Dear John,

Yesterday, we released the latest edition of our signature report, The State of America’s Children®. Since we last published this annual report in February 2020, our children have experienced a year of unprecedented upheaval due to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial uprisings years in the making. Every aspect of children’s lives has been impacted by these shifts more quickly than data can track; even the most recently available data sets do not fully encompass how the year has changed their lives.

But, as one element of the report makes clear, “our children are not immune.” An additional 2.5 million children have fallen into poverty since May 2020. More than 1 in 7 adults with children say their little ones are not getting enough to eat. We’re seeing increased levels of depression and despair, especially among Black children and youth.

A year marked by such dramatic change and drastic negative impact on children’s lives must be followed by one of healing and restoration, and that’s what we’re calling for. This healing will require disciplined reflection, radical imagination, and bold action. The Children’s Defense Fund envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. From where we currently stand, this is a radical vision. Yet, we are committed to work—with you—to make it happen.

Join us. Allow this data, compiled by our public policy team, to inform your disciplined reflection. But don’t stop there. Pause and imagine a country where flourishing children smile, sing, and dance. Talk to young people about what they desire for their lives. Then gather your neighbors, friends, and colleagues to work together and improve the state of America’s children.

We will be with you every step of the way.

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