Children's Defense Fund
[link removed]
Our Voice for Children
July 2021
Image of children protesting
"Kids Have the Right to Be Somebody in Life"
On July 21, children in kindergarten through grade 12 from across the
country joined us for our annual CDF Freedom Schools® National Day
of Social Action. They marched on city hall, met with elected
officials, hosted community events, and brought attention to the issue
of youth justice-a topic that was chosen by our CDF Freedom
Schools sites after a year of highly publicized police violence
against Black communities and a renewed racial reckoning. We marked
the day and celebrated their activism with a virtual rally, in which
elementary-aged "scholars" from our New City Fellowship CDF Freedom
Schools program site in South Carolina told us why youth justice
matters to them. We also premiered their brand new music video on the
topic! If you missed our virtual rally, or if you want to experience
the scholars' passion and power again, you can watch the full virtual
rally here.
[link removed]
Image of young girl smiling
Our Advocacy for Children
July brought the realization decades in the making of a policy that
could lift millions of children out of poverty, and it also reminded
us of the painful cost of inaction when we know children's lives are
at stake. Through it all, we fought with partners like you to ensure
children and families are always at the top of the agenda. Here are
some of the ways we advocated for children and their families this
month:
Child Poverty: We celebrated the fact that transformative
Child Tax Credit (CTC) monthly payments have begun hitting the bank
accounts of millions of families across the country and provided
helpful resources for families seeking to ensure they receive their
payments. Learn more.
[link removed]
Housing security: We highlighted a new tool released by
the Biden administration to help renters and landlords identify the
state and local programs that are distributing billions of dollars in
rental assistance that could provide a lifeline for struggling
families. Learn more.
[link removed]
Voting Rights: CDF-Texas commemorated the 50th
anniversary of the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which formally
eliminated age discrimination in elections and lowered the voting age
to 18. At the same time, they condemned nationwide efforts to suppress
civic participation that deliberately target marginalized communities,
including young voters. Learn more.
[link removed]
Child Welfare: We joined our partners in the Every Child
Deserves a Family Campaign to provide recommendations to the Biden
administration for actions they can take to improve services for
LGBTQ+ children and families in the child welfare system. Learn more.
[link removed]
Gun Violence Prevention: We once again responded to
preventable and heartbreaking acts of gun violence-including the
killing of a 6-year-old who was riding her scooter in Washington,
D.C.-with pleas to Congress to strengthen background checks, ban
assault weapons, and pass other gun safety measures to protect
children, not guns. Learn more.
[link removed]
Child Poverty: We joined our partners at the ACLU in
calling on President Biden and Congress to make the Child Tax Credit
(CTC) expansion permanent with critical improvements so that Black,
Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and immigrant
children can receive the benefit. Learn more.
[link removed]
Support our ongoing work to ensure children and families will be
even stronger on the other side of this pandemic. Make a gift
today>
[link removed]
Image of smiling boy at CDF Haley Farm
Listening to the Children
Last week, we also held our 27th Annual CDF Samuel DeWitt Proctor
Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, held fully virtually this year.
While we missed being on the storied grounds of the CDF Haley Farm,
this year's theme of "Listening to the Children: A Radical Revolution
of Values" brought with it invaluable opportunities to join with and
learn from young people, as we pursue a vision in which marginalized
children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and
communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. Click below to
watch recordings of each evening's sessions, including our nightly
conversations with young people.
[link removed]
Image of a youth advocate from NY
Tuesday evening's session, featuring a discussion about building power
for child-centered policy with young advocates from New York.
Watch Now
[link removed]
Image of a youth advocate from DC
Wednesday evening's session, featuring a discussion with young
advocates from Washington, D.C. about the most critical issues they
are facing.
Watch Now
[link removed]
Image of a youth advocate from CA
Thursday evening's session, featuring a discussion about reforming the
youth justice system with young advocates from Los Angeles.
Watch Now
[link removed]
Image of two girls listening intently
Child Watch Roundup
In a Child Watch column published this month, Marian Wright Edelman
called on all of us to be vigilant against the dangerous and systemic
assaults on voting rights that are spreading across our nation and
asked us to take up the fight started so many decades ago to make
democracy more equitable and accessible for all. Read the column.
[link removed]
Catch up on the rest of Marian Wright Edelman's recent Child Watch
columns:
* Still Watching for Weasels
[link removed]
* Show Up
[link removed]
* The Moton School Legacy
[link removed]
Be sure to sign up to receive Marian Wright Edelman's Child Watch
column directly to your inbox every Friday
[link removed]
.
Facebook
[link removed]
Twitter
[link removed]
Instagram
[link removed]
Donate today
[link removed]
Donate in honor of a loved one
[link removed]
BBB Accredited Charity, Platinum GuideStar Seal of Transparency, and
GreatNonprofits Top-Rated
[link removed]
Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe
[link removed]
[link removed]
View this message on our website
[link removed]
Children's Defense Fund© All rights reserved
840 First St NE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20002
Click the link below to view this message as HTML in your browser:
[link removed]
Click the link below to forward this message:
[link removed]
Click the link below to change your email preferences:
[link removed]
