Problems Emerge as Suburban Poverty Increases
NPR's Pam Fessler discusses the rise in suburban poverty and the implications it has for for low-income suburban residents and social services. more
In The News
Spotlight on Safety at Child Care Centers
In the midst of a debate on the quality and accessibility of child care in the U.S., the Dept. of Health and Human Services has proposed a number of changes that would amp up safety standards of child care centers and encourage states to increase access to child care subsidies. more
Ascend Fellows on MSNBC
Watch clips from a special episode of the Melissa Harris-Perry show on MSNBC featuring the work of two of our Ascend Fellows and their promising two-generation strategies. more
Framing Poverty as a Disease
A recent blog post from the New York Times reviews the increasing attention that medical professionals are giving to early childhood education as a means of reducing dangerous health risks associated with poverty and driving the economy. more
For Mother’s Day, a Focus on Two Generations
In this Boston Globe op-ed, Ascend Executive Director Anne Mosle and Ascend fellow Dick Wylie call for more programs and policies that support two generations, parents and children, at the same time. more
Bipartisan Support for Children’s Savings Accounts
In an opinion piece from Politico, Ascend Fellow Andrea Levere and Mark Edwards, executive director of Opportunity Nation, encourage policymakers to expand their support for Children's Savings Accounts. more
Is Poverty Invisible?
In this commentary from U.S. News and Oxfam America, The Aspen Institute's Dan Glickman calls for more attention and bipartisan solutions to the poverty-related problems that one-third of Americans face. more
Expanding Access in Alabama
Video clip: Alabama hopes to expand a nationally-recognized model for early childhood education. more
Growing Divide Between Rich and Poor Students
In a recent Opinionator piece from the New York Times, Dr. Sean Reardon suggests that the growing disparities between high- and low-income students can be addressed by coupling early childhood education with an investment in parents. more
Food-Stamp Recruiter Enrolls Struggling Families
Eli Saslow from the Washington Post looks at economic hardship in America by delving into the daily work of a food-stamp recruiter in Florida. more
American Women and Poverty: Part II
Part two of the three-part series on American women and poverty tells the stories of two single moms working to overcome adversity. more
American Women and Poverty: Part I
In the first of a three-part series from Women in the World.org, Amanda Freeman examines the facts behind single mothers and poverty. more
American Women and Poverty: Part III
Part three of the series from Women in the World.org discusses innovative solutions that bring single mothers out of poverty. Ascend and Ascend fellow Eduardo Padrón, president of Miami Dade College, are both highlighted to demonstrate strategies that take a two-generation approach. more
Key to Early Learning is Parent Engagement
Pulitzer Prize winner Tina Rosenberg discusses the importance of talking to infants and toddlers for their successful development, and suggests that differences in the way families engage with their young children may be contributing to the achievement gap. more
Housing Programs Face Uncertainty
The Nation's Greg Kaufman, in his weekly poverty blog, calls attention to the many ways that budget cuts to housing programs are hurting low-income families. more
Record Poverty Explains Record Food Stamps
Jordan Weissman from the Atlantic responds to a recent article from the Wall Street Journal on the record number of Americans receiving SNAP benefits. more
Could Early Childhood Education be the Great Equalizer?
Eduardo Porter from the New York Times argues that for our education system to effectively reduce inequality, investments in early childhood education are needed. more
The Future of Philanthropy
A discussion of 'next gen' major donors, their vision for philanthropy, and the impact they hope to create. more
Making Sacrifices to Protect Head Start Families
In Mid-Florida, Head Start staff are giving up their retirement benefits in an effort to protect low-income families from sequester-induced budget cuts more
As Economy Improves, Food Stamps Rise
Despite a slowly returning economy, researchers find an increase in the use of food stamps. more
