The Invisible Americans

“It’s managing to trust. It’s not distrusting people in poverty and micromanaging them.” We bring you three inspiring interviews that focus on the action of creating real change for Invisible Americans: 1. Dr. James Farber talks about matching young people with job training to provide elder care in New York, meeting two needs at once. Two graduates of the Skillspring program, Denim Lee and Chris Kelly-Davis, share their experiences.2. Dr. Juliet Widoff gets real about her work as an MD practicing "street medicine" and reaching those who need health care the most. 3. Khin Mai Aung gets to the root of how to help those in poverty: bring them into the conversation. The Children's Defense Funds aims to do just that. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Carol Jenkins.Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

We open this episode with a clip of one of our previous guests, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, president of MomsRising, speaking at a 24-hour vigil at the U.S. Capitol with an aim of protecting Medicaid.Then Carol and our first guest host, David Ambroz, talk to Natalie Foster, president and cofounder of Economic Security Project. They discuss how we can "center inherent worth and dignity of every American" through policy choices like guaranteed income. Then they speak with Dr. Sarah Cowan, executive director of NYU's Cash Transfer Lab, about how Alaska is leading the way through the Alaska's Permanent Fund Dividend, which pays out directly to all Alaskans every year.For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website.The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Carol Jenkins.Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

We open with excerpts from Sen. Cory Booker’s 25-hour filibuster and Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s speech reintroducing the American Family Act—described as “an antidote to child poverty.”Our host Carol Jenkins speaks with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (Mom’s Rising) and Fatima Goss Graves (National Women’s Law Center) about the wave of Hands Off protests and the urgent need to resist cuts that target children and families while rewarding billionaires. We also look ahead to 2026 and the razor-thin margins that could shift control in Congress. With just a few seats deciding the future, the time to get organized is now.---For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website.The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder

We open with a clip of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaking about how she’s been working with the state legislature to get cash back into the parents of young children – at the time when parenthood hits wallets the hardest.Then we feature a clip from December 2024. Carol spoke with New York Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald at a symposium hosted by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University. They discussed how the federal transition impacts programs at the state level – and how it doesn’t.To close the show, friend of the podcast and child poverty reduction guru Kate Breslin joins us to discuss where New York stands on its goal to cut child poverty in half by 2031 – and what choices all of us can urge our elected officials to make in our own states and districts.---For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website.The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this episode, we take a look into what poverty actually looks like. We dive deep into Robin Hood's newly published poverty tracker with Chris Wimer, director of the Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University, and Chloe Sarnoff, Director of Policy Research at Robin Hood. Then we talk to Christine Quinn, CEO and president of WIN, discusses the nuts and bolts of providing shelter to the unhoused - and how the face of homelessness in New York City is "a five-year-old with a working mother."---For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website.The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

Carol Jenkins talks to Speaker of the New York City Council Adrienne Adams about the $1.5 million plan to provide unconditional cash support for expectant parents facing housing crisis. Then Carol and our first guest host of the season, Dr. C. Nicole Mason, talk to Executive Director of the Bridge Project Laura Clancy about cash payouts in urban and rural areas.For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website.The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins.Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

"It's a solution that's elegantly simple." Jeff and Carol talk to Dr. Dave Chokshi, who served as the Former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, about how to actually get on track to reduce child poverty in half by 2032. He says there is an "elegantly simple" solution: put money into the pockets of parents and caregivers. They then talk with Greg Silverman, chef, activist, and CEO of the West Side Campaign Against Hunger. WSCAH organizes dozens of community-based partner sites across four boroughs, providing more than 5 million pounds of food to over 100,000 New Yorkers last year. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this episode, Jeff and Carol talk with two folks passionate about helping kids in foster care: friend of the show and former foster child David Ambroz and executive director of CASA-NYC Kerry Moles. They discuss ways that you can get involved in your community and help the children who are most in need. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

"It's the care that we give or the care that we lack. That's what's at the heart of everything." - Sarah Jones In this episode, Jeff and Carol talk with Ai-Jen Poo and Sarah Jones, who collaborate on a one-woman show about caregiving, emphasizing the need for paid leave, affordable childcare, and better wages for care workers. Then Beverly D'Angelo and Stephan Dweck discuss their upcoming film "No Address," which addresses homelessness, mental health, and the challenges faced by unhoused individuals. The film aims to raise awareness and support for nonprofits working with the unhoused. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the ⁠Podcast page⁠ on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

The Invisible Americans is proud to present this conversation held at Roosevelt House. "Roosevelt House is proud to present the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, about the accomplishments and challenges of her first year in office, and the critical issues facing urban leaders nationwide. The first woman to be elected Mayor of L.A., she is also a former Member of Congress and, as former Speaker of the California Legislature, the first black woman in the nation to lead the lower house of a state legislative body. Joining Mayor Bass in conversation will be her former House colleague, the Eleanor Roosevelt Distinguished Leader in Residence at Roosevelt House, the Hon. Carolyn B. Maloney.   In addition to Mayor Bass’ perspectives on entering into national politics and the lessons of her time in Congress, this conversation will focus on L.A.’s response to the homelessness challenge, the solutions that have helped to stem the rate of homelessness for the first time in many years, and the need for more accessible and affordable housing. In addition, this discussion will consider the importance of humane treatment of unhoused individuals in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson—which held that the enforcement of laws regulating camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of 'cruel and unusual punishment.'"

Note: this episode deals with discussions of suicide and depression. Please listen with care.  If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org to get help and guidance. This week, Jeff and Carol talk with Jonnel Doris, CEO of START Treatment & Recovery Centers, about the state of teen mental health: The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a state of emergency for these young people, and Jonnel discusses how his organization helps – and how you can, too. Then Soraya Chemaly, author of The Resilience Myth, asks us to abandon the idea of individual resilience and sheds light on romanticized moments from the past, showing us resilience relies on community. Mark Bittman wraps up the show by telling us his “radical notion” (not really) that high-quality food should be accessible to all people, and he shares his plan for restaurants centered on that idea. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

Jeff and Carol kick off Season 3 with an eye-opening look at the hidden crises facing kids and families today. Rachel Sabella from No Kid Hungry breaks down how food insecurity is getting worse in New York, where 85% of families say they can’t keep up with grocery prices. She shares why programs like SNAP and the Child Tax Credit are so important—and how we need bipartisan action to make real progress. Then, journalist Alice Driver talks with guest host Dr. Nikhil Goyal about the meatpacking industry, exposing the heartbreaking conditions workers face, including the shocking rise in child labor as protections are rolled back. Finally, Megan Curran is back to talk about how the expanded Child Tax Credit briefly slashed child poverty—and why it’s crucial we bring it back to support struggling families. Tune in to hear what’s happening and how we can all make a difference for kids. -- For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In honor of the Fourth of July, we are proud to present this panel, originally recorded at the "Disrupting Poverty" conference hosted by EMPath in March 2024. Dr. Kathryn Edin, Dr. H. Luke Shaefer and Timothy Jon Nelson discuss the persistence of poverty in America, particularly in Appalachia, and the historical and ongoing mechanisms that perpetuate inequality. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

We're proud to present this Pride-centric panel presented by CASA-NYC on how we can all work to support LGBTQIA+ foster youth. The panel is hosted by Steven Baker, VP of development at Candle Media. Friend and guest of the podcast David Ambroz shares his story of homelessness and being a queer youth in foster care. Chef Brieanna Hayes, former CASA fellow, also speaks on her experience and her work now. Steven Gordon, director of LGBTQ+ Equity Strategies at NYC's Administration of Children's Services, talks how we can continue to create affirming and inclusive spaces. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this special episode of The Invisible Americans Podcast, we partnered with Kim Janey, president and CEO of Economic Mobility Pathways. Enjoy this special presentation of this conversation between Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Dr. Ibram X Kendi at their March "Disrupting Poverty" conference. As we celebrate Juneteenth and the end of slavery in the United States, we have to simultaneously honor and uplift the issues that we see in our society today, which are direct descendants of the racial inequities that make up the foundation of this country. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this episode, hosts Jeff and Carol talk to Kim Janey, former mayor of Boston and now president and CEO of EMPath. This Boston-based organization transforms people’s lives by helping them move out of poverty and to provide other institutions with the tools to systematically do the same. Then we present a session between Lee Pelton and Darrick Hamilton from EMPath's "Disrupting Poverty" conference, which took place in March 2024. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this recording of our third live panel, presented with The Bridge Project at Roosevelt House, we discuss a simple, effective way of alleviating childhood poverty: direct cash payments. Listen in to an illuminating discussion between: Holly Fogle, founder of The Bridge Project Daniela Guiterrez, one of the first recipients of a payout from The Bridge Project Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, co-founder of RxKids Catherine Monk, Ph.D, founder of the Perinatal Pathways Lab at Columbia University Medical Center For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this episode of The Invisible Americans podcast, hosts Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins speak to Emi Nietfeld, who details her journey out of childhood poverty and warns against using success stories to deny help to others. Then they speak with Eboni Brown and Kaleen Daughtery, members of the parental advisory board of the ABC Coalition, which aims to provide an Automatic Benefit for Children. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In this episode of The Invisible Americans podcast, hosts Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins ask Alex Coccia for updates on the expanded child tax credit and talk to the CEO of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Elizabeth McCarthy. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.

In today's episode, hosts Jeff and Carol talk with two people on the ground in Flint, Michigan. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Luke Shaefer. Listen to Dr. Shaefer discuss his work on Episode 22. Together, Dr. Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Shaefer are directing Rx Kids, a program that gives cash to expectant people and provides guaranteed income for the first year of their lives. Hear how the program got started and what is next for those living in Flint. For more detailed show notes and a full transcript, see the Podcast page on the Invisible Americans website. The Invisible Americans Podcast is a non-profit communications organization. Its mission is to end child poverty. The podcast is hosted by Co-Presidents Jeff Madrick and Carol Jenkins. Music for this and all episodes is provided by Bridget St. John. Audio editing by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz. Show notes and transcript by Amy Yoder.