced, and advice for others seeking to build, grow, and sustain momentum for the long haul. Learn more at: https://www.networksofopportunity.org

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) health equity, community, coalition, early childhood, family, trauma informed, partnerships, social justice, mediation NOW Vital Village https://storage.buzzsprout.com/dbx5o4tlcmwoskhyy3y4i3cffshd?.jpg In the Arena with NOW https://www.networksofopportunity.org Held to Hold: How Reflective Supervision Builds Resilience Held to Hold: How Reflective Supervision Builds Resilience In this special crossover episode with Center for Care Innovations’s Health Pilots podcast, members of the BLOOM Clinic team at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland share how reflective supervision is helping them show up stronger for themselves, for each other, and for the families they serve. Hear as they discuss the emotional weight of pediatric primary care, the healing potential of reflective spaces, and how this trauma-informed, team-based model is helping to restore trust in healthcare, especially for Black families. Their story is one of mutual care, vulnerability, and collective strength.

Featuring members of the BLOOM Clinic team (Black Love Opportunity and Outcomes Improvement in Medicine Clinic) at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland: 

  • Dr. Dayna Long, Primary Care Pediatrician 
  • Dr. Justin Williams, Primary Care Pediatrician 
  • Toby Eastman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Fran Merriwether, Clinical Social Worker 
  • Lisette Mazon, Resource Navigator
  • Ronda Alexander, Former Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing & Center for Care Innovations

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Episode Edited By: Wayfare & Resonate Recordings 

]]> In this special crossover episode with Center for Care Innovations’s Health Pilots podcast, members of the BLOOM Clinic team at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland share how reflective supervision is helping them show up stronger for themselves, for each other, and for the families they serve. Hear as they discuss the emotional weight of pediatric primary care, the healing potential of reflective spaces, and how this trauma-informed, team-based model is helping to restore trust in healthcare, especially for Black families. Their story is one of mutual care, vulnerability, and collective strength.

Featuring members of the BLOOM Clinic team (Black Love Opportunity and Outcomes Improvement in Medicine Clinic) at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland: 

  • Dr. Dayna Long, Primary Care Pediatrician 
  • Dr. Justin Williams, Primary Care Pediatrician 
  • Toby Eastman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Fran Merriwether, Clinical Social Worker 
  • Lisette Mazon, Resource Navigator
  • Ronda Alexander, Former Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing & Center for Care Innovations

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Episode Edited By: Wayfare & Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-17557480 Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2982 3 9 full false Dignity-Centered Care: Deepening Equity in Community Health Dignity-Centered Care: Deepening Equity in Community Health In this special crossover episode with Center for Care Innovations’s Health Pilots podcast, we explore how the Petaluma Health Center team in Point Reyes and Bolinas is reshaping healthcare with a dignity-centered approach. We're joined by guests, Judith Bravo and Christina Gomez-Mira, as they share their journey of fostering equity, trust, and connection within their clinic and community through their work in CCI’s Resilient Beginnings Network and their collaboration with Vital Village Networks. Together, they reflect on what it takes to build a more equitable, trauma-informed healthcare space—not just for patients, but also for staff. From addressing power dynamics within the clinic to deepening engagement with their rural Latino community, they share key moments of growth, learning, and challenge.


Featured guest:

  • Judith Bravo, Patient Navigator, Point Reyes and Bolinas, Petaluma Health Center
  • Christina Gomez-Mira, MD: Medical Director at Point Reyes and Bolinas, Petaluma Health Center
  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing & Center for Care Innovations

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Episode Edited By: Wayfare & Resonate Recordings 

]]> In this special crossover episode with Center for Care Innovations’s Health Pilots podcast, we explore how the Petaluma Health Center team in Point Reyes and Bolinas is reshaping healthcare with a dignity-centered approach. We're joined by guests, Judith Bravo and Christina Gomez-Mira, as they share their journey of fostering equity, trust, and connection within their clinic and community through their work in CCI’s Resilient Beginnings Network and their collaboration with Vital Village Networks. Together, they reflect on what it takes to build a more equitable, trauma-informed healthcare space—not just for patients, but also for staff. From addressing power dynamics within the clinic to deepening engagement with their rural Latino community, they share key moments of growth, learning, and challenge.


Featured guest:

  • Judith Bravo, Patient Navigator, Point Reyes and Bolinas, Petaluma Health Center
  • Christina Gomez-Mira, MD: Medical Director at Point Reyes and Bolinas, Petaluma Health Center
  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing & Center for Care Innovations

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Episode Edited By: Wayfare & Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16991186 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400 1695 Season 3 3 8 full false The Power of Convivencia: Finding Connections through Community Care The Power of Convivencia: Finding Connections through Community Care In episode seven, we visit the community of Travis County, Texas and speak with Dr. Michelle Gallas, a pediatrician who has worked for the last decade caring for children and families facing complex medical and social challenges that impact their health and wellbeing. Dr. Gallas reflects on her own personal journey that transformed her care approach away from an “illness” model toward a “health promotion” model. Serving as the lead pediatrician for the Centering Parenting program, she evokes the power of convivencia - “coexistence” or “coliving”- outside the home, an important perspective learned from her patients. She shares more about how this innovative group-based model of care brings together children and families for group well child visits, peer learning, and meaningful connections across critical life stages in a child’s first three years. Dr. Gallas highlights the power that’s generated when you find people who share your passion, and reflects on how healthcare workers are uniquely positioned to honor the full spectrum of human connection - from pain to joy - through their work. 

Featured guest:

  • Dr. Michelle Gallas, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> In episode seven, we visit the community of Travis County, Texas and speak with Dr. Michelle Gallas, a pediatrician who has worked for the last decade caring for children and families facing complex medical and social challenges that impact their health and wellbeing. Dr. Gallas reflects on her own personal journey that transformed her care approach away from an “illness” model toward a “health promotion” model. Serving as the lead pediatrician for the Centering Parenting program, she evokes the power of convivencia - “coexistence” or “coliving”- outside the home, an important perspective learned from her patients. She shares more about how this innovative group-based model of care brings together children and families for group well child visits, peer learning, and meaningful connections across critical life stages in a child’s first three years. Dr. Gallas highlights the power that’s generated when you find people who share your passion, and reflects on how healthcare workers are uniquely positioned to honor the full spectrum of human connection - from pain to joy - through their work. 

Featured guest:

  • Dr. Michelle Gallas, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16825071 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400 1950 3 7 full false We Have the Answers: Centering Interconnected Healing and Community-Led Solutions We Have the Answers: Centering Interconnected Healing and Community-Led Solutions In our sixth episode, we continue our conversation with Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP), and a 2022 Community Food Systems Fellow. We learn more about CRYP's intentional approach to developing expansive programs that are centered on interconnected healing, including the WInyan Toka Win Garden, which was started by community elders — including Julie’s mother — and has since become the heart of the youth project’s Native food sovereignty initiative and a precious source of sustenance, healing, safety, and trust. Julie reflects on the inherent wisdom and self-sufficiency of communities, recognizing that “we have the answers, we have the solutions,” and speaks to the importance of changing how organizations do business so they are able to center healing and indigenous practices and strengthen pathways for future leaders. 

Featured guest:

  • Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> In our sixth episode, we continue our conversation with Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP), and a 2022 Community Food Systems Fellow. We learn more about CRYP's intentional approach to developing expansive programs that are centered on interconnected healing, including the WInyan Toka Win Garden, which was started by community elders — including Julie’s mother — and has since become the heart of the youth project’s Native food sovereignty initiative and a precious source of sustenance, healing, safety, and trust. Julie reflects on the inherent wisdom and self-sufficiency of communities, recognizing that “we have the answers, we have the solutions,” and speaks to the importance of changing how organizations do business so they are able to center healing and indigenous practices and strengthen pathways for future leaders. 

Featured guest:

  • Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16570171 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 1360 3 6 full false Young People are Community Power: Nurturing Culturally-Rooted Safe Spaces Young People are Community Power: Nurturing Culturally-Rooted Safe Spaces As we reflect on last year and look ahead to a new year, we draw inspiration from our powerful conversation with Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP), and a 2022 Community Food Systems Fellow. In our fifth episode, Julie reflects on her personal journey, family history and the community experiences deeply rooted in Lakota culture that have shaped her perspective of leadership as public service. She speaks to the importance of healing generational trauma through safe spaces and reclamation of culture and language with young people, and how these values have guided and strengthened CRYP's youth programming for more than 36 years. Julie affirms that “young people are community power” and that investing in future generations is critical for healing, sovereignty and a thriving future. 

Featured guest:

  • Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project 

Host: 

  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> As we reflect on last year and look ahead to a new year, we draw inspiration from our powerful conversation with Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP), and a 2022 Community Food Systems Fellow. In our fifth episode, Julie reflects on her personal journey, family history and the community experiences deeply rooted in Lakota culture that have shaped her perspective of leadership as public service. She speaks to the importance of healing generational trauma through safe spaces and reclamation of culture and language with young people, and how these values have guided and strengthened CRYP's youth programming for more than 36 years. Julie affirms that “young people are community power” and that investing in future generations is critical for healing, sovereignty and a thriving future. 

Featured guest:

  • Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project 

Host: 

  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16478524 Thu, 23 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500 1156 3 5 full false Radical Community Connection: Mia Birdsong on Interconnected Freedom and Leadership for the Future Radical Community Connection: Mia Birdsong on Interconnected Freedom and Leadership for the Future In our fourth episode, we tune in from Vital Village Networks’ 2024 annual National Community Leadership Summit in Boston, joined by hundreds of grassroots community leaders from across the country dedicated to designing new systems grounded in the joy of children, families, and communities. As we collectively navigate a time of transition, we return to the wisdom shared from this powerful conversation with author and futurist, Mia Birdsong, and Ronda Alexander, Vital Village’s Director of Partnerships. Mia reflects on her own personal experiences with radical connection and the path it offers as we imagine a future towards collective liberation and imaginative care for one another. She shares her journey of unlearning and relearning what it means to be free and the conditions that are critical to moving towards interconnected freedom, calling on us all to dream expansively and work together to build towards a world 100 years in the future. 

Featured guest:

  • Mia Birdsong, Futurist, Author and Executive Director of Next River: An Institute For Practicing the Future

Host: 

  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources: 

  • Next River - https://www.nextriver.org/
  • How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community - https://miabirdsong.com/how-we-show-up


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> In our fourth episode, we tune in from Vital Village Networks’ 2024 annual National Community Leadership Summit in Boston, joined by hundreds of grassroots community leaders from across the country dedicated to designing new systems grounded in the joy of children, families, and communities. As we collectively navigate a time of transition, we return to the wisdom shared from this powerful conversation with author and futurist, Mia Birdsong, and Ronda Alexander, Vital Village’s Director of Partnerships. Mia reflects on her own personal experiences with radical connection and the path it offers as we imagine a future towards collective liberation and imaginative care for one another. She shares her journey of unlearning and relearning what it means to be free and the conditions that are critical to moving towards interconnected freedom, calling on us all to dream expansively and work together to build towards a world 100 years in the future. 

Featured guest:

  • Mia Birdsong, Futurist, Author and Executive Director of Next River: An Institute For Practicing the Future

Host: 

  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources: 

  • Next River - https://www.nextriver.org/
  • How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community - https://miabirdsong.com/how-we-show-up


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16356641 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500 3476 Season 3 3 4 full true Inviting Others Into the Circle: The Ripple Effects of Community Power Inviting Others Into the Circle: The Ripple Effects of Community Power In our third episode, we join in a healing conversation with “woman of the community,” birth specialist, and Boston Breastfeeding Coalition (BBC) leader, Dominique Bellegarde. A true servant leader and long time Vital Village Networks champion for birthing people and families in Boston, Dominique shares how her personal experiences navigating motherhood and becoming a certified lactation counselor and educator shaped her journey of becoming an advocate. We learn more about the BBC’s efforts to create pathways for community scholars and design resources, such as their signature Breastfeeding Support Warmline, that responded to community needs and priorities.  She reflects on the unique role of coalitions, particularly in her field, to bring about collective action and demonstrating the power and ripple effects of helping others and inviting others into the “circle.”

Featured guest: Dominique Bellegarde, Community Advocate & Educator, Community Health Worker, Birth (full spectrum birth & postpartum attendant, doula) & Lactation Specialist (CLC & CLE), candidate for IBCLC, Enthusiast & Influencer, co- facilitate Baby Cafe & Mother Healing Nurturing Center and Founder of D. Legacy Pace Setters  

Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> In our third episode, we join in a healing conversation with “woman of the community,” birth specialist, and Boston Breastfeeding Coalition (BBC) leader, Dominique Bellegarde. A true servant leader and long time Vital Village Networks champion for birthing people and families in Boston, Dominique shares how her personal experiences navigating motherhood and becoming a certified lactation counselor and educator shaped her journey of becoming an advocate. We learn more about the BBC’s efforts to create pathways for community scholars and design resources, such as their signature Breastfeeding Support Warmline, that responded to community needs and priorities.  She reflects on the unique role of coalitions, particularly in her field, to bring about collective action and demonstrating the power and ripple effects of helping others and inviting others into the “circle.”

Featured guest: Dominique Bellegarde, Community Advocate & Educator, Community Health Worker, Birth (full spectrum birth & postpartum attendant, doula) & Lactation Specialist (CLC & CLE), candidate for IBCLC, Enthusiast & Influencer, co- facilitate Baby Cafe & Mother Healing Nurturing Center and Founder of D. Legacy Pace Setters  

Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16263520 Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1544 Season 3 3 3 full false How Can We Build Together? Parent Partnerships towards Collective Community Care How Can We Build Together? Parent Partnerships towards Collective Community Care In episode two, we continue our conversation with Josette Williams, long-time Vital Village Networks leader and Director of Boston Public Schools’ Countdown to Kindergarten. We delve deeper into what shared power and agency looks like in practice through building parent partnerships at Boston Public Schools and the city’s Office of Early Childhood. We learn about critical strategies to engage parents in processes to develop city priorities and embed restorative justice practices within family-facing systems and institutions. Josette highlights the important roles that we all play in the movement to transform systems and build collective community care, reminding us of our shared “responsibility…to work together and support one another” to change the decision making tables that impact how communities grow and thrive. 

Featured guest:

  • Josette Williams, Director, Countdown to Kindergarten, Boston Public Schools

Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> In episode two, we continue our conversation with Josette Williams, long-time Vital Village Networks leader and Director of Boston Public Schools’ Countdown to Kindergarten. We delve deeper into what shared power and agency looks like in practice through building parent partnerships at Boston Public Schools and the city’s Office of Early Childhood. We learn about critical strategies to engage parents in processes to develop city priorities and embed restorative justice practices within family-facing systems and institutions. Josette highlights the important roles that we all play in the movement to transform systems and build collective community care, reminding us of our shared “responsibility…to work together and support one another” to change the decision making tables that impact how communities grow and thrive. 

Featured guest:

  • Josette Williams, Director, Countdown to Kindergarten, Boston Public Schools

Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-16054308 Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1145 Season 3 3 2 full false Reimagining Parent and Family Leadership: Moving towards Shared Power and Agency Reimagining Parent and Family Leadership: Moving towards Shared Power and Agency Welcome back! We are excited to kick off our third season of In the Arena with NOW, where we explore two timely questions with community leaders across the country: What does it look like to harness, activate, and build community power? How can healing-centered advocacy transform systems and change policy? For the first episode of the season, long-time Vital Village Networks leader and founding circle member, Josette Williams, reminds us that for many, systems change advocacy is deeply rooted in our own personal journeys and early experiences that shape our understanding of who has access and opportunities to important community resources and spaces.  As Director of Boston Public Schools’ innovative Countdown to Kindergarten program, Josette asks us to rethink the oft- asked question, “Who has a seat at the table?” and consider, “How did we get to this table” and the historical and systemic processes that shape who has access and opportunity to decision making power within communities. Tune in to hear Josette explore what shared power looks like in practice between agencies and families in Boston and examples of strategies she has been leading to center parent and family leadership within community systems. 

Featured guest:

  • Josette Williams, Director, Countdown to Kindergarten, Boston Public Schools

Host: 

  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> Welcome back! We are excited to kick off our third season of In the Arena with NOW, where we explore two timely questions with community leaders across the country: What does it look like to harness, activate, and build community power? How can healing-centered advocacy transform systems and change policy? For the first episode of the season, long-time Vital Village Networks leader and founding circle member, Josette Williams, reminds us that for many, systems change advocacy is deeply rooted in our own personal journeys and early experiences that shape our understanding of who has access and opportunities to important community resources and spaces.  As Director of Boston Public Schools’ innovative Countdown to Kindergarten program, Josette asks us to rethink the oft- asked question, “Who has a seat at the table?” and consider, “How did we get to this table” and the historical and systemic processes that shape who has access and opportunity to decision making power within communities. Tune in to hear Josette explore what shared power looks like in practice between agencies and families in Boston and examples of strategies she has been leading to center parent and family leadership within community systems. 

Featured guest:

  • Josette Williams, Director, Countdown to Kindergarten, Boston Public Schools

Host: 

  • Ronda Alexander, Director of National Partnerships, NOW at Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-15984827 Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0400 1564 Season 3 3 1 full false Liberating Our Joy with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts Liberating Our Joy with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts We’re excited to share with you a special bonus episode as we reflect on the year and look ahead to 2024. We return again to Vital Village Networks’ annual National Community Leadership Summit, and tune in this time to our 2022 keynote conversation with writer, storyteller, and educator, Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts. She is the award-winning author of Black Joy and shares with us a powerful reflection of what it means to make room for joy -- in all of its forms -- and what it looks like for joy to co-exist in the same vessel as pain, grief, and trauma. She draws upon deeply personal and painful experiences to deepen our understanding of Black joy and what it can offer all of us as a path forward to healing and restoration. We hope you enjoy this conversation and look forward to connecting in the new year. 

Featured guest:

  • Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts, writer, storyteller, and educator; author of Black Joy 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Additional Resources:


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> We’re excited to share with you a special bonus episode as we reflect on the year and look ahead to 2024. We return again to Vital Village Networks’ annual National Community Leadership Summit, and tune in this time to our 2022 keynote conversation with writer, storyteller, and educator, Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts. She is the award-winning author of Black Joy and shares with us a powerful reflection of what it means to make room for joy -- in all of its forms -- and what it looks like for joy to co-exist in the same vessel as pain, grief, and trauma. She draws upon deeply personal and painful experiences to deepen our understanding of Black joy and what it can offer all of us as a path forward to healing and restoration. We hope you enjoy this conversation and look forward to connecting in the new year. 

Featured guest:

  • Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts, writer, storyteller, and educator; author of Black Joy 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Additional Resources:


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-14175753 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500 2369 Season 2 2 9 bonus false Know Your Power: Camille Bennett on Coalition Building, Advocacy and Partnership Know Your Power: Camille Bennett on Coalition Building, Advocacy and Partnership In our final episode of the season, we return to Vital Village Networks’ 10th annual National Community Leadership Summit and tune into the dynamic closing keynote conversation with Camille Bennett, Founder and Executive Director of Project Say Something. Connecting the personal and political, Camille speaks to her and her family’s multi-generational work advocating for racial justice in Alabama. She shares the efforts that she and coalitions are leading to dismantle white supremacist culture and fight against anti-Black policies, lifting up how grassroots efforts are seeking to promote education and reproductive justice. She explores what partnership with community looks like in policy and advocacy, and the need to affirm and elevate community power.

Featured guest:

  • Camille Bennett, Founder and Executive Director, Project Say Something ​ 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Additional Resources:


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Recorded by: MediaBoss

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> In our final episode of the season, we return to Vital Village Networks’ 10th annual National Community Leadership Summit and tune into the dynamic closing keynote conversation with Camille Bennett, Founder and Executive Director of Project Say Something. Connecting the personal and political, Camille speaks to her and her family’s multi-generational work advocating for racial justice in Alabama. She shares the efforts that she and coalitions are leading to dismantle white supremacist culture and fight against anti-Black policies, lifting up how grassroots efforts are seeking to promote education and reproductive justice. She explores what partnership with community looks like in policy and advocacy, and the need to affirm and elevate community power.

Featured guest:

  • Camille Bennett, Founder and Executive Director, Project Say Something ​ 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Additional Resources:


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Recorded by: MediaBoss

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-14106057 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500 1905 Season 2 2 8 full false Writing Our Story: Kiese Laymon on Joy, Justice, and Healing Writing Our Story: Kiese Laymon on Joy, Justice, and Healing In this special episode, we tune in from Vital Village Networks’ 10th annual National Community Leadership Summit, where hundreds of grassroots community leaders gathered in Boston in October. Hear opening remarks from Founding Director, Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett, followed by an intimate conversation with best-selling author and educator Kiese Laymon and Ronda Alexander, Vital Village’s Director of Partnerships. Delving into the summit theme, Writing Our Story, Kiese reflects on his personal journey growing up in Jackson, Mississippi with radical honesty and vulnerability, sharing insights on racism, family, dignity, and the power of sitting in grief. He explores what joy, healing, and justice look like and the importance of writing, telling, and owning our own narratives. 

Featured guest:

  • Kiese Laymon, Bestselling Author, Social Critic, and Essayist
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Additional Resources:

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Recorded by: MediaBoss
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings

Please note, this episode does contain some adult language.

]]> In this special episode, we tune in from Vital Village Networks’ 10th annual National Community Leadership Summit, where hundreds of grassroots community leaders gathered in Boston in October. Hear opening remarks from Founding Director, Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett, followed by an intimate conversation with best-selling author and educator Kiese Laymon and Ronda Alexander, Vital Village’s Director of Partnerships. Delving into the summit theme, Writing Our Story, Kiese reflects on his personal journey growing up in Jackson, Mississippi with radical honesty and vulnerability, sharing insights on racism, family, dignity, and the power of sitting in grief. He explores what joy, healing, and justice look like and the importance of writing, telling, and owning our own narratives. 

Featured guest:

  • Kiese Laymon, Bestselling Author, Social Critic, and Essayist
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Additional Resources:

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Recorded by: MediaBoss
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings

Please note, this episode does contain some adult language.

]]> Buzzsprout-13977945 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500 2388 2 7 full true Local Leaders Have the Solutions: Shared Power and Lifelong Learning Local Leaders Have the Solutions: Shared Power and Lifelong Learning We continue our conversation with Inés Palmarin, a long-time Boston community builder, coalition co-founder, and Vital Village National Advisory Board member dedicated to holding and creating space for mothers to connect and create solutions together. Inés unpacks what collaborative and shared leadership looks like, and shares more about her work with community economic development and other collaborative efforts that seek to ensure local resident leaders and young people not only have a voice but meaningful and authentic decision making power. We explore with Inés the importance of embracing lifelong learning and how to honor grace, hope, and dignity for ourselves, each other, and future generations of leaders to come.  

Featured guest:

  • Inés Palmarin, Co Founder of Boston Mothers Care & Community Weaver /Vital Village Board Member
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Register for the 10th National Community Leadership Summit: https://www.vitalvillagesummit.org/register

Learn more about Boston Mothers Care: https://www.bostonmotherscare.org/ 


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> We continue our conversation with Inés Palmarin, a long-time Boston community builder, coalition co-founder, and Vital Village National Advisory Board member dedicated to holding and creating space for mothers to connect and create solutions together. Inés unpacks what collaborative and shared leadership looks like, and shares more about her work with community economic development and other collaborative efforts that seek to ensure local resident leaders and young people not only have a voice but meaningful and authentic decision making power. We explore with Inés the importance of embracing lifelong learning and how to honor grace, hope, and dignity for ourselves, each other, and future generations of leaders to come.  

Featured guest:

  • Inés Palmarin, Co Founder of Boston Mothers Care & Community Weaver /Vital Village Board Member
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Register for the 10th National Community Leadership Summit: https://www.vitalvillagesummit.org/register

Learn more about Boston Mothers Care: https://www.bostonmotherscare.org/ 


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-13722956 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1250 Season 2 2 6 full false Finding Hope in Each Other: Centering Trust and “Heart Work” through Collaborative Action Finding Hope in Each Other: Centering Trust and “Heart Work” through Collaborative Action How can we practice collaborative relationships differently? For Inés Palmarin, long-time Boston community builder, coalition leader and Vital Village National Advisory Board member, this starts with building trust and creating intentional spaces to connect around our shared “why” and hopes for our communities. Ines reflects on her own personal journey, the creation of the Boston Mothers Care coalition, and the evolution of collaborative practices that seek to center racial equity. We explore with Inés what it looks like to sustain “heart work” within coalitions to create wellbeing and opportunity for children and families to thrive.


Featured guest:

  • Inés Palmarin, Co Founder of Boston Mothers Care & Community Weaver /Vital Village Board Member
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Register for the 10th National Community Leadership Summit: https://www.vitalvillagesummit.org/register

Learn more about Boston Mothers Care: https://www.bostonmotherscare.org/

Additional Resources:
Explore the featured resource from the NOW Resource Library, Building Diverse Community Based Coalitions, here: https://www.networksofopportunity.org/resources/Building-Diverse-Community-Based-Coalitions 

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> How can we practice collaborative relationships differently? For Inés Palmarin, long-time Boston community builder, coalition leader and Vital Village National Advisory Board member, this starts with building trust and creating intentional spaces to connect around our shared “why” and hopes for our communities. Ines reflects on her own personal journey, the creation of the Boston Mothers Care coalition, and the evolution of collaborative practices that seek to center racial equity. We explore with Inés what it looks like to sustain “heart work” within coalitions to create wellbeing and opportunity for children and families to thrive.


Featured guest:

  • Inés Palmarin, Co Founder of Boston Mothers Care & Community Weaver /Vital Village Board Member
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Register for the 10th National Community Leadership Summit: https://www.vitalvillagesummit.org/register

Learn more about Boston Mothers Care: https://www.bostonmotherscare.org/

Additional Resources:
Explore the featured resource from the NOW Resource Library, Building Diverse Community Based Coalitions, here: https://www.networksofopportunity.org/resources/Building-Diverse-Community-Based-Coalitions 

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-13627676 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1077 Season 2 2 5 full false Community Ownership of Change: Supporting Co-Design in Research Community Ownership of Change: Supporting Co-Design in Research Tune into the next part of our conversation with Reann Gibson, a community-based researcher, community changemaker, and social justice advocate in Boston and beyond. Reann delves further into her experiences with facilitating community-based participatory research and coalition building efforts, asking the critical question, “What does it mean to create spaces with community ownership of change?” particularly in the realm of health and wellbeing research. We explore what it looks like to create spaces where community members have the resources -- and the power -- to co-design research, and other community initiatives, and how collaboration rather than competition can help foster innovation and transformation. 

Featured guest:

  • Reann Gibson, Community researcher and social justice advocate 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Read Reann’s latest article on ownership of change at: https://www.rwjf.org/en/insights/blog/2023/06/researchers-build-community-power-to-influence-health-in-gentrifing-neighborhoods.html?channelid=xsp&cid=1003629

Register for the 10th National Community Leadership Summit at: https://www.vitalvillagesummit.org/register 


Additional Resource:

Explore the featured resource from the NOW Resource Library, Beyond Lessons In The Field: Community Engagement in Promise Neighborhoods, here: https://www.networksofopportunity.org/resources/Beyond-Lessons-In-The-Field%3A-Community-Engagement-in-Promise-Neighborhoods 


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> Tune into the next part of our conversation with Reann Gibson, a community-based researcher, community changemaker, and social justice advocate in Boston and beyond. Reann delves further into her experiences with facilitating community-based participatory research and coalition building efforts, asking the critical question, “What does it mean to create spaces with community ownership of change?” particularly in the realm of health and wellbeing research. We explore what it looks like to create spaces where community members have the resources -- and the power -- to co-design research, and other community initiatives, and how collaboration rather than competition can help foster innovation and transformation. 

Featured guest:

  • Reann Gibson, Community researcher and social justice advocate 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Read Reann’s latest article on ownership of change at: https://www.rwjf.org/en/insights/blog/2023/06/researchers-build-community-power-to-influence-health-in-gentrifing-neighborhoods.html?channelid=xsp&cid=1003629

Register for the 10th National Community Leadership Summit at: https://www.vitalvillagesummit.org/register 


Additional Resource:

Explore the featured resource from the NOW Resource Library, Beyond Lessons In The Field: Community Engagement in Promise Neighborhoods, here: https://www.networksofopportunity.org/resources/Beyond-Lessons-In-The-Field%3A-Community-Engagement-in-Promise-Neighborhoods 


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-13456948 Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1171 Season 2 2 4 full false Inclusive Leadership and Healing through Collaborative Action Inclusive Leadership and Healing through Collaborative Action How can collaborative action support joy and community healing? And what does this mean for how we define and understand leadership? In our next episode, we speak with Reann Gibson, a community-based researcher, community changemaker, and an advocate for social justice in the fields of health equity, food systems, community development and more. Reann reflects on her decades-long work to support food access, transformation justice and community-based participatory research in the Boston area and shares how collaborative action can shift the narrative of leadership, making space for all different types of leaders. We explore with Reann the power of fostering community-controlled and authentic spaces to support long term healing, and how participatory research efforts, such as the Healthy Neighborhood Study, can offer important lessons for creating these opportunities. 

Featured guest:

  • Reann Gibson, Community researcher and social justice advocate 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources from the episode:

Additional Resource:

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> How can collaborative action support joy and community healing? And what does this mean for how we define and understand leadership? In our next episode, we speak with Reann Gibson, a community-based researcher, community changemaker, and an advocate for social justice in the fields of health equity, food systems, community development and more. Reann reflects on her decades-long work to support food access, transformation justice and community-based participatory research in the Boston area and shares how collaborative action can shift the narrative of leadership, making space for all different types of leaders. We explore with Reann the power of fostering community-controlled and authentic spaces to support long term healing, and how participatory research efforts, such as the Healthy Neighborhood Study, can offer important lessons for creating these opportunities. 

Featured guest:

  • Reann Gibson, Community researcher and social justice advocate 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Resources from the episode:

Additional Resource:

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-13378137 Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1134 Season 2 2 3 full false Powerful Pathways Part 2: Collective Imagination to Build a Just Future Powerful Pathways Part 2: Collective Imagination to Build a Just Future In our second episode of the season, we continue the conversation with Allentza Michel, of Powerful Pathways, who reflects on the evolution of creative placemaking and community-led design work and her hopes for the future. We unpack the challenges faced in advancing systems change and navigating the fear of change in transforming oppressive systems. Allentza discusses the critical role of imagination, and how Powerful Pathways is creating spaces and opportunities to bring people together across differences, to be able to collectively imagine and build a just future together.  

Featured guest:

  • Allentza Michel, Powerful Pathways 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Learn more and stay connected at: https://powerfulpathways.org/

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> In our second episode of the season, we continue the conversation with Allentza Michel, of Powerful Pathways, who reflects on the evolution of creative placemaking and community-led design work and her hopes for the future. We unpack the challenges faced in advancing systems change and navigating the fear of change in transforming oppressive systems. Allentza discusses the critical role of imagination, and how Powerful Pathways is creating spaces and opportunities to bring people together across differences, to be able to collectively imagine and build a just future together.  

Featured guest:

  • Allentza Michel, Powerful Pathways 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Networks

Learn more and stay connected at: https://powerfulpathways.org/

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0
Edited By: Resonate Recordings 

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-13296050 Thu, 27 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1118 Season 2 2 2 full false Powerful Pathways through Creative Placemaking and Community-Led Design Powerful Pathways through Creative Placemaking and Community-Led Design Welcome to Season 2 of In the Arena with NOW! As organizers, advocates, and communities continue to work towards systems transformation, what does it look like to make cities more equitable and sustainable? And, what can we learn from leaders who are centering anti-racism and anti-classism through creative placemaking and equitable community design? In our first episode of the season, we speak with Allentza Michel, of Powerful Pathways, who has long been leading efforts to elevate community leadership at the intersection of community design, urban planning, and arts and culture work. We learn more about the need for social change agents and creative thinkers more broadly, particularly in the realm of public policy and community development planning processes that have historically excluded community voices and leadership. Hear more about Allentza’s journey, hear examples of bright spots in Boston, MA, and unpack what it means to shift away from creating policies “for” community and instead design and make policy decisions “with” community. 

Featured guest:

  • Allentza Michel, Powerful Pathways 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Learn more and stay connected at: https://powerfulpathways.org/ 

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> Welcome to Season 2 of In the Arena with NOW! As organizers, advocates, and communities continue to work towards systems transformation, what does it look like to make cities more equitable and sustainable? And, what can we learn from leaders who are centering anti-racism and anti-classism through creative placemaking and equitable community design? In our first episode of the season, we speak with Allentza Michel, of Powerful Pathways, who has long been leading efforts to elevate community leadership at the intersection of community design, urban planning, and arts and culture work. We learn more about the need for social change agents and creative thinkers more broadly, particularly in the realm of public policy and community development planning processes that have historically excluded community voices and leadership. Hear more about Allentza’s journey, hear examples of bright spots in Boston, MA, and unpack what it means to shift away from creating policies “for” community and instead design and make policy decisions “with” community. 

Featured guest:

  • Allentza Michel, Powerful Pathways 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Learn more and stay connected at: https://powerfulpathways.org/ 

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music: Want U W/ Me (Instrumental Mix), by Akira Sora, From the Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Edited By: Resonate Recordings

]]> Buzzsprout-13179367 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1276 Season 2 2 1 full false The LIFE Project: Building on The Strengths Of Immigrant Families To Promote Quality Early Care And Education Access The LIFE Project: Building on The Strengths Of Immigrant Families To Promote Quality Early Care And Education Access Based in New York City, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), in partnership with Fifth Avenue Committee, LSA Family Health Service,  BACDYS (Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services), and Masa, launched the Linking Immigrant Families to Quality Early Care and Education (LIFE) Project to connect quality early education to immigrant families including the city's Pre-K and 3K programs. Their work builds on the passion that immigrant families have for educational opportunities and existing relationships with community programs, identifies unique barriers and challenges faced by immigrant families, and aims to build trusting relationships with the communities served. In our final episode of Season 1, we learn from Rosario, Liza, and Kim, members and leaders of the LIFE Project. Guests reflect on what brought them to this work, the strength of the communities they work with, and the lessons learned as they champion for a more equitable early education system in New York City for immigrant communities. 

To learn more about the New York Immigration Coalition and their projects please visit, https://www.nyic.org/.

Guests include:

  • Rosario Jimenez, Community Health Worker & Early Care Education Advocate, LSA Family Health Service Inc
  • Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition 
  • Kim Sykes, Director of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings


]]> Based in New York City, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), in partnership with Fifth Avenue Committee, LSA Family Health Service,  BACDYS (Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services), and Masa, launched the Linking Immigrant Families to Quality Early Care and Education (LIFE) Project to connect quality early education to immigrant families including the city's Pre-K and 3K programs. Their work builds on the passion that immigrant families have for educational opportunities and existing relationships with community programs, identifies unique barriers and challenges faced by immigrant families, and aims to build trusting relationships with the communities served. In our final episode of Season 1, we learn from Rosario, Liza, and Kim, members and leaders of the LIFE Project. Guests reflect on what brought them to this work, the strength of the communities they work with, and the lessons learned as they champion for a more equitable early education system in New York City for immigrant communities. 

To learn more about the New York Immigration Coalition and their projects please visit, https://www.nyic.org/.

Guests include:

  • Rosario Jimenez, Community Health Worker & Early Care Education Advocate, LSA Family Health Service Inc
  • Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition 
  • Kim Sykes, Director of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings


]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-8592013 Wed, 26 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400 1738 1 15 full false Austin Neighborhood Network: The Value of Collaboration & Community Driven Vision Austin Neighborhood Network: The Value of Collaboration & Community Driven Vision What does it look like to engage with community stakeholders to co-design a community plan for revitalization that authentically centers the needs of the local neighborhood? In our 14th episode we feature Austin Neighborhood Network, located in the largest geographic neighborhood of Chicago, to learn more about their participatory efforts to collectively transform their community. Listen in to learn more from Jose Abonce, Ruth Kimble, and Sandra Diaz, as they share the successes, challenges, and insight about how their coalition works to build up community infrastructure by following four of the highest priorities set by community members as part of their Quality of Life Plan, including 1) access to quality early learning opportunities, 2) living wage careers, 3) safe neighborhoods and, and 4) healthy and affordable housing.  

To learn more about the Network and their backbone organization, Austin Coming Together visit their website https://austincomingtogether.org/.

  • Jose Abonce, Lead Organizer, Austin Coming Together
  • Ruth Kimbel, Community Partner & Owner/ Operator of Austin Childcare Provider’s Network
  • Sandra Diaz, HUB Coordinator, Austin Coming Together
  •  Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings



]]> What does it look like to engage with community stakeholders to co-design a community plan for revitalization that authentically centers the needs of the local neighborhood? In our 14th episode we feature Austin Neighborhood Network, located in the largest geographic neighborhood of Chicago, to learn more about their participatory efforts to collectively transform their community. Listen in to learn more from Jose Abonce, Ruth Kimble, and Sandra Diaz, as they share the successes, challenges, and insight about how their coalition works to build up community infrastructure by following four of the highest priorities set by community members as part of their Quality of Life Plan, including 1) access to quality early learning opportunities, 2) living wage careers, 3) safe neighborhoods and, and 4) healthy and affordable housing.  

To learn more about the Network and their backbone organization, Austin Coming Together visit their website https://austincomingtogether.org/.

  • Jose Abonce, Lead Organizer, Austin Coming Together
  • Ruth Kimbel, Community Partner & Owner/ Operator of Austin Childcare Provider’s Network
  • Sandra Diaz, HUB Coordinator, Austin Coming Together
  •  Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings



]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-8390540 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0400 1579 #thisispublichealth, #earlychildhood, #equity, #chicago 1 14 full false Essex County Council for Young Children: Centering Parent Leadership to Foster a Trauma Informed Newark Essex County Council for Young Children: Centering Parent Leadership to Foster a Trauma Informed Newark What does it look like to create a trauma-informed early care and education community? Why is centering parent leaders critical to achieving this vision? In our 13th episode, we learn about the innovative work that the Essex County Council for Young Children (ECCYC) is leading to foster meaningful cross-sector partnerships between agencies and parents to create healthy, thriving, and resilient communities. Based in Newark, New Jersey, ECCYC is made up of a coalition of parents and families, along with providers and other community members as active partners, who identify and discuss the issues that affect the health, education and safety of children from pregnancy to eight in Essex County, including the important role of childhood trauma and adverse early experience. A leading statewide model for authentic parent engagement and leadership, ECCYC is made up of majority parent involvement in key leadership roles and is actively working with peer communities to share their trauma-informed and parent leadership approach across the state of New Jersey. Through our conversation, we learn about why parent leadership matters, their cross-sector collaborative approach, and the importance of meeting people where they are at and honoring each of our gifts in this work. Learn more and stay connected with ECCYC at https://www.facebook.com/Essex.Council. 

Guests include:

  • Dr. Beverly Lynn, CEO, Programs for Parents, Inc
  • Judy Bennett, Consultant to Essex County Council for Young Children 
  • Altorice Frazier, Parent, Essex County Council for Young Children Co-Chair; Executive Director, Parents Engaging Parents 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited by: Diana Rivera

]]> What does it look like to create a trauma-informed early care and education community? Why is centering parent leaders critical to achieving this vision? In our 13th episode, we learn about the innovative work that the Essex County Council for Young Children (ECCYC) is leading to foster meaningful cross-sector partnerships between agencies and parents to create healthy, thriving, and resilient communities. Based in Newark, New Jersey, ECCYC is made up of a coalition of parents and families, along with providers and other community members as active partners, who identify and discuss the issues that affect the health, education and safety of children from pregnancy to eight in Essex County, including the important role of childhood trauma and adverse early experience. A leading statewide model for authentic parent engagement and leadership, ECCYC is made up of majority parent involvement in key leadership roles and is actively working with peer communities to share their trauma-informed and parent leadership approach across the state of New Jersey. Through our conversation, we learn about why parent leadership matters, their cross-sector collaborative approach, and the importance of meeting people where they are at and honoring each of our gifts in this work. Learn more and stay connected with ECCYC at https://www.facebook.com/Essex.Council. 

Guests include:

  • Dr. Beverly Lynn, CEO, Programs for Parents, Inc
  • Judy Bennett, Consultant to Essex County Council for Young Children 
  • Altorice Frazier, Parent, Essex County Council for Young Children Co-Chair; Executive Director, Parents Engaging Parents 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited by: Diana Rivera

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-6879911 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:00:00 -0500 1504 1 13 full false Brazelton Touchpoints Center: Honoring the Strengths and Expertise of Children and Caregivers Brazelton Touchpoints Center: Honoring the Strengths and Expertise of Children and Caregivers How can providers honor the children and caregivers they work with as the experts of their own lives? In our 12th episode we feature Brazelton Touchpoints Center, located in Boston, Massachusetts, to learn about shifting to mental models that honor the dignity of children and their caregivers, a key strategy for creating a sustainable world where children grow up to be thriving adults in their local community. Listen along as we hear from Josh Sparrow and Mindy May share the story of Brazelton Touchpoints Center, their experiences with shifting mental models in their efforts to make the Brazelton vision become reality, and the lessons learned as mentors in the NOW Learning Community. 

To learn more about the dignity framework developed by Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, visit https://www.ubunturesearch.com.

To find out more about Brazelton Touchpoints Center and its professional development offerings on changing mindsets, visit https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/. 

Guests include:

  • Josh Sparrow, Executive Director, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Mindy May, Director of Partnership and Professional Development, Brazelton Touchpoints Center
  •  Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited By: Tiffany Rodriguez


]]> How can providers honor the children and caregivers they work with as the experts of their own lives? In our 12th episode we feature Brazelton Touchpoints Center, located in Boston, Massachusetts, to learn about shifting to mental models that honor the dignity of children and their caregivers, a key strategy for creating a sustainable world where children grow up to be thriving adults in their local community. Listen along as we hear from Josh Sparrow and Mindy May share the story of Brazelton Touchpoints Center, their experiences with shifting mental models in their efforts to make the Brazelton vision become reality, and the lessons learned as mentors in the NOW Learning Community. 

To learn more about the dignity framework developed by Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, visit https://www.ubunturesearch.com.

To find out more about Brazelton Touchpoints Center and its professional development offerings on changing mindsets, visit https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/. 

Guests include:

  • Josh Sparrow, Executive Director, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Mindy May, Director of Partnership and Professional Development, Brazelton Touchpoints Center
  •  Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited By: Tiffany Rodriguez


]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-5657857 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0400 1827 #thisispublichealth, #earlychildhood, #equity 1 12 full false Family Engagement Network: Supporting Families is the Key to Successful Workforce Development Family Engagement Network: Supporting Families is the Key to Successful Workforce Development What are the critical components of a successful workforce development program? The Family Engagement Network (FEN), located in Pima County Arizona, is leading the way in a holistic and family-centered approach to supporting caregivers and their families to empower themselves through the opportunity to build critical workforce skills. In our 11th episode, we hear from Lorena, a parent champion in the workforce program, who shares her experience in the program. We then learn from FEN members, Heather, Tamara, and Pam, who discuss the importance of centering families and how they navigate the needs and desires of families as a unit to improve how the network serves its community. 

Guests include:

  • Lorena Robles, Parent Champion, Family Engagement Network 
  •  Heather Friedman, Pima North Regional Director, First Things First
  •  Tamara Nicolosi, Director of Business Development and Engagement, Pima Community College
  •  Pam Valencia,  Workforce Enrollment Specialist, Pima County Arizona at Work
  •  Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Camila Beiner




]]> What are the critical components of a successful workforce development program? The Family Engagement Network (FEN), located in Pima County Arizona, is leading the way in a holistic and family-centered approach to supporting caregivers and their families to empower themselves through the opportunity to build critical workforce skills. In our 11th episode, we hear from Lorena, a parent champion in the workforce program, who shares her experience in the program. We then learn from FEN members, Heather, Tamara, and Pam, who discuss the importance of centering families and how they navigate the needs and desires of families as a unit to improve how the network serves its community. 

Guests include:

  • Lorena Robles, Parent Champion, Family Engagement Network 
  •  Heather Friedman, Pima North Regional Director, First Things First
  •  Tamara Nicolosi, Director of Business Development and Engagement, Pima Community College
  •  Pam Valencia,  Workforce Enrollment Specialist, Pima County Arizona at Work
  •  Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Camila Beiner




]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-5227489 Mon, 31 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1339 #InTheArenaWithNOW, #podcasts 1 11 full false Adelante, Adelante: El movimiento hacia la justicia del idioma y la equidad/Adelante, Adelante: The Movement Towards Language Justice and Equity Adelante, Adelante: El movimiento hacia la justicia del idioma y la equidad/Adelante, Adelante: The Movement Towards Language Justice and Equity Episodio 10: Adelante, Adelante: El movimiento hacia la justicia del idioma y la equidad


Con sede en el condado de Jefferson, Colorado, la coalición Adelante es una red de familias, agencias y organizaciones que toma en cuenta la voz de la comunidad LatinX y hace decisiones con respecto a la salud y la educación. En nuestro décimo episodio, presentamos nuestro primer podcast bilingüe en el que practicamos la justicia del idioma hablando con tres líderes en el centro de Adelante: Cynthia Zapata, Lorena García y Paulina Erices. Estas líderes reflexionan sobre la importancia de reunirse con las familias y comunidades hispanas donde se encuentran a través de lugares culturalmente inclusivos donde pueden sentirse apoyados y respetados con dignidad, para liderar el cambio que desean ver en su propia comunidad querida. La transcripción en inglés se puede encontrar aquí:

Los invitados incluyen:

  • Cynthia Zapata, Campeona de la comunidad y Coordinadora de redes, Adelante
  • Lorena García, Coordinadora de red, Adelante
  • Paulina Erices, Coordinadora de red, Adelante
  • Camila Beiner, campeona de justicia de idiomas y entrevistadora, Vital Village Network


English transcript can be found here: https://bit.ly/Adelante-podcast-transcript-english
Based in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Adelante coalition is a network of families, agencies, and organizations that brings the voice of the LatinX community to decision making regarding health and education. In our tenth episode, we present our very first bilingual podcast episode in which we practice language justice by speaking with three leaders at the heart of Adelante: Cynthia Zapata, Lorena Garcia, and Paulina Erices. These leaders reflect on the importance of meeting Spanish speaking families and communities where they are at through culturally inclusive places where they can feel supported and respected with dignity, in order to lead the change that they want to see in their own beloved comunidad. 


Guests include:

  • Cynthia Zapata, Community Champion & Network Coordinator, Adelante
  • Lorena Garcia, Network Coordinator, Adelante
  • Paulina Erices, Network Coordinator, Adelante
  • Camila Beiner, Language Justice Champion & Interviewer, Vital Village Networks



Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Camila Beiner


]]> Episodio 10: Adelante, Adelante: El movimiento hacia la justicia del idioma y la equidad


Con sede en el condado de Jefferson, Colorado, la coalición Adelante es una red de familias, agencias y organizaciones que toma en cuenta la voz de la comunidad LatinX y hace decisiones con respecto a la salud y la educación. En nuestro décimo episodio, presentamos nuestro primer podcast bilingüe en el que practicamos la justicia del idioma hablando con tres líderes en el centro de Adelante: Cynthia Zapata, Lorena García y Paulina Erices. Estas líderes reflexionan sobre la importancia de reunirse con las familias y comunidades hispanas donde se encuentran a través de lugares culturalmente inclusivos donde pueden sentirse apoyados y respetados con dignidad, para liderar el cambio que desean ver en su propia comunidad querida. La transcripción en inglés se puede encontrar aquí:

Los invitados incluyen:

  • Cynthia Zapata, Campeona de la comunidad y Coordinadora de redes, Adelante
  • Lorena García, Coordinadora de red, Adelante
  • Paulina Erices, Coordinadora de red, Adelante
  • Camila Beiner, campeona de justicia de idiomas y entrevistadora, Vital Village Network


English transcript can be found here: https://bit.ly/Adelante-podcast-transcript-english
Based in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Adelante coalition is a network of families, agencies, and organizations that brings the voice of the LatinX community to decision making regarding health and education. In our tenth episode, we present our very first bilingual podcast episode in which we practice language justice by speaking with three leaders at the heart of Adelante: Cynthia Zapata, Lorena Garcia, and Paulina Erices. These leaders reflect on the importance of meeting Spanish speaking families and communities where they are at through culturally inclusive places where they can feel supported and respected with dignity, in order to lead the change that they want to see in their own beloved comunidad. 


Guests include:

  • Cynthia Zapata, Community Champion & Network Coordinator, Adelante
  • Lorena Garcia, Network Coordinator, Adelante
  • Paulina Erices, Network Coordinator, Adelante
  • Camila Beiner, Language Justice Champion & Interviewer, Vital Village Networks



Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Camila Beiner


]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-4742549 Mon, 27 Jul 2020 21:00:00 -0400 1812 1 10 full false From Data to Action: Community Stories Lead to Policy Change From Data to Action: Community Stories Lead to Policy Change How can we use data to tell community stories and create actionable change? What is the role of narrative in advancing equitable policies that improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families? In our ninth episode, we explore these questions with Allison Bovell-Ammon and Dr. Megan Sandel of Children’s HealthWatch (CHW). Headquartered at Boston Medical Center, CHW is a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts working to improve the health and development of young children by informing policies that address and alleviate economic hardships. Through our conversation, we learn about CHW’s collaborative efforts to advocate for holistic and innovative policy solutions that are grounded in community voices and address root causes of health inequity, including their policy efforts to design pathways to stable homes and expand access to Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits. Learn more about their efforts, including resources and supports for families to find safe and secure housing during COVID-19, at: https://childrenshealthwatch.org/. 


Guests include:

  • Allison Bovell-Ammon, Director of Policy Strategy, Children’s HealthWatch
  • Dr. Megan Sandel, Co-Lead Principal Investigator, Children’s HealthWatch
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland


]]> How can we use data to tell community stories and create actionable change? What is the role of narrative in advancing equitable policies that improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families? In our ninth episode, we explore these questions with Allison Bovell-Ammon and Dr. Megan Sandel of Children’s HealthWatch (CHW). Headquartered at Boston Medical Center, CHW is a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts working to improve the health and development of young children by informing policies that address and alleviate economic hardships. Through our conversation, we learn about CHW’s collaborative efforts to advocate for holistic and innovative policy solutions that are grounded in community voices and address root causes of health inequity, including their policy efforts to design pathways to stable homes and expand access to Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits. Learn more about their efforts, including resources and supports for families to find safe and secure housing during COVID-19, at: https://childrenshealthwatch.org/. 


Guests include:

  • Allison Bovell-Ammon, Director of Policy Strategy, Children’s HealthWatch
  • Dr. Megan Sandel, Co-Lead Principal Investigator, Children’s HealthWatch
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland


]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-3949346 Thu, 28 May 2020 10:00:00 -0400 1775 1 9 full false Residents Driving Change: The Community Solutions Grant Program Residents Driving Change: The Community Solutions Grant Program What would it look like if every community had the resources and support to be in charge of their own change and transformation? The Voices and Choices for Children coalition has been working to drive equitable processes for improving childhood health, educational, and economic outcomes, as well as improving the representation and leadership of communities of color and American Indian communities across the state of Minnesota by partnering with parents, state agencies, non-profits and community stakeholders. In our eighth episode, we learn from three coalition members who believe in walking the talk of centering the dignity of children and their communities by unapologetically addressing implicit bias that exists in the fundamental mental models that have driven the system in which we live in. They share their coalitions experience passing legislation to invest in their community, the importance of persistence when shifting mindsets, and the hope that they have for the future the Community Solutions Grant Program and the children living in the state of Minnesota.  


Guests include:

  • Dianne Haulcy, Senior Vice President of Family Engagement, Think Small - Minnesota
  • Bharti Wahi, Executive Director, Children’s Defense Fund - Minnesota
  • May Losloso, Senior Organizer, Children's Defense Fund
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland


]]> What would it look like if every community had the resources and support to be in charge of their own change and transformation? The Voices and Choices for Children coalition has been working to drive equitable processes for improving childhood health, educational, and economic outcomes, as well as improving the representation and leadership of communities of color and American Indian communities across the state of Minnesota by partnering with parents, state agencies, non-profits and community stakeholders. In our eighth episode, we learn from three coalition members who believe in walking the talk of centering the dignity of children and their communities by unapologetically addressing implicit bias that exists in the fundamental mental models that have driven the system in which we live in. They share their coalitions experience passing legislation to invest in their community, the importance of persistence when shifting mindsets, and the hope that they have for the future the Community Solutions Grant Program and the children living in the state of Minnesota.  


Guests include:

  • Dianne Haulcy, Senior Vice President of Family Engagement, Think Small - Minnesota
  • Bharti Wahi, Executive Director, Children’s Defense Fund - Minnesota
  • May Losloso, Senior Organizer, Children's Defense Fund
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland


]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-3261049 Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:00:00 -0400 1868 1 8 full false Community Data into Action: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint Community Data into Action: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) works with a diverse network of communities and partners to reduce breastfeeding disparities among African American women and to strengthen the health and wellbeing of babies and families, particularly in communities of color. In our seventh episode, we speak with Andrea Serano of ROSE and learn about their multi-pronged approach to transforming the breastfeeding landscape to be more accessible, inclusive, culturally relevant and equitable -- from mentoring and support groups, to training, education, and legislative advocacy. Andrea also shares highlights from ROSE’s new report, Saving Tomorrow Today: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint, which builds on research, community listening sessions, and stakeholder engagement to identify key disparities in breastfeeding faced by African American women, and offer innovative community solutions and policy recommendations. learn more at: http://www.breastfeedingrose.org/. 


Featured Guest:

  • Andrea Serano, Program Director, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland



]]> Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) works with a diverse network of communities and partners to reduce breastfeeding disparities among African American women and to strengthen the health and wellbeing of babies and families, particularly in communities of color. In our seventh episode, we speak with Andrea Serano of ROSE and learn about their multi-pronged approach to transforming the breastfeeding landscape to be more accessible, inclusive, culturally relevant and equitable -- from mentoring and support groups, to training, education, and legislative advocacy. Andrea also shares highlights from ROSE’s new report, Saving Tomorrow Today: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint, which builds on research, community listening sessions, and stakeholder engagement to identify key disparities in breastfeeding faced by African American women, and offer innovative community solutions and policy recommendations. learn more at: http://www.breastfeedingrose.org/. 


Featured Guest:

  • Andrea Serano, Program Director, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland



]]> Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere Buzzsprout-2827126 Mon, 24 Feb 2020 11:00:00 -0500 1689 #breastfeeding, #healthequity, #publichealth, #engagingfathers 1 7 full false Building Beloved Community for Children and Families in South Carolina Building Beloved Community for Children and Families in South Carolina Based in Berkeley County, South Carolina, the Berkeley Early Education and Care Collective (BEE Collective) and its network of partners are working to create a system of care for social and emotional development that can support the wellbeing of families and communities at large. In our sixth episode, we speak with members of the BEE Collective and learn about the powerful efforts they are leading to advance equity, align systems, and build Beloved Community, including their work to address the disproportionate exclusion and expulsion of Black and brown boys in early learning settings, as well as the barriers Black mothers face in accessing quality and culturally responsive services. Guests share their personal stories -- as mothers, doulas, and community members -- and reflect on the importance of community-driven solutions, women-of-color led safe spaces, and authentic truth telling for community transformation. 

Guests include:

  • Alexa Stephens, Project Coordinator, Berkeley County First Steps 
  • Richie Simone Lee, Doula and Community Champion, Berkeley Early Education and Care Collective
  • Adrienne Troy-Frazier, Executive Director, Berkeley County First Steps


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> Based in Berkeley County, South Carolina, the Berkeley Early Education and Care Collective (BEE Collective) and its network of partners are working to create a system of care for social and emotional development that can support the wellbeing of families and communities at large. In our sixth episode, we speak with members of the BEE Collective and learn about the powerful efforts they are leading to advance equity, align systems, and build Beloved Community, including their work to address the disproportionate exclusion and expulsion of Black and brown boys in early learning settings, as well as the barriers Black mothers face in accessing quality and culturally responsive services. Guests share their personal stories -- as mothers, doulas, and community members -- and reflect on the importance of community-driven solutions, women-of-color led safe spaces, and authentic truth telling for community transformation. 

Guests include:

  • Alexa Stephens, Project Coordinator, Berkeley County First Steps 
  • Richie Simone Lee, Doula and Community Champion, Berkeley Early Education and Care Collective
  • Adrienne Troy-Frazier, Executive Director, Berkeley County First Steps


Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> Berkeley Early Education and Care Collective Buzzsprout-2277326 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 11:00:00 -0500 1811 early education and care, health equity, partnership, doula, community, South Carolina, mental health, storytelling, beloved community 1 6 full false Honoring Culture, Language, and Family: Stories from the Navajo Nation Honoring Culture, Language, and Family: Stories from the Navajo Nation Based in Navajo Nation, New Mexico, the McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition (MCECC) seeks to eliminate health disparities and improve the wellbeing of American Indians and Alaska Natives in their community. In our fifth episode, we learn from members of MCECC about the transformative efforts they are leading to promote healthy, prosperous, and empowered Native children and families, grounded in honoring their indigenous culture, language, and traditions. Guests reflect on their ongoing work to foster partnerships, invest in existing community resources, align efforts with tribal leadership, and build capacity for systems change led by Native communities themselves.  

Guests include:

  • Robert Alsburg, Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment
  • Gabriel Claw, Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment 
  • Colleen Roan, Navajo Nation Early Intervention Program
  • Esther Rodriquez, Community Champion, ATD Fourth World
  • Erick Sanders, ATD Fourth World
  • Emerson Toledo, McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland


]]> Based in Navajo Nation, New Mexico, the McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition (MCECC) seeks to eliminate health disparities and improve the wellbeing of American Indians and Alaska Natives in their community. In our fifth episode, we learn from members of MCECC about the transformative efforts they are leading to promote healthy, prosperous, and empowered Native children and families, grounded in honoring their indigenous culture, language, and traditions. Guests reflect on their ongoing work to foster partnerships, invest in existing community resources, align efforts with tribal leadership, and build capacity for systems change led by Native communities themselves.  

Guests include:

  • Robert Alsburg, Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment
  • Gabriel Claw, Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment 
  • Colleen Roan, Navajo Nation Early Intervention Program
  • Esther Rodriquez, Community Champion, ATD Fourth World
  • Erick Sanders, ATD Fourth World
  • Emerson Toledo, McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland


]]> McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition Buzzsprout-1942770 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400 1789 early care and education, health equity, navajo nation, story garden, coalition, partnership 1 5 full false The Power of Peer Learning and Capacity Building: Improving Access to Quality Early Care and Education in Philadelphia The Power of Peer Learning and Capacity Building: Improving Access to Quality Early Care and Education in Philadelphia What does it take to tackle intergenerational poverty and ensure that all children have the best start in life to thrive? The West Philadelphia Action for Early Learning & Partners (AFEL) have been working to bring together critical partners, caregivers, and community stakeholders to ensure that families in Philadelphia have equitable access to quality early care and education opportunities. Led by Action for Early Learning at Drexel University,  AFEL & Partners builds upon the West Philadelphia Promise Neighborhoods effort and also includes key partners such as Health Federation of Philadelphia, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, A Running Start Philadelphia, and many others. In our fourth episode, we learn from two leaders of AFEL & Partners and their work to support an alliance of child care centers seeking to improve quality care, as well as strengthen community outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure that all children are kindergarten ready. They share the lessons learned about the power of peer learning, the importance of a trauma-informed lens in cradle-to-career efforts, and the impact of these partnerships on the lives of caregivers, children, and families in Philadelphia. 

Guests include:

  • Maria Walker, Project Director, Action for Early Learning, Drexel University Office of University and Community Partnerships
  • Leslie Lieberman, Senior Director of Training and Organizational Development, Health Federation of Philadelphia
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> What does it take to tackle intergenerational poverty and ensure that all children have the best start in life to thrive? The West Philadelphia Action for Early Learning & Partners (AFEL) have been working to bring together critical partners, caregivers, and community stakeholders to ensure that families in Philadelphia have equitable access to quality early care and education opportunities. Led by Action for Early Learning at Drexel University,  AFEL & Partners builds upon the West Philadelphia Promise Neighborhoods effort and also includes key partners such as Health Federation of Philadelphia, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, A Running Start Philadelphia, and many others. In our fourth episode, we learn from two leaders of AFEL & Partners and their work to support an alliance of child care centers seeking to improve quality care, as well as strengthen community outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure that all children are kindergarten ready. They share the lessons learned about the power of peer learning, the importance of a trauma-informed lens in cradle-to-career efforts, and the impact of these partnerships on the lives of caregivers, children, and families in Philadelphia. 

Guests include:

  • Maria Walker, Project Director, Action for Early Learning, Drexel University Office of University and Community Partnerships
  • Leslie Lieberman, Senior Director of Training and Organizational Development, Health Federation of Philadelphia
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> NOW Vital Village Buzzsprout-1680067 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 11:00:00 -0400 1832 Philadelphia, peer learning, capacity building, caregivers, child care centers, kindergarten, families, parents 1 4 full false Cultivating Leaders of Color in Early Care and Education Cultivating Leaders of Color in Early Care and Education Why are leaders of color imperative for improving early care and education systems? Based in Alameda County, California, the California Consortium for Equity in Early Childhood Education is taking on the critical challenge of interrupting inequities and systemic racism in early care and education by cultivating a new generation of leaders that are representative of the children and families they serve. In our third episode, we learn from Consortium co-directors about their innovative fellowship program, in partnership with the California Early Childhood Mentor Program, that brings together teachers, staff, and administrators for capacity building, mentorship, and peer learning. They share their journey in developing the program, the impact of their work in fostering more equitable curriculum, practices, and policies, as well as the importance of centering racial equity and authentic family engagement in systems change efforts.  

Guests include:

  • Neva Bandelow, Early Learning Program Manager, Alameda County Office of Education
  • Dr. LaWanda Wesley, Director, Quality Enhancement & Professional Development of Early Learning, Oakland Unified School District 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> Why are leaders of color imperative for improving early care and education systems? Based in Alameda County, California, the California Consortium for Equity in Early Childhood Education is taking on the critical challenge of interrupting inequities and systemic racism in early care and education by cultivating a new generation of leaders that are representative of the children and families they serve. In our third episode, we learn from Consortium co-directors about their innovative fellowship program, in partnership with the California Early Childhood Mentor Program, that brings together teachers, staff, and administrators for capacity building, mentorship, and peer learning. They share their journey in developing the program, the impact of their work in fostering more equitable curriculum, practices, and policies, as well as the importance of centering racial equity and authentic family engagement in systems change efforts.  

Guests include:

  • Neva Bandelow, Early Learning Program Manager, Alameda County Office of Education
  • Dr. LaWanda Wesley, Director, Quality Enhancement & Professional Development of Early Learning, Oakland Unified School District 
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> California Consortium for Equity in Early Care and Education Buzzsprout-1506313 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 10:00:00 -0400 1642 leadership, early care and education, health equity, leaders of color, racial equity 1 3 full false Letting Communities Lead: Relationship Building and Listening for Systems Change Letting Communities Lead: Relationship Building and Listening for Systems Change How can focusing on listening and relationship building with families strengthen early childhood system of care? In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Young Child Wellness Council (YCWC) has undertaken the critical work of shifting paradigms and processes to more fully center the voices, experiences, and wisdom of families in shaping efforts that promote the physical, as well as social and emotional, health and well being of infants, young children, and their families. In our second episode, we learn from YCWC about what they are doing to foster authentic relationships with residents of the Crescent East neighborhood, a community that has long experienced many services and research projects come and go. Council members share what they’ve learned through the process and how this has impacted partnerships and the types of counter stories they’d like to create for Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama.

Guests include:

  • Amy Crosby, Child Development Resources at the University of Alabama
  • Trendle Samuels, Alabama Department of Public Health
  • Stephanie Covarrubia, Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Early Intervention
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network


Learn more about YCWC: Council Aims to Maximize Early Childhood Wellbeing

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> How can focusing on listening and relationship building with families strengthen early childhood system of care? In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Young Child Wellness Council (YCWC) has undertaken the critical work of shifting paradigms and processes to more fully center the voices, experiences, and wisdom of families in shaping efforts that promote the physical, as well as social and emotional, health and well being of infants, young children, and their families. In our second episode, we learn from YCWC about what they are doing to foster authentic relationships with residents of the Crescent East neighborhood, a community that has long experienced many services and research projects come and go. Council members share what they’ve learned through the process and how this has impacted partnerships and the types of counter stories they’d like to create for Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama.

Guests include:

  • Amy Crosby, Child Development Resources at the University of Alabama
  • Trendle Samuels, Alabama Department of Public Health
  • Stephanie Covarrubia, Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Early Intervention
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network


Learn more about YCWC: Council Aims to Maximize Early Childhood Wellbeing

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> Tuscaloosa Young Child Wellness Council Buzzsprout-1323487 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 14:00:00 -0400 1806 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Vital Village Network, Health Equity, Community Leadership, Partnerships, Collaboration, Socioemotional Wellbeing 1 2 full false Centering Stories through Community Mediation Centering Stories through Community Mediation How can learning about each others’ stories foster healthier communities? In our inaugural episode, we explore the history of the Vital Village Network (VVN) in Boston and one of its central community-led initiatives, the Social Justice Mediation Program (SJMP). Entering its 6th year, SJMP has trained hundreds of community members in conflict resolution skills that can be used at home, in the workplace, in schools, and beyond. We spoke with VVN staff and SJMP co-leaders to learn about their approach to navigating power, identity, and stories in reducing conflicts and fostering healthier relationships across families, schools, and neighborhoods.

Guests:

  • Latoya Gayle, Co-Director, Social Justice Mediation Program 
  • Myles Green, Co-Director, Social Justice Mediation Program 
  • Erica Pike, Communications and Policy Manager, Vital Village Network
  • Desiree Hartman, Community Partnerships Program Coordinator, Vital Village Network
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network

Learn more about SJMP:

Produced by: Ronda Alexander and Diana Rivera
Edited by: Diana Rivera
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> How can learning about each others’ stories foster healthier communities? In our inaugural episode, we explore the history of the Vital Village Network (VVN) in Boston and one of its central community-led initiatives, the Social Justice Mediation Program (SJMP). Entering its 6th year, SJMP has trained hundreds of community members in conflict resolution skills that can be used at home, in the workplace, in schools, and beyond. We spoke with VVN staff and SJMP co-leaders to learn about their approach to navigating power, identity, and stories in reducing conflicts and fostering healthier relationships across families, schools, and neighborhoods.

Guests:

  • Latoya Gayle, Co-Director, Social Justice Mediation Program 
  • Myles Green, Co-Director, Social Justice Mediation Program 
  • Erica Pike, Communications and Policy Manager, Vital Village Network
  • Desiree Hartman, Community Partnerships Program Coordinator, Vital Village Network
  • Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network

Learn more about SJMP:

Produced by: Ronda Alexander and Diana Rivera
Edited by: Diana Rivera
Music By: Morgan Breland

]]> Latoya Gayle, Myles Green, Erica Pike, and Desiree Hartman Buzzsprout-993504 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 08:00:00 -0400 1647 Boston, Vital Village Network, Social Justice, Mediation, Health Equity, Community Leadership, Partnership, Schools 1 1 full false