Building A Parent Nation

Spurred by Dr. Dana Suskind’s forthcoming book, Dr. Suskind, co-director at the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health and Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at the University of Chicago, joined us as the lead presenter to share what inspired her to write Parent Nation and why this message is urgent and timely. Joining her as co-presenter was Yolie Flores, also at the TMW Center, as well as commentators Beth Duda of Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Liletta Jenkins of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, and Jane Park of Too Small to Fail. 

Our moderator, Ginger Young of Book Harvest, opened up the session by sharing her own experience: “In this work, we have learned that for so many parents, at every turn, when parents are trying so hard to do right by their kids, just as they develop bold goals and begin to envision success for their children, road block after road block gets in the way.”

In her remarks, Dr. Suskind discussed her journey from pediatric cochlear implant surgeon to social scientist focused on the importance of brain development and the critical role parents and caregivers play in that process. Along the way, she met countless parents who want what every parent wants — to help their children get off to the best possible start — and who are committed to playing their part. And yet, life would intrude on their efforts, time and time again, limiting opportunities for the brain-building power of talk to occur. Society, Dr. Suskind explained, has completely abrogated its responsibility to children and families in this country, leaving families to fully shoulder the awesome responsibility for raising the next generation on their own. Through powerful data, Dr. Suskind illustrated the stark disparities between the United States and other developed nations when it comes to investments in family supports. 

In writing Parent Nation, Dr. Suskind interviewed dozens of parents from all walks of life. “Their circumstances differed wildly,” she shared. “Yet their thoughts, their fears and their concerns were incredibly similar to one another. They all struggled to parent the way they wanted to…in the way they knew was best for their children.” These committed parents faced varying challenges, from economic instability to a racialized justice system, inflexibile hours or work conditions, or unavailable and unaffordable child care. Each of these issues stifled parents’ freedom to choose to parent how they wished, especially in the earliest years when children’s brains are developing at a particularly rapid rate. With this as the backdrop for writing Parent Nation, our three commentators engaged Dr. Suskind in a lively discussion on how this bold book could have powerful implications for the work they each do in their respective communities, and how, together, we can foster community, forge collective identity and fight for change.

Following the discussion, Yolie Flores, National Campaign Director for Building a Parent Nation, provided an overview of the campaign that will launch alongside the book in April 2022 and will include a digital communications effort to reach a broad audience as well as a ground game to engage parents and allies more deeply. She then offered a deep dive on the various ground-game elements, including a suite of free, interactive, and highly engaging resources and tools, such as a four-session curriculum to engage parents and allies at the local level through Parent Villages. Resources— all informed by parents—have been designed to be flexible and modular (you can pick and choose elements you prefer), will be available in English and Spanish via the forthcoming Parent Nation website, and white-labeled, meaning that organizational partners can add their logos as part of their organization’s social change efforts on behalf of parents. Yolie closed with a call to action, listing “5 Things You Can Do Now” to help build momentum toward the launch of Parent Nation in April 2022, including registering for a free copy of the book, generously provided by Hearing First, an educational endeavor of the Oberkotter Foundation.