Our episode today kicks off with writer Claudia Rowe. She talks about her in-depth examination of foster care and her book, Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care. She calls for deeper accountability and a deeper commitment to the young people the system is meant to serve.

Dr. Tiffany Young, clinical scientist and post-doctoral fellow at Yale Medical School, discusses her pioneering research into how Black women in America are impacted by wealth, stress, and their health. She talks to Carol and David about what interventions could actually make a difference.

From the New School's Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, Dr. David Radcliffe joins us to break down how baby bonds can close the astronomical wealth gap that currently exists in the United States.

Almost 50% of college students are food insecure, and we close the show with college student Katherine Ames. She is part of the Purple Apron Pantry at Hunter College: a no-cost grocery pantry for students struggling to afford food.

For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, visit the Invisible Americans website.

The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty.

The podcast is hosted by Carol Jenkins and David Ambroz.

Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.

Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.

Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In the first episode of Season 5, Carol Jenkins returns as co-host and introduces us to her new partner, David Ambroz. David brings both personal and professional experience to the issue of poverty in this country, having been at times unhoused and in foster care. He now works to provide support for young adults transitioning out of foster care in California.

Then joining us again is Holly Fogle, founder of The Bridge Project, who gives us an update on the expansion of what was an initial seed of an idea: giving cash directly to mothers. Now with over 4,000 mothers receiving payments across 12 states, Holly tells us how and why it’s working.

Next up, author Brian Goldstone talks about how he went in-depth with several Atlanta families for years, documenting their journeys through homelessness and, in many cases, how they are not “homeless enough” or “the right kind of homeless” to receive help.

Closing out our first episode is Matt Sherman, general manager of Refettorio Harlem. Carol has volunteered at one of their fine-dining services, which they provide to anyone who shows up to eat. Their dinners are free of cost but full of dignity and care.

For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, visit the Invisible Americans website.

The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty.

The podcast is hosted by Carol Jenkins and David Ambroz.

Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.

Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.

Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

“It’s managing to trust. It’s not distrusting people in poverty and micromanaging them.”

We bring you three inspiring interviews that focus on the action of creating real change for Invisible Americans:

1. Dr. James Farber talks about matching young people with job training to provide elder care in New York, meeting two needs at once. Two graduates of the Skillspring program, Denim Lee and Chris Kelly-Davis, share their experiences.

2. Dr. Juliet Widoff gets real about her work as an MD practicing "street medicine" and reaching those who need health care the most.

3. Khin Mai Aung gets to the root of how to help those in poverty: bring them into the conversation. The Children's Defense Funds aims to do just that.

For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.

The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty.

The podcast is hosted by Carol Jenkins.

Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John.

Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.

Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.