Childrens Defense Fund

African American Youth Speaks Wisdom Upon a Crowd

Caylin Moore | Posted 04.06.2012

Caylin Moore

The night before the event he ripped up his speech, threw it away, and told a story which his mother shared with him after a week filled with days of turmoil. The story of the Rock.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Spring Doesn't Mean Baseball Games And Vacations For All Kids

Randy Jackson | Posted 03.30.2012

Randy Jackson

It is up to each of us to raise awareness of the fact that almost 25 percent of our children live in poverty and each of us must hold our leaders accountable to ensuring a fair start for every kid in America.

No Country for Kids in Hoodies

Patricia McGuire | Posted 05.28.2012

Patricia McGuire

The right to life is an empty promise in a nation that venerates guns more than the peace and safety of the community.

What Effect Will More Corporate Ads and Interrupted Programming Really Have on PBS?

Pearl Korn | Posted 08.07.2011

Pearl Korn

At PBS's recent annual gathering it was announced that the number and frequency of promotions for corporate sponsors would increase during a few noted programs as an experiment.

From the Children's Congress to the Corporations' Congress

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 06.06.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" is less a budget proposal than an ideological assault on the foundation of a fair society, with the least among us poised to become the principal victims.

Why Government Must Rein in For-Profit Colleges

Benjamin Todd Jealous | Posted 05.25.2011

Benjamin Todd Jealous

Students trying to improve their job prospects shouldn't be duped into taking on crushing debt in exchange for the promise of a future job that will probably never materialize. A

Twenty Years of Beating the Odds

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

Thousands of children overcome tremendous obstacles like poverty, homelessness, hunger, abuse and neglect by adults, parental incarceration, and more every day.

PHOTOS: Kardashian Sisters Storm Century City Mall

Huffing | Anna Almendrala | Posted 05.25.2011

The Kardashian sisters have been on a whirlwind media tour promoting their new book, Kardashian Konfidential. Since Thanksgiving, they've appeared on ...

Celebrating the Children's Sabbath

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

Each religious tradition recognizes the sacred charge to defend children and those in poverty. Now is the time to put our faith into action.

Remembering Varnette Honeywood

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

Varnette Honeywood was a dear friend to the Children's Defense Fund. Her death in September at age 59 was a sad loss for all of us.

As Millions More Children Are Affected By Poverty, Now is the Time for Our Nation to Act

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

The Great Recession's impact on millions of children and families has jeopardized the promise of a productive future for their children and for our nation and demands greater action by our leaders and all of us.

Gun Violence and Children: Have We No Shame or Respect for Child Life?

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

What is it going to take for adults in America to stand up and say enough to the violence that is terrorizing and killing our children? No enemy without poses as great a threat as the gun enemy within.

'Freedom Schools' Promote Literacy For Underprivileged Kids Nationwide

Posted 05.25.2011

In a country with a large achievement gap between students of color and their white peers, Freedom Schools across the country are working to help stud...

CDF Freedom Schools® National Days of Social Action

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

Is your child learning to make a difference this summer? If she is enrolled in a Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® summer program, you'l...

The Oil Spill's Impact

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

When Hurricane Katrina hit, it opened people's eyes to a side of race and poverty in our nation that is often hidden. There's no single signature picture of child and family suffering from the BP oil crisis this time around. But the need for help is overwhelming.

A Call for Education Equity

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

The formula for distributing Title I funds is stacked against the very children it was most intended to help. It's time for the federal government to be an instrument of equality rather than inequality.

New York's Juvenile Prisons Are a Crime

David A. Love | Posted 05.25.2011

David A. Love

If you can judge a society by the way it treats its children, then New York fails in a big way. In fact, the Empire State should be found guilty of child abuse and neglect.

Diane Sawyer Is My Twin!

Richard Walden | Posted 05.25.2011

Richard Walden

What a thrill that Diane Sawyer wore the same super-lightweight parka as me while "reporting" from Afghanistan for ABC News with ex ABC-LA sports repo...

Addressing America's Health Care Disparities

Clayola Brown | Posted 05.25.2011

Clayola Brown

Providing health care for all must recognize and address health disparities that exist among minority populations.

The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

It's estimated that three in ten girls in the United States still get pregnant by age 20. 51 percent of Black and 53 percent of Latino teenage girls become pregnant at least once before age 20.

CDF's 35th Anniversary: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 11.17.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

The Children's Defense Fund looks forward to working with the Obama Administration and the new Congress to enact policies that give all children the chance to live and learn and succeed in life.

Teen Pregnancy in America Today

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 11.17.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

We have an opportunity to take advantage of a renewed national conversation and once again emphasize pregnancy prevention for today's teenagers -- both boys and girls.

Children's Defense Fund Founder: McCain Will Leave Millions Of Children Uninsured

Diane Tucker | Posted 05.25.2011

Diane Tucker

"Sen. McCain has no specific plan for children. We keep a Congressional scorecard... Senator McCain received the lowest score of anyone in the Senate in 2007."

Sentencing Children to Die in Prison

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

The EJI study found 73 cases in the United States where 13- and 14-year-olds have been sentenced to life without parole -- in other words, sentenced to die in prison.

Juveniles Don't Belong in Adult Prisons

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 05.25.2011

Marian Wright Edelman

There is no justification for locking up these young people in adult prisons. Juveniles may be held in adult jails for months or even years, although most of them are not charged with a violent crime.