I Will Be Your Voice – Stories of Homelessness and Hope
More than 40,000 children and youth experience homelessness in Pennsylvania, posing a significant barrier to succeed in school. In partnership with Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH), join Center for Schools and Communities staff Melissa Turnpaugh and Matthew Butensky as they interview state and national experts, homeless liaisons, service providers, and those with lived experience. These conversations will dive deeper into resources, partnerships and best practices that help these children and youth thrive in school and life. Along the way, guests will share untold stories to amplify the voices and stories of students experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania and beyond.
I Will Be Your Voice – Stories of Homelessness and Hope
Introduction - I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope
Welcome to our new podcast, “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope.” Daily, we have conversations with practitioners and thought leaders in the field. We want to bring some of what we are learning - both successes and challenges - to help you better serve your community. The “I Will Be Your Voice” podcast will amplify the voices and stories of students experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania and beyond. Please read the transcript.
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Introduction - I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope Transcript
Melissa Turnpaugh:
Hi, and welcome to our new podcast, I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope. Daily, we're having conversations with practitioners and thought leaders in the field. We want to be able to bring some of what we're learning, both successes and challenges in order to help you better serve your community. The I will Be Your Voice podcast will amplify voices and stories of students experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania and beyond. I am one of your hosts, Melissa Turnpaugh, a youth development coordinator.
Matt Butensky:
And I'm your co-host, Matt Butensky, project manager with Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness program, often referred to as E-C-Y-E-H or ECHYEH. More than 30,000 children in youth experience homelessness in Pennsylvania and homelessness poses a significant barrier to succeed in school. Join us as we dive deeper into resources, partnerships, and best practices that help children and youth thrive in school and life. And along the way, experts, homeless liaisons, service providers, and those experiencing homelessness will share untold stories to lift the voices of these students and families.
Melissa Turnpaugh:
Many of our listeners play a role implementing the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This authorizes Pennsylvania's ECYEH program. Through this podcast, we will also share stories of how schools are innovatively serving students through the McKinney-Vento law.
Matt Butensky:
Please join us for our first podcast episode of I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope, as we meet with Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown, President of the National Coalition for the Homeless Board. Dr. Shankar-Brown will share the effects of homelessness on students and the importance of equity and healing centered practices to address educational gaps. After listening to each episode, we hope you feel more empowered and inspired in your work. Thank you for listening.
