The Invisible Americans
By The Invisible Americans
The Invisible AmericansMar 29, 2023
Resilience Isn't Enough | Cash Payments Make the Difference
In this episode of The Invisible Americans podcast, hosts Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins speak to Emi Nietfeld, who details her journey out of childhood poverty and warns against using success stories to deny help to others.
Then they speak with Eboni Brown and Kaleen Daughtery, members of the parental advisory board of the ABC Coalition, which aims to provide an Automatic Benefit for Children.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Child Tax Credit Updates | Food Insecurity in New Jersey
In this episode of The Invisible Americans podcast, hosts Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins ask Alex Coccia for updates on the expanded child tax credit and talk to the CEO of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Elizabeth McCarthy.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
The Flint Episode | with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Luke Schaefer
In today's episode, hosts Jeff and Carol talk with two people on the ground in Flint, Michigan.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Luke Shaefer.
Listen to Dr. Shaefer discuss his work on Episode 22.
Together, Dr. Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Shaefer are directing Rx Kids, a program that gives cash to expectant people and provides guaranteed income for the first year of their lives.
Hear how the program got started and what is next for those living in Flint.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Filling Gaps in Care with Crossroads4Hope and Growing Inclusivity with Rocksteady Farms
This episode of The Invisible Americans podcast explores efforts to support underserved communities facing poverty and health crises. Guests discuss the financial toll that cancer treatment can take and the critical role of nonprofit organizations in filling gaps.
Amy Sutton of Crossroads4Hope shares how her organization helps cancer patients and families access care, manage distress, and improve health outcomes by addressing basic needs. She advocates for increased funding to community groups who innovate in ways large institutions cannot.
The podcast also features Maggie Cheney and D. Rooney, founders of Rocksteady Farm. Their cooperative farm in upstate New York trains LGBTQ farmers while growing food for food insecure communities. Through their sliding scale CSA program and partnerships, the farm strives to make fresh produce accessible to lower-income city residents.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
A Tale of Two Cities: Poverty in ATL and NYC | Hope Wollensack and Sophie Collyer Discuss
Our hosts speak first with Hope Wollensack in Atlanta. She discusses the $30 million fund called The GRO Fund that provides monthly cash assistance to mothers in need. This program is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of guaranteed income. Named "In Her Hands," the program aims to empower mothers economically, reminiscent of King's belief in individual dignity and stability through self-directed financial decisions.
Then they talk to Sophie Collyer about the sharp increase in poverty rates in New York City as pandemic-era governmental policies expired. Sophie was involved in the longitudinal study featured in the New York Times article published on Feb. 21, 2024.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Advocacy to Action: Solutions for Child Poverty
“The progress on that child tax credit is an incredible tribute to activism.” - Robert Gordon On this episode of “The Invisible Americans Podcast,” hosts Jeff and Carol talk to policy advisor Robert Green about the Biden Administration’s stance on the Child Tax Credit.
Then they talk to Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-founder of grassroots group MomsRising, and Meredith Dodson, senior director of public policy at the Coalition on Human Needs, about their work on reinstating the Child Tax Credit and its progress through the legislature. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder
Episode 202: U.S. House Debate and Vote on CTC
Full debate and vote on HB 7024, which includes updates to the Child Tax Credit.
Welcome to Season 2 of The Invisible Americans Podcast.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder
Rep. Rosa DeLauro on the Wyden-Smith Tax Deal
Champion of children across the country, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) sits down with co-hosts Jeff and Carol to discuss the impending vote on the Wyden-Smith Tax Deal. The congresswoman shares her thoughts, her hopes for the future, and her intentions with this legislation.
Welcome to Season 2 of The Invisible Americans Podcast.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Child Poverty in America: Investing in Our Future With the CUNY Graduate Center
Tune into our final episode of season 1 with this panel event in conjunction with the CUNY Graduate Center. Experts Karen Sander, Carol Jenkins, Janet Gornick, Kathy Edin, Regina Baker, and Zachary Parolin explore early childhood education, labor market dynamics, and the profound physical and cognitive effects of poverty on children. Together, we emphasize the urgent need for policy changes and a collective shift in societal attitudes towards poverty and inequality.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
LIVE: Child Poverty is Personal - Can You Hear Us?
Welcome to a special edition of "The Invisible Americans" podcast, where we dive deep into the critical issue of child poverty and explore transformative solutions. In this episode, we have the honor of hosting a keynote speaker and a panel of distinguished guests, each offering unique perspectives on the complex landscape of poverty in America.
Our keynote speaker is David Ambroz, a renowned author, advocate, and executive at Amazon.
Joining us on the panel are three remarkable individuals:
Dr. C. Nicole Mason, President and CEO emeritus of the Institute of Women's Policy Research, author of "Born Bright," and recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world.
Alex Miller, a writer featured in The New York Times and Washington Post, currently working on a memoir about his childhood in poverty, and an HRP fellow with a focus on personal experiences and challenges.
Alissa Quart, author of influential works such as "Bootstrapped" and "Squeezed," co-creator of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, and editor of the book "Going for Broke."
Throughout the panel, our guests touch on various aspects of child poverty, sharing personal experiences and proposing solutions.
The panel collectively emphasizes the importance of reshaping narratives, providing comprehensive mental health care, and employing diverse strategies for economic redistribution.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
"The Injustice of Place" Authors on Indexing Poverty in America
Hosts Jeff and Carol talk with the three authors of The Injustice of Place, published in 2023 by HarperCollins. Dr. Kathryn Edin, H. Luke Shaefer, and Timothy J. Nelson discuss their research and how they plan to light the way forward.
"The unfolding revelation in The Injustice of Place is not about what sets these places apart, but about what they have in common—a history of raw, intensive resource extraction and human exploitation. This history and its reverberations demand a reckoning and a commitment to wage a new War on Poverty, with the unrelenting focus on our nation’s places of deepest need. "
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
LIVE: Child Poverty is Personal | How Do We End It?
Join our hosts Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins for this recording of the live convening in partnership with The Roosevelt House. In support of nearly 13 million American children living in poverty, we invite you to listen to the first of three critical discussions about soaring rates of deprivation—and how we can stop child poverty now. Join columnist and Nobel Prize laureate Paul Krugman, social activist Holly Fogle, award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, and social policy expert H. Luke Shaefer.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Nikhil Goyla Tells Us How to End Poverty | Shrusti Amula on her Foundation Rise N Shine
Senior policy analyst Dr. Nikhil Goyla tells Carol and Jeff about his experience writing a book profiling three young boys growing up in poverty in Philadelphia. Then he offers what he sees as a path to poverty eradication.
Then high school senior Shrusti Amula shares how she saw a gap in her community and filled it by starting a nonprofit at only 13 years old. She focuses on reducing food waste and food recovery programs for her community.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Jenique Jones on her Work at WhyHunger | David Ambroz on His Journey from the Foster Care to External Affairs
Our hosts talk to two people who are working to end hunger and poverty in the United States.
First, Jenique Jones talks about her work with WhyHunger, an organization with a multifaceted approach to their mission of ending hunger.
Then David Ambroz shares his personal story of childhood homelessness, foster care, and his journey out of those circumstances. He's an author, an executive at Amazon, and a well-respected expert on child welfare.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Writer Jennifer Egan Describes Her Work in New York City | Ethan Goodey Shares How He Found a Home
Our hosts chat with two authors and their individual work on homelessness. First up, novelist Jennifer Egan talks about her work with the unhoused in New York and her time spent as a journalist covering this issue.
Then, Ethan Goodey talks about his life as a teen experiencing homelessness, how he overcame the odds, and his children's book Finley Finds Home.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
The CTC 6 on New Census Data | Full Press Conference
“Poverty for children in America is not some accident. It’s a policy choice.” -Sen. Cory Booker
The so-called CTC 6 held a press conference today to discuss the staggering increase in levels of child poverty, due in large part to the withdrawal of the Expanded Child Tax Credit.
The CTC 6:
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (who was a guest on Ep. 4)
- Sen. Michael Bennet (who was a guest on Ep. 13)
- Sen. Sherrod Brown
- Rep. Suzan DelBene
- Sen. Cory Booker
- Rep. Ritchie Torres
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Melanie Thompson on her Experience with Child Sex Trafficking | Megan Curran Updates Us On the Child Tax Credit
In this episode, we discuss child trafficking and child abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 800-843-5678. Please listen with care.
Our hosts first talk to Melanie Thompson about her firsthand experience with child sex trafficking. She discusses not only how she was trafficked, but how systemic gaps in the foster care system make it easy to exploit those children.
Then they speak with Megan Curran, policy director at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University. She updates us on the Expanded Child Tax Credit and talks about its effects on families across the United States.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Rural Mental Health with Jeff Winton | Escaping Poverty with Dapper Dan
In this episode, we discuss suicide. If you are having thoughts of self-harm, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at phone number 988. Please listen with care. First up, Jeff Winton shares the story of how his nephew's death inspired him to start Rural Minds, which provides mental health assistance to those living in rural counties across America.
Then fashion icon Dapper Dan tells the story of his life growing up poor in Harlem, eventually traveling to Africa, and then creating a fashion brand based on Africanizing American clothes.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Poverty in LGBTQIA+ & Military Families
In today’s episode, Jeff and Carol talk with Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women and Families, about LGBTQI+ families living in poverty.
Then they talk to Abby Leibman, president of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger about food insecurity, particularly in the military.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Ideas on Ending Poverty | Senator Michael Bennet & Philanthropist Holly Fogle
In this episode, our hosts first talk with Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. He hopes to reinstate the Expanded Child Tax Credit through his American Families Act.
Then our hosts talk to Holly Fogle, who is doing the simple work of providing cash to those who need it most -- $1,000 a month for the first 1,000 days of a baby's life. Her foundation, The Bridge Project, wants to prevent poverty rather than undo its effects.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
"Assessing 25 Years of the CTC" Senate Hearing
We are pleased to bring you this special edition of The Invisible Americans podcast. On July 13, 2023, the Senate Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight met to discuss the Child Tax Credit and its impact over the last quarter century.
Around the 44-minute mark, listen to an exchange between known critic Sen. Ron Johnson and Sen. Bennet that lasts around 15 minutes and explores various complexities around alleviating poverty.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) chaired this hearing. Stay tuned for an upcoming episode with Sen. Bennet!
Our website has links to the full witness statements and transcript.
Lifting Children Out of Poverty with Housing Stability and Child Tax Credits
In this episode, we talk to Kathy Haycox about how Habitat for Humanity works in New York City: "We're a simple mission with a very complex methodology for delivery it."
The scope of what Habitat for Humanity does may surprise some listeners, and we discuss how this broad portfolio lifts families and children out of poverty.
Then we talk to Celinda Lake, polling expert, about the popularity of the Expanded Child Tax Credit and how it went away despite its huge levels of bipartisan support.
In looking at those things, we discuss how we can work to reinstate this policy which lifted millions of children out of poverty.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Exploring Issues Unique to Immigrant Families and Incarcerated Families | Wendy Cervantes and Dr. Alethea Taylor
One in four children in this country is the child of an immigrant.
Over 100,000 children in New York State have at least one incarcerated parent.
In this episode, we discuss these two vulnerable populations with experts Wendy Cervantes of the Center for Law and Policy and Dr. Alethea Taylor of Hour Children.
With her work in immigration, Wendy talks about how policies around immigrant parents exclude children who are American citizens, where these laws came from, and what is in the works to rectify the situation.
Dr. Alethea Taylor discusses her work with incarcerated women and their children. This highly successful organization sustains relationships while the parent is incarcerated, provides support upon release, and focuses on family reunification.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Moving the Needle on Childhood Poverty in New York | Gov. Kathy Hochul and Kate Breslin, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
On today's podcast, we are pleased to present a recent press conference on child poverty by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and a conversation with Kate Breslin, head of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.
In her press conference, Gov. Kathy Hochul announces investments in childcare aimed at reducing child poverty in New York State. Then Kate Breslin speaks with the hosts about the Schuyler Center's work to eradicate child poverty and the Child Poverty Reduction Act, which aims to cut childhood poverty in half across all segments of the state in the next 10 years.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Escaping Liberian Civil War Prepared Lucina Kayee for American Foster Care
Black. Queer. Muslim. Disabled. A political refugee from Liberia. In foster care at age 8 in Minnesota. Founder and Executive Director of Atlas of Blackness.
Lucina Kayee certainly had the deck stacked against her, but she has taken this life experience and dedicated it to helping protect vulnerable youth and reform foster care--and the communities where foster children come from.
Our guest today takes us through her experience in the foster care system, the history of foster care, and her proposed solutions and goals. Her aim is to protect youth currently in the system and offer resources to those children's home communities.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.
Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.
Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Changing Perceptions on Social Security and Poverty Mortality
Social Security is a key anti-poverty policy in the U.S. that lifts millions of children out of poverty -- yet most of us think of it only as a retirement program. Also, did you know that poverty is a killer? Dr. Brady tells us how he found that poverty kills 10 times more people than homicide.
Our guests:
- Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings | Founder, President, CEO of Global Policy Solutions
- Dr. David Brady | Professor at the University of California Riverside & Director of the Blum Initiative on Global & Regional Policy
Dr. Rockeymoore Cummings explains how Social Security is key to lifting children out of poverty by explaining the ways in which children benefit directly and indirectly from the program. She also offers thoughts on how to ensure the program is fully funded without making any cuts to current programming.
Dr. David Brady tells us about his research into how much death is caused by poverty in the United States. It's a staggering amount that has huge human and economic impacts--and he thinks lawmakers who vote to increase poverty should face the fact that their votes lead directly to loss of life.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.
Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.
Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Eradicating Childhood Poverty with the Dads Caucus and Hearts of Gold | Rep. Dan Goldman & Deborah Koenigsberger
Everyone can do their part to eradicate childhood poverty. Dads need to champion policies related to supporting families, and anyone can contribute their time, treasure, or talent to help local nonprofits serving the unhoused.
Our guests:
- Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10)
- Deborah Koenigsberger, founder of Hearts of Gold and the Thrifty HoG
Rep. Goldman discusses his work founding the first Dads Caucus and highlights why policies like the Child Tax Credit are both compassionate solutions and financially sound decisions for our country.
Deborah tells listeners how Stevie Wonder, Bobbi Brown, and Madison Park came together to get her inspired to kick off three decades of work helping unhoused mothers and children in New York City.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.
Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.
Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Three Ways to Eradicate Child Poverty and Its Residual Effects with Kercena Dozier, Alissa Quart, and Dr. Rita Hamad
Lifting children out of poverty requires whole child, whole community, holistic policies.
Our guests:
- Kercena Dozier, Executive Director of the Children's Defense Fund New York
- Alissa Quart, author and Executive Director of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project
- Dr. Rita Hamad, social epidemiologist and family physician in the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies and the Department of Family & Community Medicine at UCSF
Kercena discusses child poverty in New York state and the multiple policy initiatives that will significantly reduce child poverty. If successful, other states could follow these examples.
Alissa talks about her work in changing the perception of poverty by using mainstream media outlets to amplify the voices of those experiencing poverty.
Dr. Rita Hamad shares her research around the social determinants of health and how increased income can change mental and physical health outcomes for children.
"And so it's really important that for us to understand how are policies working and who are they working for so that we can design them intelligently going forward?"
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.
Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.
Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Rosa DeLauro and Brian Greene Hope for Future Policies that Reach the Most Vulnerable
The families with the most financial need are excluded from policies that provide support.
Our guests:
- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut lawmaker who has almost two decades of experience fighting for an expanded Child Tax Credit
- Brian Greene, President & CEO of the Houston Food Bank
Rosa and Brian discuss how the system is set up today in a way that doesn't allow support to reach those who need it most. Rosa thinks that public needs to rally around policies that support Americans in need, especially since the expanded Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Act had clear and immediate results that matched its vision.
Brian talks through some logistics of how the Houston Food Bank feeds 1 million people per year, but he also shares his thoughts on how to truly address the issue of food insecurity in the United States.
“Food insecurity isn't about food. Food insecurity is about income.”
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.
Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.
Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
The Trauma and Ghost of Poverty
Gain valuable insights into the issues of poverty and its impact on children in the United States.
Our guests:
- Dr. Nathaniel Harnett, Director of the NATE Lab at McLean Hospital, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
- Clara Moore, poverty expert working with the national organization RESULTS
This episode's guests highlight the findings of a study that found the trauma of poverty and racism negatively impact the brains of 9 and 10-year-old boys. Dr. Harnett discusses his study and his recommendations for a path forward to undo this damage.
Clara Moore shares her personal and professional insights on poverty, including what she calls the ghost of poverty. She discusses how children who grow up impoverished often remain only one paycheck away from abject poverty as adults. Programs like the Child Tax Credit have been shown to be effective in lifting children out of poverty.
Our hosts:
- Jeffrey Madrick, author, news correspondent, American economics expert
- Carol Jenkins, journalist, activist, author, past President of the ERA Coalition
This podcast is based on Jeff's book, "Invisible Americans: The Tragic Cost of Child Poverty." We have two guests on this episode who speak eloquently about poverty in America, changes to welfare reform, how the COVID-19 pandemic showed us policies can help the poorest people in our country, and what's next for the Child Tax Credit.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.
Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.
Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Poverty: Solutions for a Better Future
A discussion into the issues of poverty and housing affordability in the United States.
Our guests:
- Dr. C. Nicole Mason, President/CEO Emeritus of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR)
- Erin Boggs, Executive Director of Connecticut's Open Communities Alliance
This episode's guests highlight the need for policy changes and public awareness to address these issues. Dr. Mason and Erin Boggs remind us that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure that all families have access to affordable housing in order to break the cycle of poverty.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
Our hosts:
- Jeffrey Madrick, author, news correspondent, American economics expert
- Carol Jenkins, journalist, activist, author, past President of the ERA Coalition
This podcast is based on Jeff's book, "Invisible Americans: The Tragic Cost of Child Poverty." We have two guests on this episode who speak eloquently about poverty in America, changes to welfare reform, how the COVID-19 pandemic showed us policies can help the poorest people in our country, and what's next for the Child Tax Credit.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.
The Child Tax Credit Helps Invisible Americans
"We address the travesty of child poverty." - Carol Jenkins
In our first episode, we introduce our hosts:
- Jeffrey Madrick, author, news correspondent, American economics expert
- Carol Jenkins, journalist, activist, author, past President of the ERA Coalition
This podcast is based on Jeff's book, "Invisible Americans: The Tragic Cost of Child Poverty." We have two guests on this episode who speak eloquently about poverty in America, changes to welfare reform, how the COVID-19 pandemic showed us policies can help the poorest people in our country, and what's next for the Child Tax Credit.
- Dr. Kathryn Edin, director of the Center for Research on Child Wellbeing at Princeton University
- Ashley Burnside, senior policy analysts with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) in Washington, D.C.
Learn how welfare reform led to a pervasive and invisible malady among the most poverty-stricken in the nation: living in a capitalist society with no cash income. The Child Tax Credit could help every parent, just as it did throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But with the 118th Congress already in session, what does the future of the Child Tax Credit look like? Ashley also gives ways that you can help reinstate this program at the federal and state level.
For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.
The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.
Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.