Erikson Institute Presents
The Story of Early Childhood in the U.S.
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.
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.
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 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
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.