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WGVU By Leaps & Bounds
00000179-f232-de1b-a9f9-f2fa97a20003Investments in high-quality early childhood care, education, and support programs do more than help children – they also strengthen our workforce and economy. How are communities in West and Southwest Michigan approaching prevention and early intervention in these systems of care? How do the programs benefit children, families, care and education providers, businesses, and taxpayers? Where are the gaps, and how do we fill them? Come along as we take a closer look.

By Leaps & Bounds: Normal Was Never Enough

First Steps Kent
First Steps Kent

Salvador Lopez is our guest

We’re all longing to get back to normal. But normal for whom? What has normal looked like for young BIPOC children? Discrimination, disproportionate poverty and unemployment, lack of investment, and policies that perpetuate disparities have led to a normal that does not provide equal opportunities for young children in our community. A rush back to normal is a return to longstanding and persistent inequities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and further exposed by the increased focus on racial justice.

KConnect
KConnect

The purpose of the “Normal Was Never Enough” campaign is to raise critical awareness, and ultimately policy change, around racialized disparities facing BIPOC children, ages 0-5, in Kent County such as low birth weight, wealth gaps, homelessness, and more. Here to discuss is Salvador Lopez, President of KConnect. For more information, visit: www.normalwasneverenough.org or k-connect.org/2021/02/normal/

Shelley Irwin is the host and producer for The Shelley Irwin Show, a news magazine talk-show format on the local NPR affiliate Monday through Friday. The show, broadcast at 9 a.m., features a wide variety of local and national news makers, plus special features.
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