Ben Dawson, Author at Children's Defense Fund

Education

Happy Birthday to Brown

May 17 marks the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Like so many Black families, mine spent the spring of 1954 waiting anxiously for news of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case.

May 21, 2024 | National

Child Health

Submitted Testimony to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

In a state where over half of our children rely on Medicaid for healthcare, it's imperative that we strive for a system that makes accessing Medicaid as simple as possible for eligible children. However, our current system falls short, burdening families with unnecessary complexities and errors.

May 14, 2024 | Texas

Prayers for Mother’s Day

May 10, 2024 | National

Early Childhood

Appreciating Teachers

May 6-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week this year, but in an era of headlines and concern about burnout and stress, I join many others who believe teachers should be applauded and deeply appreciated all year long.

May 3, 2024 | National

Breaking Earth’s Stillness

April 26, 2024

Faith Ringgold

April 19, 2024

Children’s Defense Fund Files Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Federal Lawsuit Challenging Texas’ ‘Drag Ban’ Legislation

Washington, DC — The national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has filed an Amicus Curiae brief in support of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Texas Senate Bill 12.

April 18, 2024 | Texas

An Update in a Long Fight for Justice

On April 2, 109-year-olds Viola Fletcher and Lessie Benningfield Randle appeared together at a Tulsa courthouse in a hearing before Oklahoma’s Supreme Court. Mother Fletcher and Mother Randle, as they are known in their communities, are the last two known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

April 12, 2024

A New Site for Truth-Telling

On March 27, the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park officially opened in Montgomery, Alabama—the newest extraordinary Legacy Site created by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI).

April 5, 2024 | National

Children’s Defense Fund Names Kathleen M. Flynn Chief Operating Officer, Promotes Sheri A. Brady to Vice President & Chief Program Officer

Following a nationwide search, Kathleen M. Flynn has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Children’s Defense Fund. She will support Children’s Defense Fund President and Chief Executive Officer Starsky Wilson in the development and coordination of multi-year operational, financial, and human capital plans for the organization.

April 3, 2024 | National

Posts by Ben Dawson