On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Brian Greene, President & CEO of the Houston Food Bank, tackle some of the biggest issues affecting children and families.

HISD Under Dept. of Ed Civil Rights Investigation: Megan Menchaca, Senior Education Reporter at the Houston Chronicle, joins the show to discuss the latest developments in Houston Independent School District, including the federal civil rights investigation into special education changes.

Gen Z Offline: Lucy Lusk, Media Activism Intern (CHILDREN AT RISK) shares why more members of Gen Z are intentionally unplugging from screens and embracing offline hobbies, analog habits, and healthier relationships with technology.

SNAP & Hunger in Texas: Jamie Olson, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Feeding Texas, breaks down major conversations around SNAP benefits, federal policy changes, food insecurity, inflation, and the growing strain on food banks across Texas.

Tune in every Wednesday, live on kpft.org!

In this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn is joined by co-host Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, to discuss some of the most urgent issues impacting children and families in Texas and across the US.

We’re diving into:

• State of Immigrant Families: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, discusses the growing emotional and mental health toll immigration enforcement is having on children, mixed-status families, and DACA recipients across Texas.
• The Learning Recession: Christine Thomas, Director of the Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation at CHILDREN AT RISK, breaks down alarming new data showing long-term declines in student achievement across the US.
• Texas School Voucher Update: Dr. David DeMatthews, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin, examines how Texas’ expanding voucher program is affecting public schools, special education services, and low-income families.

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In this special episode, Dr. Chris Kulesza (aka "Dr. Data") is joined by co-host Owala Maima, Media Communications Coordinator at CHILDREN AT RISK, to dive into the massive opportunities and challenges surrounding children’s wellbeing in the age of rapid technological change and Artificial Intelligence. We’re diving into:

• HB 1481 & School Cell Phone Bans: Texas House Representative Caroline Fairly (District 87) discusses the breadth of the new law, student and parent reactions, and its intended impact on academic success and student health.
• AI & Precision Policies: Dr. Suresh Bhavnani, Professor of Biostatistics & Data Science at UTMB, explains how interpretable AI methods can be used to create more precise policy design that directly benefits and protects American families.
• Thriving in the Age of Gen AI: Miguel Guhlin, Director of Professional Development at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA), breaks down why outright banning ChatGPT is a missed opportunity. We discuss the SOLO Taxonomy, critical thinking skills, and how using new frameworks helps learners thrive.
• Human-First Higher Ed AI: Austin Community College Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart details ACC’s new human-centered AI initiative, supporting at-risk students and empowering small businesses in Central Texas.

Support community radio and independent youth advocacy by tuning in to 90.1 KPFT Houston and at kpft.org!