In New Episode of Clinton Foundation Podcast “Why Am I Telling You This?”, Chelsea Clinton and Experts Discuss Ways to Improve Child Literacy
For Immediate Release: June 17, 2019
Contact: press@clintonfoundation.org
In New Episode of Clinton Foundation Podcast “Why Am I Telling You This?”, Chelsea Clinton and Experts Discuss Ways to Improve Child Literacy
Chelsea Clinton joined by early childhood literacy experts Dr. Susan Neuman and Ralph Smith to talk about the importance of early brain development, what parents can do, and how the Clinton Foundation and Too Small to Fail are working to promote these efforts nationwide
The episode is available to download now on Apple podcasts and other major platforms.
NEW YORK — Today, Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton released a new episode of “Why Am I Telling You This?” where she sat down with Managing Director of Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Ralph Smith, and New York University Professor of Childhood and Literacy Development Dr. Susan Neuman to discuss the importance of early brain development, what parents can do to support their children, and what the Clinton Foundation is doing to support these efforts nationwide. In the United States, nearly 60 percent of kids show up to kindergarten unprepared to learn, according to a 2015 study by the U.S. Department of Education. Parents can help promote their children’s early brain development and prepare them for success in school through simple language-rich interactions like talking, reading, and singing from birth.
This episode focuses on the importance of children’s early literacy development – a focus of the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative, which is taking an innovative approach to surround children with language and learning at the laundromat, grocery store, and the everyday places parents go with their children. As part of this ongoing work, Too Small to Fail has forged successful partnerships with organizations and businesses to meet families where they are. For example, through its collaboration with the Coin Laundry Association, they are building “Family, Read, Play & Learn” spaces in laundromats across the country. With more than 600 expected to be installed by 2020, these spaces are offering parents and children a family-friendly environment to read together, engage in literacy activities, and bond during laundry time.
To listen to the new episode, visit the “Why Am I Telling You This?” page on Apple podcasts. The first episode of the podcast featured President Bill Clinton with chef, humanitarian, and Clinton Foundation partner José Andrés, sharing stories of working in Haiti, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Mozambique. The podcast is a co-production of the Clinton Foundation and At Will Media, published without commercials, and available without a subscription fee now on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms.
“Why Am I Telling You This?” features conversations with President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Clinton Foundation staff, partners, and special guests. Drawing on their own experiences, they share stories of the people, issues, and events that have shaped our world and the Clinton Foundation’s work – and why we should be optimistic about the future. The series covers issues related to the Foundation’s work — upcoming episodes touch on how to combat climate change and the opioid crisis; conversations on global leadership; reflections on the Clinton Administration; and President Clinton’s wide range of interests and well-known intellectual curiosity.
For more details on the launch of “Why Am I Telling You This?” please click here.
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About the Clinton Foundation
Building on a lifetime of public service, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation on the simple belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, everyone has a responsibility to act, and we all do better when we work together. For nearly two decades, that premise has energized the work of the Foundation in overcoming complex challenges and improving the lives of people across the United States and around the world.
As an operating foundation, we work on issues directly or with strategic partners from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to create economic opportunity, improve public health, and inspire civic engagement and service. Our programs are designed to make a real difference today while serving as proven models for tomorrow. The goal of every effort is to use available resources to get better results faster – at the lowest possible cost.
We firmly believe that when diverse groups of people bring resources together in the spirit of true cooperation, transformative ideas will emerge to drive life-changing action.
About At Will Media
Founded in 2015 by CEO Will Malnati, At Will Media is a full-service media company based in Manhattan and Los Angeles. With over 50 years of combined experience, At Will Media sets the pace for the podcast industry as a partner for branded content and a hub for successful and critically acclaimed originals. From podcasts to custom Amazon Alexa Skills, At Will Media powers and produces shows for high-profile clients such as GQ, Morgan Stanley, Town & Country, WeWork, Viacom, 1 Hotels, and more. The firm notably went on to produce the first daily audio product by L’Oréal and Hearst Beauty for Amazon’s Alexa. 2019 saw AWM receive a nomination in the category of “Best Branded Podcast” at the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards for The Atlantic Magazine’s podcast The Future According to Now, Season 2. At Will Media' executive team is headed by entrepreneur Will Malnati, Glee actress and Emmy/Tony-award winner Jenna Ushkowitz, former Twitter exec Julie Martin and Audible alum Mitch Bluestein.