Voices For Their Future

Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joins us for a candid conversation about what it takes to truly prioritize children’s health in today’s dangerous political climate. We explore the fight for COVID vaccine access as federal policies shift, how to challenge “health freedom” rhetoric that ultimately harms kids, and what practical steps parents and local advocates can take when national leadership falls short. Drawing on his experience as a physician, public health leader, and father, Abdul offers insights into the future of health policy — and what he pledges to fight for if elected.This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about science, truth, and building a healthier future for the next generation.As part of our 501(c)(3) nonpartisan commitment, Voices for Their Future has invited all officially declared candidates in the Michigan Senate race whose public contact information was available to participate in this series.

Dr. Wendy Sohn, executive director at Moderna and pediatrician, joins us to unpack urgent updates on COVID vaccine access for children, upcoming FDA decisions, and what Moderna is doing to protect kids in the seasons ahead. We also explore the company’s broader pipeline—from a game-changing CMV vaccine to breakthrough therapies for rare childhood diseases. A must-listen for parents, advocates, and anyone tracking the future of pediatric health.

How do Black families navigate pregnancy, parenting, and mental health in systems that too often fail them? In this conversation, researcher and advocate Nadia Mbonde explores the double pandemic of COVID-19 and systemic racism, the gaps in maternal mental health care, and how community care models are reshaping what support can—and should—look like.Together, we examine not only the systemic failures but the practical steps families and communities are taking to build futures rooted in dignity, resilience, and real care.To read "How to Be Disabled in a Pandemic” online, please click ⁠here⁠.About Nadia MbondeNadia Naomi Mbonde is a Mad Black mother, scholar, multimedia artist, and mental health doula in Brooklyn, New York. A Ph.D. Candidate in Medical and Sociocultural Anthropology at New York University, Nadia’s research addresses how perinatal mental health disparities contribute to the ongoing Black maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in the United States. She has trained as a birth and postpartum doula and a peer support specialist facilitating support groups and regularly speaking and teaching about mental health and reproduction at academic conferences and grassroots mental health and doula organizations. As a multimedia artist, Nadia translates her lived experience with mental health challenges, including psychosis and altered states, as she journeyed through miscarriage, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum through dance, film, photography, and digital art. Through her art, activism, and scholarship, Nadia seeks to integrate Mad liberation and reproductive justice for birthing people and their families to thrive.

What happens when the structures that support our most vulnerable children suddenly collapse? In this powerful conversation, Alexandra Freidus discusses her chapter "High-Stakes Schooling: Risk, Protection, and the Education of Disabled Children in a Pandemic" from the book How to Be Disabled in a Pandemic. Drawing from both research and personal experience, Alex offers a deeply moving and analytically rich look at how the early months of COVID-19 revealed—and amplified—systemic inequalities for disabled students. We explore how parents, especially mothers, became "vigilante advocates" navigating bureaucratic roadblocks, the emotional toll of constant advocacy, and the ways families and educators can push for more inclusive, supportive schools today. A must-listen for anyone passionate about education, equity, or caregiving in times of crisis.To read "How to Be Disabled in a Pandemic” online, please click here.

What happens when children with disabilities age out of the systems meant to support them? And what can families do to ensure their futures are protected? In this episode, anthropologists and authors Faye Ginsburg and Rayna Rapp explore the often-overlooked experiences of disabled caregivers and families navigating complex systems during and beyond the pandemic. We talk about how policy falls short, what protections families should expect, and the creative forms of resilience and care that disabled communities have built in the face of systemic neglect.This conversation offers both a critical lens and a hopeful one—rooted in the power of community, advocacy, and the enduring brilliance of disabled lives.To read "How to be Disabled in a Pandemic" online, please go to: https://opensquare.nyupress.org/books/9781479830909/About Faye Ginsburg: Faye Ginsburg is David Kriser Professor of Anthropology at New York University. She is the cofounder of the NYU Center for Disability Studies and the Center for Media, Culture & History.  She is author of Contested Lives: The Abortion Debate in an American Community, coauthor of Disability Worlds (2024) and co-editor of How to be Disabled in a Pandemic (2025), along with other award-winning books.About Rayna Rapp: Rayna Rapp is Professor Emerita in the Department of Anthropology at New York University, and the author of Testing Women, Testing the Fetus: The Social Impact of Amniocentesis in America, coauthor of Disability Worlds, and co-editor of How to be Disabled in a Pandemic (2025), along with other award-winning books.

How do you cut through the noise and find reliable health information when official channels go quiet?In this episode, journalist Melody Schreiber breaks down what you really need to know about the recent measles outbreaks—including who should consider an MMR booster. We also unpack the growing information void from federal agencies and how to stay informed when the government isn’t stepping up—especially in potential crisis moments like bird flu and other emerging health threats.

How is public health shifting under this administration, and what does it mean for children and families?In this episode of Voices for Their Future, Dr. Kavita Patel, a physician, policy expert, and former White House health advisor, breaks down the current threats to public health and the real-world changes parents might see—from funding cuts to misinformation creeping into pediatrician visits.We discuss: ✅ What’s happening to public health policy right now—and why it matters ✅ How so-called “informed consent” is being weaponized to undermine vaccines ✅ What Dr. Patel is doing personally to keep her family safe ✅ Concrete actions parents and communities can take—from engaging with companies to pushing for stronger protections from elected officialsPublic health is under attack, but parents aren’t powerless. This conversation is about more than staying informed—it’s about taking action.SHOW NOTES:During the episode, Dr. Kavita Patel discussed the growing concerns around data privacy in healthcare and how personal health information could be misused. She shared this template letter that you can use to request greater privacy protections for your medical data under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations.📄 Access the letter here: Privacy Request TemplateLooking for reliable, science-backed medical information? Check out OpenEvidence.com, a trusted resource for staying informed with evidence-based healthcare insights. Dr. Kavita Patel mentioned it as a great tool for cutting through misinformation and getting the facts.

CMV affects 1 in 200 babies, and 20% of them experience serious health complications. But a breakthrough is on the horizon—a CMV vaccine. Join us as we speak with Dr. Sallie Permar, a leading researcher in the fight against CMV.