A Collective Commitment to Our Children’s Future
In Nicholas Kristof’s recent New York Times opinion piece, “We Americans Neglect Our Children,” he shines a spotlight on a critical issue facing our nation. As the CEO of Raising a Reader and an attendee at the recent Summit Common Sense Media convened on America’s Kids and Families, I wholeheartedly agree with his call to action. Kristof’s compelling and urgent argument is that, despite our individual love for our children, we as a society fall short in collectively addressing their needs.
Kristof rightly points out that our children are suffering due to a lack of systemic support, from inadequate childcare and education systems to insufficient health care and safety measures. The statistics he shares, such as the alarming mortality rate of children in the U.S. compared to other wealthy nations, are a stark reminder of the work that lies ahead.
At Raising a Reader, we believe that literacy is the foundation of all learning and a critical component of any pro-child agenda. Literacy empowers children, giving them the tools to thrive in school and life. It is imperative that we not only focus on childcare and poverty reduction but also ensure that every child has access to quality early education, emotional learning, healthy family relationships, learning skills and resources needed to thrive in school and beyond.
Integral to our mission is our radical collaboration with hundreds of peer organizations, who we work alongside to support thousands of children and families. By working together with these partners, we amplify our impact, ensuring that our elected officials make decisions in support of our young children.
Kristof’s call for a “million child march” on Washington and the push for candidates to address child welfare issues in this election year align with our mission. We must hold our elected leaders accountable and ensure that children’s well-being is at the forefront of their agendas.
By investing in our children’s future, we invest in the future of our country. Let’s work together to ensure that every child can thrive and reach their full potential.