āGet to Know Your Reporterā is a series of interviews weāre having with journalists covering topics that are both timely and relevant to our audiences. Our aim is to advocate for and highlight the issues & policies that affect the children and families we serve, and one way is by providing information directly from experts in the field.
This month, we had the privilege of meeting with Alina Tugend, a freelance journalist from The New York Times.
Hello Alina – thank you for making time to meet and share with us. Can you please start of by taking time to meet with us. Letās start off by getting to know you a little better.
I’m a life-long journalist, reporting on a variety of topics – from the environment to education and reporting over the years from California, Rhode Island, Washington DC, New York and the United Kingdom. For the past 24 years, I’ve been a freelance journalist for numerous national publications, including The New York Times,Ā The Washington Post,Ā The Chronicle of Higher Education and Kiplinger Retirement Report. Ā I have also written several explainers for the Education Writers Association and currently much of my work is focused on education, both K-12 and higher education.
From 2005-2015 I wrote the biweekly, āShortcuts,ā column for The New York Times business section. I’m also the author of the book āBetter by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong,ā and one of 25 women featured in the book āMistakes I made at Work: 25 Influential Women Reflect on What They Got Out of Getting it Wrong.ā
What motivates you as a journalist?
I love both reporting and writing. Journalism allows me to talk to a wide variety of people about so many different topics – even ones that sound dull usually end up being interesting in some way.Ā And it’s often a challenge to fit that information together in a relatively small space in a way that is (hopefully) understandable, interesting and makes people consider an idea or concept in a way they haven’t before. I believe journalism, done thoughtfully and rigorously, is incredibly important in creating an engaged and educated citizenry – which, of course, is essential to a democracy.
It took me a long time to find a place to publish, report and write. I learned a lot while in the process, including how to better write on complicated and delicate issues that involve race and class, as education so often does. As an editor on a project once told me, it’s important not to try to smooth over contradictions, but write into the complexity. That means giving readers a real understanding of the possible ambiguity of an issue without simply falling into “on the one hand, on the other hand.”
What story/project are you the proudest of working on and why?
I would like to write some longer, in-depth stories, particularly on what good research has shown works successfully in helping students thrive inĀ K-12 education.
My name is Tondalia and when I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to help people. If telling my story about how Childrenās Institute changed my life helps more parents get the support they need, I will have accomplished a lifelong dream.
I went through some really challenging times as a kid and my past traumas had created a lot of anger within me. After starting therapy at 11 years old, I went from a shut-down teen to someone who understood that it was okay to seek help, to release emotions and to express myself in healthier ways.
So when my daughter started struggling with substance use, I dedicated the next 17 years of my life to fighting for my four grandchildren and making sure they had the love and care they needed to heal. I reached out to my old therapist for help and she connected me to Childrenās Institute.
When I first called Children’s Institute, it just so happened that a gentleman named Carl, who had helped my eldest grandson when he first went into foster care, answered the phone. I knew then that this was the right place for my family. All four grandchildren received services from Children’s Institute and so did I.
Children’s Institute is a safe place for me. From the receptionist at the front desk, my therapist to the staff linking me to additional resources such as transportation and utility bill payment assistance, the whole experience has put me at ease. All my life, I have been responsible for taking care of others. Children’s Institute was here to take care of me.
I now have the mental space to think about my future and how I would like to pursue a career where I can help other parents understand the power of therapy.
When my grandchildren first started counseling, they were closed up, like rose petals when you canāt see inside. Now they have blossomed into the young people they deserve to be because they have the resources they need to thrive. Iām proud of the progress weāve all made and the opportunity to grow together.
Please consider giving a generous gift to Children’s Institute this holiday season, so that more families like mine can get the support they need to flourish.
āGet to Know Your Reporterā is a series of interviews weāre having with journalists covering topics that are both timely and relevant to our audiences. Our aim is to advocate for and highlight the issues & policies that affect the children and families we serve, and one way is by providing information directly from experts in the field.
This month, we had the privilege of meeting with Ana B. Ibarra, a health reporter at CalMatters.
Hello Ana and thank you for taking time to meet with us. Let’s start off by getting to know you a little better.
I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, specifically in Rosemead, California, as the daughter of Mexican and Salvadoran immigrants. My introduction to journalism was in high school, where I joined a class and helped with the school newspaper, The Pantherās Tale. Journalism forced me out of my comfort zone to connect with people I might never have encountered otherwise.Ā
Ten years after starting my career, I consider myself lucky to still be a reporter. Itās challenging yet it gives me the opportunity to meet people throughout the community, allowing me to understand the issues that affect us all. I get to speak with those who have the power to make policy and changes, as well as the people impacted by those decisions.
What drives me is my commitment to keeping people informed and making news more accessible. I started my journalism career covering health and Iām still at it today. Itās a field that impacts everyone in one way or another and remains a strong area of interest for me.
I began my journey with the Merced Sun-Star then moved on to Kaiser Health News, part of the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), before landing my current role at CalMatters. I look forward to continuing this work, connecting with people from all walks of life and amplifying the stories that matter.
How has the transition from Sacramento to Los Angeles been for you as a reporter?
Iāve had the opportunity to report from different places across California ā from the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento and now to my hometown of Los Angeles. Each transition has offered unique perspectives and insights. In Sacramento, I covered the Capitol and various government agencies, translating decisions made by leaders and lawmakers into stories that reached the public. My goal was to make these decisions at the top accessible and relevant to the communities they directly impact.
Now I work outside of Sacramento, focusing on issues people deal with in their communities. Iām tracking things from health care concerns to economic challenges that might go unnoticed yet impact everyday lives. Often, these stories bring fresh insight to decision-makers in Sacramento, reinforcing how community-level issues need representation at the state level.
At CalMatters, the heart of what we do is rooted in policy, always keeping a close watch on Sacramentoās decisions. But itās equally important for us to investigate how these policies play out on the ground and observe how policies impact different cities, from Bakersfield to Los Angeles, highlighting how unique each communityās challenges are.
Ultimately, our reporting is about bridging that gap, showing how policy decisions in Sacramento impact the lives of people across California.
We’ve heard the news & media being affected quite a bit these days. Have you noticed any major trends or changes in the media landscape? And if so, what are you noticing and how are you pivoting?
In my 10 years in journalism, Iāve seen newsrooms, especially local ones, shrink to become skeletons of what they used to be. That means there are fewer eyes and stories coming out of these communities. This challenge has also resulted in more collaboration between newsrooms and reporters. At CalMatters, we partner with many local outlets to expand access to important news across California.
As news consumption evolves, weāre having to adapt too, reaching readers through print, radio, TV, newsletters and even TikTok. At the same time, weāre working to combat misinformation and build trust. This adaptability is essential, as accurate, accessible news is more critical than ever.
Can you share about your recent accomplishments and highlights?
Iāve learned that everyone interacts with the healthcare system in some way, and it can be a very complicated system to navigate. When someone reaches out to say my reporting has helped them or their family, itās the ultimate compliment and achievement.Ā
This year, my health team took on a major project: investigating maternity ward closures across California. It required months of work, from gathering data, conducting interviews, and traveling across the state, including to Imperial County, where we spoke with people affected by these closures. The project was a labor of heart and hard work and weāve been working on that since last year and up until this year. Here is the investigation that led to Governor Newsom signing a law to create more transparency around maternity ward closures:Ā Gov. Newsom signs law to slow closures.
What a powerful article with so much impact! Thank you for reporting on such critical issues. For our final question, what is a message you’d like to convey with your readers? Do you have any tips on how people can reach the media?
Navigating the healthcare system can be difficult. If youāre struggling to find the information you need, donāt be shy to reach out to journalists. Often the questions you have are shared by others. Readers sometimes contact me for help accessing resources, and even if I donāt have the answer, I can connect them with someone who does. When readers share their questions and concerns, it also helps us understand the areas where the public may need more information.
CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues while holding our leaders accountable. We are the only journalism outlet dedicated to covering Americaās biggest state, 39 million Californians and the worldās fifth largest economy. Our mission is to improve Californiaās democracy by making its government more transparent and accountable and giving Californians the information they need to understand and engage with that government.
Ana reports from a health fair in Calexico (Imperial County). Photo credit: Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters.
āGet to Know Your Reporterā is a series of interviews weāre having with journalists covering topics that are both timely and relevant to our audiences. Our aim is to advocate for and highlight the issues & policies that affect the children and families we serve, and one way is by providing information directly from experts in the field.
In continuing this series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jackie Mader, an award-winning reporter from The Hechinger Report.
Thank you, Jackie, for taking time to meet with us. We are honored to have this time with you. Could you please start off by telling us about yourself?
Iām Jackie Mader, Senior Reporter for Early Childhood at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization dedicated exclusively to reporting on education. Based out of Columbia Universityās Teachers College, we collaborate with both local and national news outlets to publish in-depth stories on critical education issues, including early childhood, which I define as spanning from prenatal family support programs and infancy through third grade, covering the developmental period up to eight years of age.
What motivates you to cover early childhood education and development?
I am deeply passionate about early childhood education. My journey into covering this critical age group began about nine years ago, while I was living and reporting in Mississippi for The Hechinger Report. I was on assignment, visiting childcare centers as the state debated funding preschool programs. That was my first introduction to early learning and it sparked my interest in this field. Prior to journalism, I worked as a middle school teacher, where I saw firsthand the lack of foundational skills many students had. It became clear to me how vital those early years are, as I witnessed the long-term effects of missed opportunities for quality early learning.
When I first began reporting on early childhood, I was astonished by how essential those first few years are to a person’s development and yet, how little attention they received in media coverage. While education reporting largely focuses on K-12 and higher education, early childhood is often overlooked.
Around the same time, I became pregnant with my first child, who is now eight and a half. Reporting on early childhood issues while pregnant brought a new depth to my work. As I visited childcare programs, I imagined leaving my own child in those settings, knowing I would soon rely on these services. This personal connection strengthened my desire to cover early childhood and deepened my understanding of the issues. It also made me more aware of how policy decisions affect parents on the ground, myself included.
Iām so passionate about this subject because of the general lack of public understanding about the first few years of life and how profoundly they impact a child’s brain development. I strive to highlight this in my reporting because those early interactions ā between caregivers and children and within home and childcare environments, have lasting consequences on a childās development. This period shapes the rest of their lives and itās a critical time that is too often overlooked. I feel a sense of urgency to raise awareness because many people donāt yet grasp the importance of early childhood. Thatās what drives me ā to educate the public on these crucial early years and bring them into public discourse.
Can you tell us about your career in journalism? What advice would you give young people interested in pursuing a career in journalism?
My path to journalism was a bit unconventional. My undergraduate degrees were in screenwriting and elementary education, and I spent several years teaching. It was during my time as a teacher that I realized I wanted to write about education, which ultimately led me to graduate school for journalism. From there, I transitioned into education reporting.
For those interested in journalism, my biggest advice is to start writing as much as possible. Take every opportunity you can to write, whether it’s for school publications, blogs or even internships. The more you write, the better you’ll become. I also recommend studying the work of great writers and journalists, paying close attention to their techniques, storytelling and how they structure their pieces. While there’s a lot you can learn on the job, taking journalism classes is also valuable if they’re available to you. Those classes can provide you with useful tools and foundational skills for the field.
Are there any upcoming projects that youāre excited about?
Yes, Iām really excited about a few things Iāve been working on. Last year, I took a fellowship leave and traveled to Norway, where I studied their early childhood education system. I’ll soon be publishing stories from that experience. Itās been fascinating to explore what the U.S. can learn from countries that have heavily invested in their childcare systems and in creating a high-quality childhood for children. I plan to continue pursuing international comparisons in my reporting, looking at how different countries approach early childhood education.
Another project Iām working on focuses on the quality of childcare in the U.S. In the aftermath of the pandemic, thereās been a push for deregulation to fix the childcare system, but some of these proposed solutions, such as increasing child-to-staff ratios or reducing staff training requirements, could harm the quality of care. Iām investigating these issues to better understand their potential impact.
Iām also delving into classroom management, which is a topic I’ve been interested in since my own days as a teacher. Iām currently working on a story inspired by my children’s experiences in school and what Iāve observed as a parent. Classroom management is a major challenge for teachers, and itās often cited as one of the main reasons educators leave the profession. My goal is to explore both personal experiences and research to understand the best practices and ongoing challenges in this area.
Jackie Mader can be reached at mader@hechingerreport.org
The Hechinger ReportĀ is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based atĀ Teachers College,Ā Columbia University, covering issues of inequality and innovation in education, from the earliest years through college and careers. We tell stories that will have an impact on the future of American schooling.Ā The news industry faces collapse in many parts of the country. Thorough, reliable news is needed more than ever. As the corporate journalism industry struggles, The Hechinger Report fills the gaps and elevates the quality of coverage about education.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In order to remove the shame, stigma and silence often associated with domestic violence, we opted to share a client’s story of strength & survival. As this client mustered up the courage to share her story, her hope is that in doing so, it gives others the courage to share their stories and heal in the process.
When I look back on my life, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time. Not long ago, I was trapped in a cycle of fear and abuse, unable to see a way out ā not even really understanding what I was experiencing was abuse. Today, I stand with a renewed sense of hope, strength and a determination to help others find their own path to freedom & safety.
My story began, like many others, one of excitement. I was in a relationship with someone I loved and when we found out we were expecting a child, we took the next step and moved in together. But it was then that the cracks started to show. My partnerās behavior became increasingly aggressive, something I initially blamed on the daily stresses of life, especially after our child was born. My partner struggled with addiction and while there were moments of peace, they were momentary.
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation. The isolation, job loss and the impacts on mental health associated with the pandemic took a toll on both of us which caused him to spiral and quickly. His habit of drinking returned aggressively, strangers from the street would frequently show up at our doorstep and the environment became dangerously unpredictable. On top of it all, his abusive behavior had intensified.
Despite my best efforts to keep my child safe and hold our young family together, the situation reached a breaking point. One night, after a particularly violent outburst from my partner where he threw me against a wall, my partner unexpectedly kicked us out of the home.
Thankfully, my parents took me and my child in but the cycle of abuse from my partner continued for another two years. There were periods where he seemed to get better, only for his abusive behavior to intensify. It wasnāt until one night, after finding him passed out and covered in blood in the kitchen, that I finally saw the reality of the situation. I tried to handle the situation myself but as usual, I was met with his aggression ā to the point that my partner nearly ended my life in that moment. He wasnāt just hurting himself; he was endangering my life and my childās life. When he woke up and tried to end my life, I knew we had to escape for good.
Filing a police report brought Child Protective Services (CPS) into my life and through them, I was connected to Children’s Institute. My goal was to find counseling for my child, who had witnessed far more than any three-year-old should ever have to see but what I found at Children’s Institute was more than just help for him ā it was a lifeline for the both of us.
At first, I was hesitant to accept the help offered. I had always been the kind of person who believed I could handle things on my own, but this time was different. I was exhausted, scared and felt utterly defeated. I took a leap of faith and enrolled in the domestic violence and parenting classes, not knowing just how transformative this decision would be.
During the group session at Childrenās Institute, I was connected to other people who understood my pain in a way I had never experienced. For the first time, I learned that the things I had been through werenāt just part of life ā they were signs of abuse. This realization was both shocking and liberating. And what was key for me was that I wasnāt alone and that this wasnāt my fault. Prior to this, I blamed myself for the abuse I experienced. Somehow, I told myself that I put myself in these situations.
The support I received at Children’s Institute allowed me to start rebuilding my life. I learned about self-care ā something I had never considered important before ā and the importance of setting boundaries. These werenāt just abstract concepts; they were tools that helped me protect myself and my child from ever falling back into the cycle of abuse.
Additionally, it was through my therapy sessions that I was encouraged to find a community of friends outside of therapy. So, with some courage, I started getting involved in a church. Thatās where, for the first time, I found a community of people & friends who embraced and understood me. The love and acceptance that my child and I felt were incredible. Before getting therapy and becoming involved in my church, I was never able to connect with others and form friendships. I even got to throw a friend their baby shower ā and for me, I felt like that was a huge success.
Today, I am a different person. Iāve built a strong support system that I can rely on. I have the support system through my church and through it, I have friends who accept and love me and my child unconditionally. Iāve learned how to find joy in lifeās little things. The constant state of fear has been lifted off my shoulders and replaced by a newfound sense of peace and purpose.
But my journey isnāt just about surviving ā itās about thriving. I want to share my story because I know there are others out there who are afraid and feel trapped. I want them to know that there is hope for them and that there are people and organizations like Children’s Institute who can help them find their way out of the darkness.
I am forever grateful for the support I received, and I wish I could give back more. I know that one way of giving back is through sharing my story. I hope that my story can be a light for someone else.
*Clientās name has been omitted for anonymity.
For more information & resources on domestic violence, please see below:
Suicide is a complex issue affecting countless families, making awareness essential for prevention. Our Director of Intensive Behavioral Health, Kelly Hwang, LMFT, shared her insights with L.A. Parent Magazine about how recent societal changes have impacted suicidal ideation, particularly among youth and wants to highlight two major influences including the pandemic and social media. While both issues are attributed to rising mental health concerns, they also provide opportunities for dialogue and support.
The Impact of the Pandemic
The pandemic has profoundly affected youth mental health, resulting in alarming increases in suicidal ideation and self-harm. A key driver of this crisis is social isolation including lockdowns which stripped youth of social interactions, leaving many feeling lonely and disconnected.
Additionally, the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic shifted conversations about mortality into the forefront of young minds. Children, who may have previously been unaffected by death, were suddenly inundated with news about COVID-related hospitalizations and fatalities, heightening their anxiety and contributing to feelings of despair. Some even experienced the death of a family member as a result of COVID.
The pandemic, however, also sparked a cultural shift towards open discussions about mental health and wellness. The stigma that once silenced these conversations quickly began to dissipate, creating an environment where people felt more comfortable opening up about their struggles. While this openness may explain the uptick in reported rates of suicidal ideation, it also facilitates supportive dialogue.
The Role of Social Media
Social media serves as a double-edged sword for youth. On the negative side, it perpetuates unrealistic standards, leading to unhealthy comparisons and feelings of inadequacy. Social media users tend to showcase their “best sides,” which skews perceptions of reality and can exacerbate underlying anxiety and depression to certain users. Social media can also promote harmful behaviors in schools including bullying and harassment.
Additionally, easy access to content about suicide poses risks to youth. Despite these challenges, social media can be a source of information for mental health and suicide prevention. Online resources can be life-saving ā including for parents, who can benefit
from increased awareness of warning signs and strategies to support their children.
Tips for Parents
If youāre a parent concerned about your childās mental health, consider the following tips:
1) Recognize Depressive Symptoms
ā¢ Loss of Interest: If your child no longer engages in activities they once enjoyed.
ā¢ Loss of enjoyment: Notice this sign in activities and things previously enjoyed.
ā¢ Changes in Eating and Sleeping: Deviations in usual patterns should be noted.
ā¢ Preoccupation with Death: Frequent talk about death or suicidal thoughts should not be dismissed.
ā¢ Low Energy and Fatigue: Persistent low energy levels.
ā¢ Traumatic Exposure: Past traumas that may affect their mental health.
2) Encourage Open Dialogue
Engaging in conversations about mental health and suicide is crucial.
ā¢ Ask Directly: Ask if your child has thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
ā¢ Validate Their Feelings: Listen empathetically and acknowledge their emotions.
ā¢ Connect Them with Trusted Adults: Encourage seeking support from other family members, mentors or counselors.
ā¢ Consult a Mental Health Professional: If concerns escalate, donāt hesitate to involve a professional.
Resources
For additional support, organizations like Childrenās Institute offer resources and counseling for qualifying families. For families under Medi-Cal with youth 0-21 years of age that are seeking resources, please see here.
āGet to Know Your Reporterā is a series of interviews weāre having with journalists covering topics that are both timely and relevant to our audiences. Our aim is to advocate for and highlight the issues & policies that affect the children and families we serve, and one way is by providing information directly from experts in the field.
In continuing this series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Elly Yu, the Early Childhood Senior Reporter at LAist and 89.3 FM (LAist radio).
Thank you, Elly, for taking the time to meet with us. I’m looking forward to learning more about you as an early childhood reporter at LAist. Can you start by sharing a little about your background?
Iām local to Southern California. I grew up in San Gabriel Valley and attended the University of Southern California. I left California for graduate school in New York but Iām now back in my hometown.
Iāve been a journalist for more than ten years, having reported in Atlanta, Washington DC and now, back in LA. Before being on the early childhood beat at LAist, I was on the station’s investigative team, covering healthcare, COVID-19 and immigration-related issues.
While you were sharing about being a journalist and a reporter, could you share what differences there are between the two?
The term, journalist, is an all-encompassing one. For instance, a reporter who goes out in the field is a journalist but so are editors, producers and other roles who arenāt necessarily in the field or on air. Iām out on the field as a reporter but I have an editor on my team to help with the development of my stories.
What motivates you to cover the beat of early childhood? What are you most passionate about as a reporter?
The early childhood beat is such an important one because the early years are critical to a childās life. Making sure children have the right opportunities and experiences to grow while having access to health and quality education really impacts the trajectory of their lives. The early years set up a foundation for the rest of oneās life. We know about ACEs and traumatic experiences and how those things can adversely affect health outcomes ā even decades later into adulthood.
I am also a mother to a three-year-old son. I donāt know if heās given me a window into the policies I cover but Iām learning firsthand that parenting is hard. The United States is very different from other countries when it comes to things like maternity leave and childcare support.
What makes me passionate about reporting is being able to tell stories of my community. At the same time, it’s also important to hold institutions to account for their policies. We are committed to telling the truth and shining a light on issues impacting people’s everyday lives. I believe journalism is a vital public service for our democracy.
Wow, thatās profound. As a reporter, you do have a quite powerful role in keeping institutions in check for the greater good. To dig deeper into your motivations as a storyteller and reporter, what would be a message youād like to convey to your readers?
Thatās a hard one. Iād say I like to connect people to other peopleās experiences within their own communities or the neighborhoods they live in. I want to help people relate to their own neighbors and their stories ā stories that they may not have been aware of previously. Also, through my work, I would like to explain how policies affect the lives of everyday Angelenos.
Can you share what you are working on that youāre excited about?
I am interested in exploring housing insecurity for families with young children across Los Angeles County where affordability continues to be such a big issue. I want to look into what is and isnāt working for families and learn about the experiences families are going through to get or maintain safe and affordable housing.
Do you see any major issues affecting children & families impacted by some of the more recent policies affecting homeless and clearing encampments?
I donāt have enough information yet, but I do know that families tend to live more in cars and vehicles than in tents or encampments. A UCLA study reported that the largest predictor of someone living in a vehicle was being a family with children. Family homelessness can be an invisible issue.
We also have a housing and homelessness team at LAist that is following all the changes around encampments and Proposition 1 affecting mental health housing. I want to see how the housing crisis is specifically affecting families with children.
If youāre a family with children, youāll most likely want a two-bedroom home vs. a one-bedroom for example – which can be a challenge to find.
A New York Times article/Princeton study reported that Americans most threatened by eviction were babies and toddlers, particularly Black children. These are just some of the issues I would like to dig deeper on.
For our last question, can you share something interesting about yourself? And, is there anyone person that has been really interesting to report on?
I guess the interesting thing about me is that I have the opportunity to interview very interesting people.
As for hobbies, I like to explore new restaurants and seeing all the cuisine Los Angeles has to offer with all its diversity. At the moment, I donāt have too much time for hobbies ā keeping up with my three-year-old takes up most of my time now but I can say I know ALL the different types of dinosaurs that exists because of my son!
In regards to the most interesting person Iāve ever met. I actually canāt pinpoint one person. Yesterday, I sat in on a class in Fullerton ā a midwife class. The professor of that class also works as a midwife at the MLK Community Hospital and Iād have to say that class was really interesting.
Most of my days, I have the opportunity to talk and meet with people from all different walks of lives and getting a peek into their daily lives is such a privilege.
LAist is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that is also home to L.A.’s largest NPR station, broadcasting at 89.3 FM. Sign up for LAist’s early childhood newsletter here.
We are excited about our four “Cape & Gown Gala” honorees, who will be celebrated at our upcoming fundraising gala on Sunday, December 8 at the Skirball Cultural Center. As advocates and supporters of underserved children, families and communities, our honorees were selected for their humanitarianism and impact to society.
Today, we will be sitting down to meet Erin Westerman, Co-President of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate to better understand her desire to give back. Hello Erin and welcome to Children’s Institute! Thank you for making time to meet with us. Can you start off by sharing a little about yourself?
I am a mother of two ā I have a seven-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. As the Co-President of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate, I oversee a team, and our job is to build and manufacture the movies that get put into theaters with the Lionsgate logo on it. That includes Hunger Games, John Wick, Saw and more. Plus, thereās a lot of other smaller, original movies that we make throughout the year.
My proudest accomplishment to date, outside of having my children, is how I impacted Lionsgateās maternity leave policy. While I was negotiating my contract, I found out that our maternity leave policy was the state minimum. While this is not uncommon for corporations given that that’s what the government suggests as a starting place, having just had a child, I was super aware that it wasn’t enough time off.
I decided to put into my contract that the company change their policy to allow for longer maternity leave if I was going to accept the offer. What’s amazing about Lionsgate is that, when faced with the data that supports all the good that a longer maternity leave can have and how little it actually costs the company, they changed their policy to give birth mothers five months of full pay plus four months of pay for the non-birth parent.
I will always feel so good that I found myself in a position to hold up a mirror and see that I helped create real change for the people that work at Lionsgate. I would say this is both the reason that I work at Lionsgate and have worked there for almost a decade.
Our North Star consists of four pillars which include educational success, emotional well-being, economic mobility and lifelong health. What part of our North Star resonates with you?
I grew up in the south side of Chicago and I’m very aware that many of the kids that I grew up with didn’t have what I had, which were parents who had the capacity to provide opportunities for me ā not just financially but also emotionally and with their time. My parents put a lot of effort into creating opportunities for me to feel whole, to be challenged and to see opportunities.
That may look different for others but the possibilities that exist for people to succeed are impacted by whether or not they have someone in their life whoās capable of doing that for them. Because of my childhood and because of where I grew up in Chicago, I’m hyper-aware that the biggest indicator of my success has been having parents who believed in me. I can now look back on a lot of the kids I grew up with who were no less smart, no less deserving but who have not found themselves to be as lucky as me. One person who believes in you can change their life.
Whatās amazing about Childrenās Institute is that they look at the whole child, the whole family and can create capacity for parents to create those opportunities by filling in the holes or pointing people in directions to provide resources that that child or family need.
If you had a message to share with those who are better off and have more resources, what would it be?
I think that, especially if you have children, you become very aware of how important it is to provide for your children. Itās something I feel all the time. Whenever my children need something, nothing will stop me from helping them. No amount of money, resources, or time would stop me from doing what I can for them. Unfortunately, a lot of mothers, fathers and caregivers are not able to do that.
Now, for a more lighthearted question. If you were granted one wish, for the people we serve, what would that be? And why?
That’s a hard question! Well, I wish that we were more child friendly. I think that there are countries in Europe where everybody lifts up families and children. And I think in a lot of places, children are seen as being a burden. Even as somebody with resources, I feel like it’s still hard to raise children.
So, my wish would be that we had a community that did more of that.
One last question! When we were looking at the dresses we collect and hand out for our annual Prom2Go event, I noticed you had a reaction to them. Can you share what you were feeling in the moment?
Oh yeah! I love that you have an event focused on prom, because often, things like prom are deemed as extra and unnecessary. But when I look back on my own high school experience, I remember prom being one of the most joyous experiences I had.
The idea that Childrenās Institute would take seriously something in a high schoolerās life like prom and provide resources for that while knowing that a new dress matters gets me very emotional.
If you would like to give back to the community while enjoying an evening celebrating our honorees at our 6th Annual “Cape & Gown Gala”, you can purchase corporate sponsorships or individual & group tickets here. Our “Cape & Gown Gala” will take place on Sunday, December 8 from 5-8pm at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Proceeds to the gala will go towards the services and programs helping the underserved children and families in our community.
At the recent Clarity Conference in San Antonio, Texas, Rosette Lee, a Senior Clinical Supervisor for our Behavioral Health and Wellness School-Aged team, led an insightful session that delved into the critical role of early childhood mental health. The session highlighted the profound and enduring impact of secure attachments, positive parenting and early interventions on a childās long-term development and psychological well-being.
Drawing from her extensive clinical experience here at Childrenās Institute, Rosette demonstrated the techniques employed by our therapists in addressing the mental health needs of babies and young children. She emphasized how early exposure to stress, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can significantly hinder a child’s cognitive, emotional and linguistic development. Without timely and appropriate intervention, these experiences may lead to lasting detriments in an individual’s overall health and growth.
The session underscored the importance of fostering mental health during the earliest years of life ā a practice that is not yet widely implemented nationally despite its proven benefits. Rosette presented compelling evidence from both research and practice, reinforcing the necessity of early intervention as a protective measure against the adverse effects of childhood trauma.
The primary objectives of the session were as follows:
Highlighting the importance of early childhood relationships and mental health as fundamental to future growth and development.
Understanding the impact of early childhood trauma on cognitive, emotional, and linguistic development.
Raising awareness of protective factors and best practices in treating young children affected by stress, trauma and ACEs.
This session reaffirms our ongoing commitment to pioneering early intervention strategies in mental health care, aiming to promote healthier developmental outcomes for children.
Presented by Rosette Lee, Senior Clinical Supervisor (Behavioral Health & Wellness in Service Provider Area (SPA 6)
About the Clarity Conference: Claritycon is an annual educational conference that explores the internal and external factors that impact the emotional, psychological and social well-being of young people. Since its creation in 2013, the conference has grown to reach over 500 attendees ranging from educators, therapists, nurses, social workers and mental health professionals. The conference is hosted by Clarity.
āGet to Know Your Reporterā is a series of interviews weāre having with reporters & journalists covering topics that are both timely and relevant to our audiences. Our aim is to advocate for and highlight the issues that affect the children and families we serve, and one way is by providing information directly from experts in the field.
Elena Epstein is the co-owner and creative director of L.A. Parent Magazine and she shares with us how her cultural background and passion for journalism have shaped the trajectory of her career to becoming the co-owner of L.A. Parent Magazine & laparent.com.
Letās start off by hearing about your background and your journey into journalism.
I was born in Tehran, Iran but when I was nine, which was also about the time the Iranian Revolution started, I immigrated to Los Angeles with my family. I have childhood memories of being an immigrant child and facing some challenges associated with acclimating to a different cultureāincluding when I was an ESL (English as a Second Language) student, but I also had the responsibility of translating for my parents. I am so grateful we settled in Los Angeles, though, because it is such a diverse city.
Growing up in the Mid City neighborhood, I attended Fairfax High School, which is where I discovered my love for journalism. I started writing for the Colonial Gazette, our school newspaper, and though I was a quiet child who worried a lot about her accent, I found my new love. I overcame that feeling of self-consciousness through capturing other peopleās stories. Having a reporterās notebook in-hand gave me the confidence to approach people with questions which has carried over into my career.
After high school, I enrolled in California State University, Northridge (CSUN) where I studied journalism. I met my husband while working for the college newspaper, The Daily Sundial, and upon graduation, we transitioned from journalism into the publishing side, and I furthered my education to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University and began consulting for nonprofits, including Childrenās Hospital Los Angeles.
During this time, we were raising two daughters and thatās when I became an avid reader of L.A. Parent Magazine. When our daughters were in high school, we heard that the business was for sale and we jumped at the opportunity. After all, my husband and I had dreamed of working together and we both had the desire to one day own our own business. We took a leap of faith, bought L.A. Parent Magazine and now we like to call it our third child.
L.A. Parent Magazine has a large and loyal following among young parents in Southern California. What is your motivation behind it and why do you create and curate the content you do?
For me, being a mother is the most important and challenging yet rewarding thing I have ever done. At the hospital, when the doctor first hands you your newborn child and tells you youāre ready to go homeāthat moment can be so daunting, especially for a first-time parent.
As a parent, you need support. Many people donāt have the benefit of having family members nearby, so I see L.A. Parent like a trusted friend or a next-door neighbor who is a little older and wiser and has been through this before. Someone who can reassure you by saying, āYou know what? We get it. This is exhausting and itās okay. No one has all the right answers, but you can do this.ā
That is how I see every story we produceāthat every article we publish should be a resource for parents and ultimately, we want to make parentsā lives easier so they can focus on more important things, including creating a joyful environment to connect with their families.
What is the main message that you would like to convey through your work?
Spend time together as a family. One-on-one time without electronic devices. We are lucky to live in a city with such incredible resources and free events on any given day. You can go to museums, parks, beaches or hiking trails together as a family unit. These are the moments that will create lifelong memories and that is what connects your kids to you, your culture and your family.
L.A. Parent has a huge online calendar of events and we recommend and feature many free things to do in the city. I think our message really boils down to thatāspend time with your loved ones because thatās what makes life richer.
See below for the Calendar of Events on L.A. Parent featuring fun & free events for families.
