Collaborative on Global Children's Issues

What inspires your work on behalf of children, families, and communities?

Every child born in the world comes with so much potential—it still amazes me. This reality inspires me to make sure that every child, no matter where they are born, has the early opportunities available to ensure they meet their developmental potential.

As an expert in early childhood development, what are some of the specific areas within the field that you've focused on in your career? Why are these areas important?

I believe in the power to make change, that every person can make a difference, every person can take a step forward on behalf of children and families. My own work has been guided by a strong belief that children are most influenced by the adults in their lives, so we have to support caregivers as well as directly supporting children. It takes a two-generation approach. I am always excited when I see communities coming together to support children and families and wish that public policies could in turn support these collective actions.

What do you consider the most pressing challenge in ensuring the healthy development of young children around the world today?

Children around the world today are facing multiple crises—what has been called a polycrisis. These include the immediate impact of poverty, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unfortunate increase in the number of conflicts and natural disasters from climate change and other environmental degradation. These events have long-term consequences, particularly when they are experienced by young children, who are most vulnerable.

You served as the first deputy assistant secretary for early childhood during the Obama administration and the first director of the Child Care Bureau during the Clinton administration. What has been the most rewarding part of your policy work?

Public service is an honor, and it comes with tremendous responsibility. I was fortunate to serve in administrations with strong leaders who were trying to put children and families first and to move the policy agenda forward to support family well-being. The potential to make big change is what makes such work so rewarding, despite the fact that the process is often slow and compromises are inevitable. In these positions, one has to continue reminding yourself and others that the goal is to improve the lives of children, so each action should be driven by that clear objective.

As a co-founder of the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues at Georgetown University, what are your hopes for the initiative?

First of all, it has been such an honor to have worked with the collaborative’s executive director, Gillian Huebner, and the team to help establish the collaborative, to help plant the seed of an idea that I can already see is growing and becoming a “gathering place” for current issues facing children around the world, all of which need dialogue and visibility. It is particularly exciting to see the number of partnerships that have been established and the interest from outside organizations as well as students. Georgetown is in a unique position to champion the cause of children across the university and within the international policy community.

Lastly, you have had a remarkable career over the last 50 years spanning government, academia, national and international organizations, and foundations. What advice would you share with Georgetown students thinking about their future career paths?

Being a child advocate is not someone else’s responsibility. It calls on all of us—lawyers, doctors, teachers, environmental specialists, and spiritual leaders—to keep the best interests of children and families in mind in our work, to stand up for improved conditions that will help children and families thrive, to listen and be guided by the work of communities, and to leave the earth in better shape for the next generation.