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Erikson Institute Presents

A Podcast: 1,800 Days

The Story of Early Childhood in the U.S.

1,800 Days Podcast Panel
1,800 Days Podcast Panel Discussion

1,800 DAYS – A Podcast from Erikson Institute & PRX

Hosted by WBEZ reporter and renowned author Natalie Moore, 1,800 Days explores early childhood care and education from its conception, to its current state, to experts’ predictions of its future. The first 1,800 days of every child’s life – the time from birth to kindergarten – is the most intense period of development in their lifetime. This is the story of early childhood in the U.S.

The Story of Early Childhood from Industry Experts

Our 1,800 Days Podcast tells the story of early childhood in the U.S. from the perspective of the pioneers, partners, and the early care and education workforce.

This podcast series documents the history of the past 60 years in early childhood development over five episodes. 1,800 Days features firsthand accounts from key players in the field including Erikson co-founder, 93-year-old Barbara Taylor Bowman. The series will inform early childhood educators and caregivers, engage Erikson Institute supporters, and serve as a resource for its supporters.

June Jordan
Poet and Activist
“ Children are the ways that the world begins again and again. ”

Podcast Contributors

Barbara Bowman portrait

Barbara T. Bowman is a co-founder of Erikson Institute and a pioneer in the field of early childhood.

Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for young children, applying knowledge about child development to her work integrating policy and practice. Barbara has held multiple roles in Erikson, including President, and held external positions such as Chief Deputy for Early Childhood Education for the Chicago Public Schools and served as consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education. Barbara continues to write and present at conferences, in addition to teaching Erikson’s graduate students.

Mariana Souto-Manning, PhD

Mariana Souto-Manning, PhD, became Erikson’s 5th President in September 2021.

Mariana has served as professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University and held additional academic appointments at the University of Iceland and King’s College London. Committed to the pursuit of justice in early childhood teaching and teacher education, Mariana’s research centers the lives, values, and experiences of intersectionally-minoritized people of Color. Read Mariana’s full bio

Natalie Moore, WBEZ

Natalie Moore is a WBEZ reporter covering segregation and inequality.

Her work has been broadcast on the BBC, Marketplace and NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. A published author of two books, she won the 2016 Chicago Review of Books award for nonfiction for The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation. Natalie writes a monthly column for the Chicago Sun-Times. Her work has been published in Essence, Ebony, the Chicago Reporter, In These Times, the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Guardian.

This podcast is generously sponsored by

Founding Partners ($50,000+)

  • Anonymous (2)
  • GCM Grosvenor
  • Harris Family Foundation
  • Liz & Eric Lefkofsky
  • Judy & Ray McCaskey
  • Cari & Michael J. Sacks
  • Sandy & Will Sterling
  • James C. Tyree Foundation
  • Dan & Patty Walsh

Benefactors ($25,000+)

  • The Bluhm Family
  • Virginia & Norman Bobins
  • The Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation
  • Heising-Simons Foundation
  • Shawn & Lewis Ingall
  • Laser Family Foundation
  • Anne E. Leibowitz Fund/Joy Segal
  • The Neisser Family Foundation
  • James & Sara Star
  • Susan and Robert Wislow
  • Sheri & Sherwin Zuckerman

Patrons ($12,000+)

  • The Bellick Family
  • Ikram & Joshua Goldman
  • Sabrina Gracias
  • Jill & Paul Meister
  • Ashley & Pam Netzky
  • Elenne Song & Soheil Esmailzadeh

Advocates ($6,000+)

  • Eric Adelstein & Gail Basch, M.D.
  • Barbara T. Bowman
  • Rick and Dee Dee Chesley, DLA Piper
  • Child Care Resource Center, Inc. / Michael Olenick, Ph.D. Alumni 1978
  • Foundation for Child Development
  • Sandy Killion
  • Kiphart Family Foundation
  • The Francis L. Lederer Foundation
  • Robert R. McCormick Foundation
  • Diane Goldstick Meagher & Thomas F. Meagher, Jr.
  • Diana and Bruce Rauner
  • Ellen & Jim Roche
  • Mariana Souto-Manning
  • Susan A. Stone
  • Sunshine Charitable Foundation
  • Thomas Wilson & Jill Garling
Steve Barnett
Policy Expert
“ We don’t make linear progress. There is so much unfinished business. We keep moving on before we’re done. ”