For students with kids, college can be a lonely struggle. One program aims to help

Many military children are resilient, but there are also a lot in public schools across the U.S. who experience difficulties. School Liaison Officers help those children by bridging the gap between the military and the education system.

In India, the country with the highest rate of child malnutrition in the world, the government started a free school lunch program which is rescuing children from dire hunger and improving their diets.

When the federal government fails to stimulate social change, local areas step up. Tennessee is giving more structure and funding to community college education, and it’s drastically increasing graduation rates. Alaska and other states are getting rid of money bail. All around the country, citizen activists are becoming advocates and attempting to make our political system accessible to everyone. Despite partisan politics in Washington, D.C., the country is nonetheless experiencing social progress.

Journalist Marcella Bombardieri calls community college "one of America's largest and most important anti-poverty programs." The president of Amarillo College in Texas is testing just how far community colleges can go to fight systemic issues - day care, social workers, and emergency funds for students' daily expenses are part of his plan. Other administrators are looking on at the dramatic experiment with mixed views and takeaways.

Math requirements are a common barrier preventing students from successfully graduating from community college in Washington state. Schools are offering a new way for non-STEM majors to earn the credit; Statway teaches students accessible statistics mixed with real-world examples as an alternate to the traditional algebra-precalculus trajectory.

Vermont has opened its first donor milk center which acts as a breast milk bank for mothers that are in need of milk for their newborn babies. The Vermont Donor Milk Center aims to be a "one-stop shop," and also offers lactation consultation, maternal education, and supports for non-lactating partners.

A latchkey program staffed by licensed professionals provides before- and after-school programs for elementary students if their parents cannot make the scheduled times to drop them off or pick them up from school.

Research shows that city council meetings are dominated by older, male and longtime residents. One Mayor is trying to change that. Under the leadership of mayor of Svante Myrick, in Ithaca New York, the city council began to offer childcare during city council meetings. “We don’t think anyone else has done it.’ People are using it, and some are even hailing it for it’s inclusionary nature. “Now we’re starting to see new people at meetings. People are using the childcare service.”

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down school buildings and led to many people working from home in New York City, a city child care program was launched to give children a place to go while they were learning from home. However, the program failed to accommodate children with disabilities who required the assistance of a paraprofessional. After realizing the gap in care, the city is now working to increase access.

Annie’s Place is a childcare center on the Parkland Health and Hospital System campus that provides free, drop-in childcare to Parkland patients and backup childcare for Parkland staff. Run by the nonprofit Mommies In Need, Annie’s Place makes it possible for patients to get the care they need, whether it be simple check-ups or chemotherapy, by providing an affordable, easily accessible childcare option.