Leadership, Advocacy, & Motherhood: Exploring Family Leave Policies with Jocelyn Yow

We’re hard at work creating Season 3 of A Flourishing Start. In the meantime, we’re excited to share this second BONUS episode with you! In this conversation, Gillian Katz Lamon and Jocelyn Yow discuss family leave programs and their importance. Meet Jocelyn Yow, a Council Member for the City of Eastvale, youth and family advocate, a mom, and most recently, children's book author. Meet our guest interviewer, Gillian Katz Lamon, a 2024 summer law clerk with the National Center for Youth Law, who is currently in her final year of law school.  Jocelyn shares her motivation for getting into local politics and public service at a young age. She also discusses the process of implementing a paid family leave program in the City of Eastvale, including the opposition faced and the role of male allies. Jocelyn highlights the flaws in the current system and the impact on marginalized communities. Jocelyn weaves in her experience as a mother and a politician, highlighting the need for a cultural shift in how families and children are prioritized in society. Jocelyn also talks about her work at IGNITE National, training young women to run for office and be civically engaged. She emphasizes the importance of starting conversations about politics and civic engagement at a young age. Jocelyn concludes by discussing her recently published children's book, Voting with Mommy, which aims to inspire families to talk about the importance of voting and being involved in the community. Highlights Introduction and Overview of Paid Family Leave Jocelyn's Motivation for Getting into Local Politics Including Paid Family Leave as a Policy Priority Implementing a Paid Family Leave Program in Eastvale Addressing Opposition and the Role of Male Allies Flaws in the current Family Leave Policies Paid Family Leave and Income Gaps The Impact of Motherhood on Work and Advocacy The Growing Gap in Political Ideology Writing Voting with Mommy and Inspiring Civic Engagement