In Conversation With
In Conversation With is a Trust-produced podcast series created to spotlight the people, programs, and partnerships shaping child and family well-being across Miami-Dade County.
In Conversation With is a Trust-produced podcast series created to spotlight the people, programs, and partnerships shaping child and family well-being across Miami-Dade County. Originally launched in 2024 in collaboration with Miami Community Newspapers, the series brought meaningful conversations to tens of thousands of viewers, offering families direct insight into the resources and solutions making a difference in their communities.
Now returning in spring 2026, In Conversation With enters a new chapter as a quarterly series hosted by Lindsay Francois, Media Manager at The Children’s Trust. Each episode will feature timely discussions with local experts, community leaders, and families, highlighting initiatives that support healthy development, education, safety, and opportunity for children and youth.
Episode 1: Youth Civic Engagement
In this episode of In Conversation With, The Children's Trust President & CEO James R. Haj is joined by a member of The Children's Trust's Youth Advisory Committee, Kaitlyn Hernandez. The Children's Trust Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a leadership development program for students with a focus on service and advocacy, especially relating to children and families. It is open to all Miami-Dade County high school students and serves as the youth voice of The Children's Trust.
Episode 2: The Children's Trust Parent Club
This episode of In Conversation with features The Children's Trust's Director of Programs, Bevonne Ritchie, and Florida International University's Associate Professor of Psychology, Dr. Katie Hart, as they discuss the challenges parents face in the pursuit of raising resilient and happy children. Dr. Katie discussed The Children's Trust's Parent Club as one of many parenting resources for parents in Miami-Dade County.
Episode 3: The Children's Trust Book Club
In this episode, The Children’s Trust’s Associate Director of Communications, Michele Mordica, sits down with Associate Director of Community Engagement, Danielle Barreras, to discuss the importance of early childhood literacy in Miami-Dade County. Danielle highlights the impact of The Children’s Trust’s Book Club, a free resource that supports school readiness and helps parents nurture a love of reading in their children. The Book Club sends a new book and related activities by mail each month, sparking imagination and literacy skills in young readers.
Episode 4: Financial Literacy
In this episode, The Children's Trust Director of Communications, Ximena Nunez, is joined by Trust-funded provider Branches' Kim Torres to discuss the financial obstacles families in Miami-Dade County face and the resources offered to Branches to support them. The Innovation Fund allows The Children’s Trust to invest in innovative projects to test new ideas that address existing community needs through unique approaches that could lead to effective opportunities for vulnerable populations to help children thrive. Through this initiative, 21 of the most promising projects were funded by The Trust, including Branches Inc.
Episode 5: Thrive by 5
In this episode, The Children's Trust Associate Director of Public Policy Amanda Gorski and Director of Programs Rachel Spector discuss the child care issue impacting millions of families nationwide. The high cost of child care expenses puts pressure on family budgets, often forcing parents to make difficult decisions about their jobs, family plans, and financial futures. However, Miami-Dade is leading the nation in providing support for child care providers, educators, children, and their families through innovative strategies to prepare children for kindergarten by developing their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
Episode 6: Zero Drownings Miami-Dade
Natalia Zea, Chief Public Policy & Engagement Officer at The Children’s Trust, speaks with Miami-Dade Chief, Office of Drowning Prevention, Jim O'Connor, on the importance of water safety resources in communities like Miami-Dade County, surrounded by water. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 1- 14 in Miami-Dade County. To address this critical issue, a countywide drowning prevention program, Zero Drownings Miami-Dade, has been launched to provide free swim lessons for young children as part of their school day.