Category Archives: Commentary

It’s interesting how much coronavirus has both distanced and gathered people. While we’re distanced physically, many have been connecting in online gathering places. Since April, I have joined video hangouts with five of my siblings and started sharing frequent updates in our new “family group chat”—although the last time we saw each other collectively in person was a few years ago. A group of friends who were inseparable in college, 20+ years ago, haven’t been together in more than a…

The following post was originally published by the Children’s Media Association and appears here with permission. On June 3, 2020, The New York Times published an article titled, “Please Stop Showing the Video of George Floyd’s Death” by Melanye Price. Ms. Price made the case that repeated showings of this and other videos of African Americans being brutalized by police have not led to change and may be having unintended consequences such as “reinforcing pernicious narratives that black lives do…

In May 2020, IDEO launched the COVID-19 Reimagine Learning Challenge as a global call to invite parents, students, and educators to share ideas to address the educational challenges that we are facing now. The Challenge drew more than 400 responses from around the world within the three-week submission period. Sesame Workshop and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center are proud partners of this innovation challenge. The post below was originally published on the IDEO website and appears here with permission.  …

For our Voices on the Future of Childhood series, we have been inviting experts to write about how we might be proactive in mapping out ideal futures for children and families—so far, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, given the vicious impacts of racism that we have all witnessed, protested, and mourned over in the past several weeks, Part 6 of this series focuses on race and racism.  We asked experts to share their perspectives on these issues…

In this series of blog posts, we asked our experts to share their perspectives on issues of race and racism and highlight the work they are doing in their respective fields. “What is your vision for the future of childhood? What are you doing in your professional capacity to achieve that vision, and/or who needs to do what to achieve that vision?” Kindness is required Rahsaan Harris, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer for Citizens Committee for New York City.…

In this series of blog posts, we asked our experts to share their perspectives on issues of race and racism and highlight the work they are doing in their respective fields. “What is your vision for the future of childhood? What are you doing in your professional capacity to achieve that vision, and/or who needs to do what to achieve that vision?” Children’s content as a window and mirror Vicki Ariyasu is Senior Vice President, Disney Channels Worldwide Educational Resource…

In this series of blog posts, we asked our experts to share their perspectives on issues of race and racism and highlight the work they are doing in their respective fields. “What is your vision for the future of childhood? What are you doing in your professional capacity to achieve that vision, and/or who needs to do what to achieve that vision?” Authentic representations of diversity in media Mariana Díaz-Wionczek, PhD, is an independent Diversity & Inclusion and Children’s Media…

In this series of blog posts, we asked our experts to share their perspectives on issues of race and racism and highlight the work they are doing in their respective fields. “What is your vision for the future of childhood? What are you doing in your professional capacity to achieve that vision, and/or who needs to do what to achieve that vision?” Systemic racism won’t fight itself Martez E. Mott, PhD, is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Ability Group…

In this series of blog posts, we asked our experts to share their perspectives on issues of race and racism and highlight the work they are doing in their respective fields. “What is your vision for the future of childhood? What are you doing in your professional capacity to achieve that vision, and/or who needs to do what to achieve that vision?” Children should be seen, be heard, and be powerful Christy Crawford is the Director of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education…

In this series of blog posts, we asked our experts to share their perspectives on issues of race and racism and highlight the work they are doing in their respective fields. “What is your vision for the future of childhood? What are you doing in your professional capacity to achieve that vision, and/or who needs to do what to achieve that vision?” The future of childhood will be built by the youth Jordan Taitingfong, MEd, is an educator and current…