On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Rusty Bienvenue, Executive Director of AIA Houston, explore:

• Sustainable Texas Cities: Jay Blazek Crossley, Executive Director of Farm&City, discusses how Houston and other Texas cities can become more walkable, affordable, sustainable, and accessible.
• COVID Updates: Dr. Michael Chang, Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician and Professor at McGovern Medical School at UT Health, provides an update on rising COVID activity, wastewater monitoring, school precautions, and other viruses to watch as children return to school.
• Children in Immigration Detention: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, discusses reports of children being held for extended periods at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center and the potential effects of prolonged detention on children's health, development, education, and well-being.

Thank you for joining us on the air! Join us next Wednesday on 90.1 KPFT Houston or kpft.org.

On this episode of Growing Up in America, Owala Maima and co-host Lucy Lusk (Media Activism Intern at CHILDREN AT RISK) discuss:

• Home-Based Child Care: Mieko Carter, Early Childhood Education Specialist and Advocate with the National Association for Family Child Care, joins us to talk about the challenges facing home-based child care providers and the families who rely on them.
• Childhood Vaccinations and Health Care Access: Dr. Sanghamitra Misra, Medical Director of the Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program, discusses barriers to pediatric care and the importance of preventive health services for children.
• Texas School Choice: Colleen Dippel, Co-Founder and CEO of Families Empowered, shares her perspective on Texas’ Education Savings Account program and the experiences of families navigating their educational options.

Tune in live every Wednesday on 90.1 KPFT in Houston or stream online at kpft.org!

On this episode of Growing Up in America, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Liza Gomez (Deputy CEO at CHILDREN AT RISK) discuss:

• Childhood Hunger: John Day, Chief Operations and Programs Officer at Kids’ Meals Inc., discusses childhood hunger in Harris County, what food insecurity looks like for young children and their families, and how Kids’ Meals is working to provide nutritious meals to children ages five and under.
• Higher Education: Samantha Ketterer, Higher Education Reporter at the Houston Chronicle, breaks down the latest developments at the University of Houston and other Texas universities as they respond to Senate Bill 37.
• Future of Texas Education: Commissioner Mike Morath of the Texas Education Agency discusses this year’s A–F school accountability ratings, what the results tell us about student outcomes across Texas and where schools are making progress.

Listen live every Wednesday, live on 90.1 KPFT in Houston or stream at https://kpft.org/listen-live-hd1/!

On this episode of Growing Up in America, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Abby Antoun discuss:

• Gen Z and Activism: Houston-based activist Iqra Tariq breaks down how Gen Z engages in activism, the role of social media and voting, the challenges of organizing in Houston, and what gives young people hope for the future.
• Head Start: Lyn Lucas, Associate Director of Early Childhood Education at CHILDREN AT RISK, explains proposed changes to Head Start and what they could mean for children, families, teachers, and the broader child care crisis.
• Food Insecurity: Stephen Grimaldi, Executive Director of NY Common Pantry, discusses food insecurity in New York City, rising costs, access to SNAP, and the policies and investments that can help families achieve greater economic security.

Tune in every Wednesday, live on 90.1 KPFT in Houston or stream at https://kpft.org/listen-live-hd1/!

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Santrice Jones-Hare, Chief Impact Officer at CHILDREN AT RISK, discuss:

• Back-to-School in HISD: Megan Menchaca, Senior Education Reporter at the Houston Chronicle, breaks down the biggest changes families can expect for the 2026–27 school year, from controversial special education reforms to Mike Mile's Future 2 schools.
• Immigration Updates: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, explains the impact of recent federal funding changes that have left more than 25,000 unaccompanied immigrant children vulnerable to losing legal representation.
• Measles Outbreaks: Dr. Michael Chang, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician at UTHealth Houston, discusses the resurgence of measles, the role of vaccine misinformation and what parents should know as children return to school.

Plus, Leelu Misra joins us for Hip Speak, and Jacob Westjohn shares our Data of the Day.

Tune in every Wednesday, live on 90.1 KPFT in Houston or stream at https://kpft.org/listen-live-hd1/!

On this episode, Brian Greene, President & CEO of the Houston Food Bank, and co-host

Dr. Chris Kulesza aka Dr. Data discuss:

• ICE Protests: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, explains the legal rights of peaceful protesters, how communities are supporting immigrant families, and how to distinguish verified information from rumors during times of heightened immigration enforcement.
• "Trump Accounts": Elizabeth Colvin, Executive Director of RAISE Texas, breaks down the new child savings accounts created under the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill."
• Leading on Early Childhood Education: State Representative Armando Walle discusses why early childhood education remains a legislative priority, the recent investment in Texas' Child Care Services scholarship program, and what still needs to be done to make high-quality, affordable child care accessible to more families.

Tune in every Wednesday, live on 90.1 KPFT in Houston or stream on https://kpft.org/listen-live-hd1/!

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and co-host Brian Greene, President & CEO of the Houston Food Bank, discuss:

• More Texas State Takeovers: Megan Menchaca, Senior Education Reporter for the Houston Chronicle, breaks down the latest developments at Spring ISD, the scrutiny surrounding Dekaney High School, Texas' accountability ratings, and what a potential state takeover could mean for students, educators, and families.
• Midterm Elections: Jason Sabo, Founder of Frontera Strategy, shares insights on the upcoming midterm elections, the issues shaping voter turnout in Texas, key races to watch, and the broader political landscape.
• Online Safety for Kids & Teens: Dr. Jeff Temple, psychologist and professor at UTHealth Houston, explores the realities of online harassment, the impact of social media and AI on young people, and practical guidance for parents navigating children's digital lives.

The episode also features Hip Speak with Abby Antoun (@abbyantoun on TikTok).

Tune in every Wednesday, live on 90.1 KPFT in Houston or stream on https://kpft.org/listen-live-hd1/!

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn, President & CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, and co-host Luis Negreros, Chief Financial Officer at CHILDREN AT RISK, dive into:

• HISD Updates: Claire Partain, Houston ISD reporter for the Houston Chronicle, discusses the latest on special education, the New Education System (NES), and recent STAAR results.
• Fatal ICE Shootings: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, examines the legal and policy questions surrounding recent ICE shootings and immigration enforcement.
• AI & Education: Miguel Guhlin, Director of Professional Development at the Texas Computer Education Association, shares how AI is changing classrooms and what it means for students, teachers, and families.

Tune in every Wednesday, live on kpft.org!