Episode Details

Welcome back to another impactful edition of Growing Up in America, where this week’s episode was packed with powerful voices and real talk about the urgent challenges facing kids, families, and communities today.

Your hosts Briauna Derry and Brian Greene took us on a journey through the frontlines of education and crisis support—bringing together advocates and experts who are doing the work and sounding the alarm.

Anna Hardaway and Militza Mezquita both zeroed in on the need for stronger crisis response systems in schools and neighborhoods. They broke down how community-centered strategies can save lives, support students, and help families feel safe and heard in times of emergency.

Dr. Chris Kulesza brought the numbers with his much-anticipated “Data of the Day” report. From academic trends to equity indicators, his annual snapshot showed us exactly where we’re making gains—and where we’re falling short.

Richard Cantu, who didn’t hold back when talking about the federal cuts to out-of-school and adult learning programs. His message was clear: when we slash these resources, we’re putting opportunity, safety, and progress at risk for everyone—especially our most vulnerable.

It was a week of bold insights, hard truths, and voices of hope.

As always, this is Growing Up in America—where we keep the conversations real, the data honest, and the future in focus.