The Ahlquist Agenda
The Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation is the policy and advocacy arm of Brightpoint, a distinguished child and family service organization in Illinois. The Center advocates for robust, antiracist, equitable policies and social supports that create social capital, economic mobility, and systems designed to ensure children, families, and communities thrive.In this podcast, we invite you to take an inside look at how we think about policy: why it matters, how it impacts youth, families, and communities in Illinois, and what you can do to help.
Episodes
14 episodes
Introducing Brightpoint
On today's episode, we talk about our organization's rebranding and what it means for how we think about problems facing Illinois families. Our guest today is Brightpoint CEO Mike Shaver, who talks about why the organization rebranded and what ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 2
•
23:22
Diaper Need Awareness Week 2023
On this episode, we revisit the issue of diaper need and discuss the latest data on its impact on infants, toddles, and their caregivers. Our guests include Jeannie Higdon, Program Manager at Brightpoint, and Lee Ann Porter, Executive Director ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 1
•
22:35
Leading with Lived Experience in Child Welfare
The latest episode of the Ahlquist Agenda focuses on a first of its kind program in Illinois, AKIN: Achieving Permanency through Kinship Placement Investing in Co-parenting with Natural Parents. The AKIN program partners parent mentors with liv...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
18:21
Let's Talk About Diaper Need (Again)
In recognition of Diaper Need Awareness Week, we're revisiting why diaper need is an important issue for Illinois families. We're joined by State Representative Lakesia Collins of the 9th District to talk about how diaper need impacts her distr...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
15:16
Upset the Setup: Breaking Barriers Recap
In this episode, we recap our annual Breaking Barriers event and further explore the connections between neglect and poverty. The episode features our two guests from the event: Alex Kotlowitz, an award winning author and journalist who focuses...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
11:47
Advocacy in Action: Our Session Review for 2022
In this episode, Host Eric Mayo reviews some of the big wins for children and families from the most recent legislative session in Springfield.Episode Resources:
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
10:30
Helping Families Through Lower Taxes
On today's episode, we revisit a key policy to help lift families out of poverty: the expansion of the Earned Income Credit and the creation of a Child Tax Credit. We're joined by State Senator Omar Aquino of the 2nd Senatorial District and Sen...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
16:55
Hidden Crisis: Let's Talk About Diapers
In today's episode, we talk about the difficulty families face in affording diapers and legislation to make it easier. Eric is joined by Dr. Jennifer Randles, a sociologist at Fresno State University, who has studied the impact of diaper need o...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
20:07
Building (Early Care and Education) Back Better
In this month’s episode, we talk about the importance of early care and education: its importance to the economy, what Illinois and the federal government is doing to make it mo...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
18:12
Building Pathways for Youth Away From Violence
In today's episode, we discuss two programs that focus on youth violence prevention. Julie Noobler, Director of Metro Behavioral Services, discusses Choose to Change, an innovative violence prevention program that focuses on trauma. Jamie Ellis...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
14:09
Thriving Fathers, Thriving Families
In today’s episode, we talk about the important role fathers play in family strengthening. Ed Davies, Director of Community and Family Engagement at Children’s Home & Aid, joins us to talk about Children Home & Aid’s past and present wo...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
16:03
Breaking Barriers in Child Welfare
In today’s episode, we dive into reimagining the child welfare system. Continuing our discussion from Breaking Barriers. Transforming Systems. Centering Families, guests Jen Agosti and Amanda Whitlock join the show to talk about what c...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
25:27