WEBVTT - Sherrie Westin: Empowering Children Through Sesame Workshop

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<v Speaker 1>We decided the first local muppet, the first African muppet,

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<v Speaker 1>needed to be a girl, and it needed to be

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<v Speaker 1>a strong girl role model to show young girls that

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<v Speaker 1>they can dream big, give them a sense of possibilities

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<v Speaker 1>they may not have dreamed off. And that led to

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<v Speaker 1>the creation of Sari. And she wears her for his job.

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<v Speaker 1>She wears her school uniform, proudly, loves to go to school,

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<v Speaker 1>loves to learn. And what I'm so thrilled up to

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<v Speaker 1>say is that Zary is the favorite character of boys

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<v Speaker 1>and girls in Afghanistan. That is Sherry Weston, who has

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<v Speaker 1>spent decades empowering children and creating progress around the world

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<v Speaker 1>through Sesame Workshop, where she is aided by those famous

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<v Speaker 1>puppet characters known as the Muppets. I'm Milan Ververe and

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<v Speaker 1>this is Seneca's one Women to Hear. We are bringing

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<v Speaker 1>you one hundred of the world's most inspiring and history

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<v Speaker 1>making women you need to hear. Sherry Weston was recently

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<v Speaker 1>named president of Sesame Workshop, but she's been in leadership

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<v Speaker 1>roles with Sesame since, always on the cutting edge using

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<v Speaker 1>educational media to help vulnerable children both in the United

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<v Speaker 1>States and overseas. Sherry came to Sesame Workshop after a

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<v Speaker 1>distinguished career in media and in public life, including as

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<v Speaker 1>Assistant to the President for Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs

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<v Speaker 1>in the George H. W. Bush administration, and after senior

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<v Speaker 1>positions at ABCTV and US News and World Report. I've

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<v Speaker 1>known Sherry for many years, and I've seen how her

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<v Speaker 1>work at Sesame Workshop brings hope and joy to children

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<v Speaker 1>in even the toughest situations. Listen and learn why Sherry

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<v Speaker 1>Weston is one of Seneca's one Women to hear well.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm just thrilled to be here today in conversation with

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<v Speaker 1>Sherry Weston, and I know that our audience will understand

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<v Speaker 1>why I'm so excited, because what you do, Sherry, is

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<v Speaker 1>truly wonderful and we can all relate to it. Over

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<v Speaker 1>your career, you've held many leadership positions in the media

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<v Speaker 1>and government, but since you've been at Sesame Street and

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<v Speaker 1>you are currently the president for Social Impact and Philanthropy.

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<v Speaker 1>But in just a few weeks you will become the

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<v Speaker 1>President of Sesame Workshops. So congratulations, thank you, thank you

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<v Speaker 1>so much. I'm really excited. So for purposes of Sesame,

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<v Speaker 1>I think many of us are familiar with a Birt

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<v Speaker 1>and Ernie and Grover and the whole gang. Uh and

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<v Speaker 1>some new ones you're gonna tell us about. But what

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<v Speaker 1>exactly is Sesame Workshop? What do you do? How do

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<v Speaker 1>you see your mission? Um? What's its scope? Well? Thank

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<v Speaker 1>you so much, land At such a treat to be here.

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<v Speaker 1>But yes, you know, I think with Sesame Workshop, I

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<v Speaker 1>think everyone knows and loves Sesame Street, but they think

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<v Speaker 1>of it as the iconic UM television show and often

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<v Speaker 1>don't know the depth and breadth of our work. And

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<v Speaker 1>the Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit organization that produces Sesame

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<v Speaker 1>Street around the world. It was originally called Children's Television

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<v Speaker 1>Workshop when it was created in nineteen sixty nine. And

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<v Speaker 1>we our mission is to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger,

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<v Speaker 1>and kinder. And what we do is we use media

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<v Speaker 1>to help children reach their potential. So, um, if you

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<v Speaker 1>think about our origins and been just fifty years, over

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<v Speaker 1>fifty years or two one years ago, when Sesame Street

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<v Speaker 1>was created, it really was an experiment. This was the

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<v Speaker 1>it was the War on Poverty, the Johnson administration and

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<v Speaker 1>with grants from the Department of Education, Carnegie Corporation, and

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<v Speaker 1>the Ford Foundation Children's Television Workshop was created to see

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<v Speaker 1>if television could be used to teach, and more importantly,

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<v Speaker 1>could it reach less advantaged children who didn't have the

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<v Speaker 1>same access to quality preschool and give them the opportunity

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<v Speaker 1>to arrive at school ready to learn. So soon after

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<v Speaker 1>we you know, thought we were the quintessential American show,

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<v Speaker 1>but then Germany and Brazil and Mexico all wanted their

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<v Speaker 1>own productions, and that's what's led to Sesame workshops global

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<v Speaker 1>impact around the world, where we're now seen in a

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<v Speaker 1>hundred and fifty countries, and in many of those countries

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<v Speaker 1>we create completely local adaptations of Sesame streets, so the

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<v Speaker 1>characters will be unique, um children will be able to

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<v Speaker 1>see themselves on screen. It reflects their culture, their language,

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<v Speaker 1>and any specific needs of children in that country. So

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<v Speaker 1>I will also say that I do feel like the

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<v Speaker 1>need for Sesame has never been greater. When you think

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<v Speaker 1>of a billion and a half children out of school

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<v Speaker 1>around the world because of a global pandemic. It really

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<v Speaker 1>brings home the power of educational media. Just as we

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<v Speaker 1>you know, we're founded to reach children when they don't

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<v Speaker 1>have formal learning access. It's such an important mission that

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<v Speaker 1>you have, and you know all children benefit from sesame

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<v Speaker 1>and it really makes a difference for the children at risk.

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<v Speaker 1>I know that one of the critical programs you have

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<v Speaker 1>is geared in many ways to girls in Afghanistan, not

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<v Speaker 1>that boys don't benefit from it too, and I know

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<v Speaker 1>you'll tell us about that. And it features one of

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<v Speaker 1>my favorite muppets who to whom I was introduced by

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<v Speaker 1>you several years ago, a girl muppet named Zari. So

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<v Speaker 1>tell us why Zari is so special and what impact

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<v Speaker 1>she's having and what difference uh it is making an Afghanistan. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm so glad you asked this, molm because I do

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<v Speaker 1>think this is one of the great examples to show

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<v Speaker 1>sort of the power of media and muppets, if you will.

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<v Speaker 1>In Afghanistan, we have a local production called Bace Simpson

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<v Speaker 1>which means Sessam Garden and Dari and Pashto, and one

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<v Speaker 1>of the key curricular goals is girls education and gender equity.

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<v Speaker 1>So in creating the content, in creating Race Simpson, we

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<v Speaker 1>decided the first local muppet, the first Afghan muppet, needed

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<v Speaker 1>to be a girl, and it needed to be a

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<v Speaker 1>strong girl role model to show young girls that they

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<v Speaker 1>can dream big um give them a sense of possibilities

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<v Speaker 1>they may not have dreamed of. And that led to

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<v Speaker 1>the creation of Zari. And she wears her for his job.

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<v Speaker 1>She wears her school uniform, proudly loves to go to school,

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<v Speaker 1>loves to learn. And as the seasons progressed, we created

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<v Speaker 1>a little brother Prazari named Zraq who it also allows

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<v Speaker 1>us to model stories of Zeroq looking up to his

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<v Speaker 1>big sister. And with everything we do, you know it

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<v Speaker 1>is embedded that all of the curricular goals, not only modeling,

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<v Speaker 1>but UM also showing little boys that it's okay for

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<v Speaker 1>girls to go to school and for girls and women

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<v Speaker 1>to have different roles and responsibilities. And what I'm so

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<v Speaker 1>thrilled to say is that you know there are five

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<v Speaker 1>million children in Afghanistan under the age of five. Through

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<v Speaker 1>radio television, lach Simpson reaches almost four million those children.

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<v Speaker 1>Zary is the favorite character of boys and girls in Afghanistan.

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<v Speaker 1>And with everything we do, we study our impact. We

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<v Speaker 1>do research to prove outcomes so we can raise the

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<v Speaker 1>philanthropic support to continue the work. And not only do

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<v Speaker 1>we have UM proven outcomes into literacy and numeracy, but

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<v Speaker 1>when we measure attitudes of gender equity. Little boys watch

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<v Speaker 1>Budgi Simpson test higher almost thirty percent higher on attitudes

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<v Speaker 1>of gender equity, saying they think it's fine for their

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<v Speaker 1>sisters to go to school, or um that they think

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<v Speaker 1>it's fine for girls and women to have different roles.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think that I'm probably who told you this before.

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<v Speaker 1>But the data point that I get the most excited

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<v Speaker 1>about was from focus groups, qualitative research that the US

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<v Speaker 1>State Department did, because the U. S State Department has

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<v Speaker 1>funded this production. And in those focus groups, they found

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<v Speaker 1>again and again fathers cited bog Simpson as the reason

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<v Speaker 1>they had changed their minds about permitting their daughter to

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<v Speaker 1>go to school. And if you think about it, it's

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's because it's non threatening. It's a children's show.

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<v Speaker 1>And yet we know in a country like Afghanistan, almost

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<v Speaker 1>watch with a parent or caregiver. So it really drives

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<v Speaker 1>home the potential to plant those seeds for societal change.

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<v Speaker 1>I love it. I still do so much work in Afghanistan,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, there's a great fear uh that the

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<v Speaker 1>rights that women have achieved over these couple decades may

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<v Speaker 1>be pushed back. And I think of Zari and the

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<v Speaker 1>fact that she's not just educating her peer set, but

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<v Speaker 1>she is indeed educating the wider society. So it's just

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<v Speaker 1>so terrific because we don't often think of muppets as

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<v Speaker 1>the great vehicles for societal change. For sure, I know

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<v Speaker 1>that Sesame and the International Rescue Committee came together to

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<v Speaker 1>address the special needs that children have in refugees settings.

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<v Speaker 1>Can you tell us a little bit about the work

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<v Speaker 1>you're doing in that very tough arena. Absolutely, this is

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<v Speaker 1>another one of my favorite initiatives, and it is so

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<v Speaker 1>rewarding in so many ways. But we did about you know,

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<v Speaker 1>if you think back to the height of the Syrian

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<v Speaker 1>um or the outset of the Syrian conflict. In Syrian crisis,

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<v Speaker 1>it dawned on us that, you know, more people were

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<v Speaker 1>displaced than any other time since World War Two, which

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<v Speaker 1>is still the case, but almost half our children. And

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<v Speaker 1>so it says to me, we in our global work,

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<v Speaker 1>we're always looking at what are the most pressing issues

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<v Speaker 1>children face and are their places where we can make

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<v Speaker 1>a difference. So we had done a lot of work

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<v Speaker 1>in the Middle East, in Egypt and Jordan's in Israel, Palestine,

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<v Speaker 1>we had done local Arabic productions, and we felt like,

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<v Speaker 1>in order to address the huge number of displaced Syrian

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<v Speaker 1>children UM in throughout that region, that we really couldn't

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<v Speaker 1>do it alone. And so I did go to David Miliban,

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<v Speaker 1>who heads the I r C, and we UM suggested

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<v Speaker 1>that we work together, that we form a partnership, and

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<v Speaker 1>we would take our Arabic content, you know, and adapt it,

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<v Speaker 1>and then we would empower his irc um tremendous staff

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<v Speaker 1>and on the ground to have content to use home visits,

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<v Speaker 1>to use for learning centers, UM all local Arabic content.

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<v Speaker 1>And soon after we started this pilot in Jordan's Um,

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<v Speaker 1>we learned of the MacArthur Foundations first ever hundred and

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<v Speaker 1>Change Award, which was giving a hundred million dollar grant

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<v Speaker 1>to an organization addressing a pressing need of our time.

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<v Speaker 1>And UM once again went back to the I r

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<v Speaker 1>C and said, will you join us on this because

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<v Speaker 1>we we think this is one of the most pressing needs.

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<v Speaker 1>And lo and behold, we were selected for that first

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<v Speaker 1>ever grant and it is so important and so powerful

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<v Speaker 1>for so many reasons. But this is allowing us to

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<v Speaker 1>create the largest early childhood intervention in the history of

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<v Speaker 1>humanitarian response, and it really, um, it really struck me

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<v Speaker 1>as we looked into this that less than three percent

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<v Speaker 1>of all humanitarian aid goes to education, and yet there

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<v Speaker 1>is so much research today that shows that if we

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<v Speaker 1>reach children in their critical early years, we can have

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<v Speaker 1>the greatest impact. So I think the other thing that

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<v Speaker 1>I'm so excited about is it really shines a spotlight

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<v Speaker 1>on the need and on the potential when we're reaching

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<v Speaker 1>children in crisis settings. And within a year, the Lego

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<v Speaker 1>Foundation stepped up and gave another grant of a hundred

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<v Speaker 1>billion dollars and that has allowed us to deepen our

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<v Speaker 1>impact in the Middle East with learning through Play and

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<v Speaker 1>to expand this program to the Rhinga crisis to reach

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<v Speaker 1>children in Bangladesh. And oh my goodness. Yeah, it's very

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<v Speaker 1>it's really it's really um audacious and and it's really groundbreaking.

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<v Speaker 1>And again, our hope is that this will be a

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<v Speaker 1>catalyst for others, whether it's Sesame or not, just to

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<v Speaker 1>be investing in reaching children in their early years, because

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<v Speaker 1>it's it's those who are affected the most really received

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<v Speaker 1>the least, so often we don't keep children in mind

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<v Speaker 1>in conflict settings. It's really wonderful and and these children

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<v Speaker 1>see themselves in the Muppets. Do you have an array

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<v Speaker 1>of Muppets that are now in these different settings are

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<v Speaker 1>how does this work? Yes? Well, we you know in

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<v Speaker 1>UM in the Middle East where we're in Iran and Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan,

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<v Speaker 1>and Syria with this program a han senson and that

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<v Speaker 1>means welcome sesame in Arabic. It's also seen throughout the

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<v Speaker 1>Middle East because of we're on both terrestrial and and

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<v Speaker 1>satellite UM, which is so important because it's not just

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<v Speaker 1>for Syrian refugees or displaced children, but their new neighbors

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<v Speaker 1>side by side in Jordanian children, leban these children and

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<v Speaker 1>in this as you point out, it's so important for

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<v Speaker 1>children to be able to identify with these characters and

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<v Speaker 1>to have storylines that they can relate to. So Inhln Simpson,

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<v Speaker 1>there are two new muppets. One is named Jodd. He's

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<v Speaker 1>five and a half years old and he had to

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<v Speaker 1>leave his home and he becomes best friends with an

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<v Speaker 1>adorable little purple muppet in Bosma. And so right there

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<v Speaker 1>you can start to see that storyline of children, someone

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<v Speaker 1>who had to leave who becomes best friends with someone else.

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<v Speaker 1>From a different place. And again the curriculum is is

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<v Speaker 1>you know, instilled in everything we do, but we're also

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<v Speaker 1>able to model those social emotional um issues and and

0:14:21.680 --> 0:14:23.840
<v Speaker 1>giving children sort of the we like to say it's

0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:26.920
<v Speaker 1>the emotional A, b c S. The building blocks they need,

0:14:27.080 --> 0:14:35.280
<v Speaker 1>particularly for vulnerable children who have experienced trauma senecas one

0:14:35.360 --> 0:14:38.280
<v Speaker 1>hundred women to hear will be back after the short break.

0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:50.280
<v Speaker 1>This is just so compelling. You know, we talked about

0:14:50.360 --> 0:14:53.960
<v Speaker 1>Sorry a little bit in the tremendous impact she's having

0:14:54.080 --> 0:14:58.560
<v Speaker 1>in Afghanistan, and we know that girls are still not

0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.800
<v Speaker 1>valued and many places in the world they still have

0:15:02.040 --> 0:15:06.760
<v Speaker 1>a very rough time going to school, leaving school, etcetera.

0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:11.280
<v Speaker 1>Do you see many of your muppets empowering girls specifically?

0:15:11.760 --> 0:15:14.720
<v Speaker 1>You know, absolutely. I mean, I think perhaps because it's

0:15:14.720 --> 0:15:18.320
<v Speaker 1>such a specific intention on our part to make sure

0:15:18.880 --> 0:15:21.760
<v Speaker 1>in every country we're in that we have powerful girl

0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:24.320
<v Speaker 1>role models. But I watch, you know, one of the

0:15:24.320 --> 0:15:28.120
<v Speaker 1>things that's so amazing is how universal the appeal of

0:15:28.200 --> 0:15:31.160
<v Speaker 1>muppets is, whether it's in a refugee camp or in

0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:34.360
<v Speaker 1>South Africa or in Bangladesh, to see children just light

0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:38.680
<v Speaker 1>up um and these characters are so engaging. I think

0:15:38.680 --> 0:15:42.360
<v Speaker 1>that's what gives them the ability to teach and also

0:15:42.480 --> 0:15:48.160
<v Speaker 1>to model behavior change around sanitation, water UM. You know,

0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:52.080
<v Speaker 1>we do a lot of wash work to model attitude change,

0:15:52.280 --> 0:15:57.360
<v Speaker 1>like girls education, UM, conflict resolution, And I think one

0:15:57.360 --> 0:16:00.960
<v Speaker 1>of the things that I find the most rewarding is

0:16:01.160 --> 0:16:04.040
<v Speaker 1>media allows you to reach girls and boys, and in

0:16:04.080 --> 0:16:08.880
<v Speaker 1>so many places where girls aren't UM in school, this

0:16:08.960 --> 0:16:12.080
<v Speaker 1>is sort of a universal opportunity to reach them side

0:16:12.080 --> 0:16:16.040
<v Speaker 1>by side, but also to model for them possibilities. Just

0:16:16.280 --> 0:16:22.400
<v Speaker 1>really really a terrific investment that has just enormous payoffs

0:16:22.760 --> 0:16:27.040
<v Speaker 1>for these children everywhere. COVID has affected all of us, uh,

0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:32.040
<v Speaker 1>and I wonder how it's affected Sesame workshop, what Milan. Honestly,

0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:35.680
<v Speaker 1>you know, it's been so hard on everyone obviously, but

0:16:35.680 --> 0:16:40.240
<v Speaker 1>but as I mentioned earlier, it just reinforces how important

0:16:40.280 --> 0:16:42.960
<v Speaker 1>what we do is. And I feel so grateful to

0:16:42.960 --> 0:16:46.200
<v Speaker 1>get up every day through all of these um challenging

0:16:46.240 --> 0:16:49.600
<v Speaker 1>times knowing that what we're doing is intended to help

0:16:49.760 --> 0:16:52.120
<v Speaker 1>and to make a difference. And we did have to

0:16:52.160 --> 0:16:56.000
<v Speaker 1>pivot UM we we began production. We couldn't go in

0:16:56.040 --> 0:16:58.680
<v Speaker 1>studios either. You couldn't have the Muppets on Sesame Street

0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:02.280
<v Speaker 1>in a production studio here or in a mon Jordan's

0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:05.720
<v Speaker 1>and so we had to just start producing virtually. If

0:17:05.720 --> 0:17:09.240
<v Speaker 1>you look at some of our specials during UM the

0:17:09.400 --> 0:17:12.000
<v Speaker 1>outset of the pandemic, we did a lot of family

0:17:12.040 --> 0:17:16.080
<v Speaker 1>specials to model learning opportunities at home for parents, and

0:17:16.119 --> 0:17:18.280
<v Speaker 1>it looks like a zoom call. You'll see Anne Hathaway

0:17:18.320 --> 0:17:21.640
<v Speaker 1>in a corner and Lynn Manuel and Elmo and Cookie.

0:17:21.720 --> 0:17:25.000
<v Speaker 1>And we have been very fortunate because we also received

0:17:25.000 --> 0:17:29.080
<v Speaker 1>funding again from the Lego Foundation to create these specials

0:17:29.119 --> 0:17:31.480
<v Speaker 1>around the world and we've done so now in over

0:17:31.560 --> 0:17:36.840
<v Speaker 1>fifty countries in thirteen languages. And and when parents don't

0:17:36.920 --> 0:17:41.119
<v Speaker 1>have the opportunity to send their childish school, they need resources,

0:17:41.440 --> 0:17:44.399
<v Speaker 1>they need insights and tips on how to create a

0:17:44.480 --> 0:17:47.800
<v Speaker 1>learning environment at home, and they have access to media.

0:17:48.000 --> 0:17:50.879
<v Speaker 1>So we've also done short form and a lot of

0:17:50.920 --> 0:17:56.240
<v Speaker 1>content specific to COVID in helping parents respond, helping them

0:17:56.240 --> 0:18:01.240
<v Speaker 1>address the challenges, the socio emotional challenges that this presents

0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:06.200
<v Speaker 1>to children and basic prevention messages and those I am

0:18:06.240 --> 0:18:09.600
<v Speaker 1>thrilled to say have been uh distributed over a hundred

0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:14.480
<v Speaker 1>countries in over thirty nine languages, and we've provided hundreds

0:18:14.520 --> 0:18:18.480
<v Speaker 1>of hours of educational media to ministries of education around

0:18:18.520 --> 0:18:21.959
<v Speaker 1>the world. We've created CNN town Hall specials to answer

0:18:22.040 --> 0:18:25.560
<v Speaker 1>parents and children's questions, and will continue to look at

0:18:25.600 --> 0:18:28.679
<v Speaker 1>every way we can to respond to the needs of

0:18:28.760 --> 0:18:32.479
<v Speaker 1>families and children during these challenging times. And so for

0:18:32.600 --> 0:18:35.720
<v Speaker 1>us to be able to provide the tools and the

0:18:35.840 --> 0:18:39.960
<v Speaker 1>language and the resources to do so in an age

0:18:40.000 --> 0:18:45.200
<v Speaker 1>appropriate way, I think is so important. It's really great. So, Sherry,

0:18:45.400 --> 0:18:48.199
<v Speaker 1>I've admired so much what you've been able to do

0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:51.680
<v Speaker 1>over the years, and I wonder a little bit about you.

0:18:51.880 --> 0:18:55.560
<v Speaker 1>Was there something in your childhood or background that made

0:18:55.600 --> 0:18:58.880
<v Speaker 1>you the leader that you are the woman you are

0:18:59.000 --> 0:19:03.080
<v Speaker 1>today doing this great, great work. I can't think necessarily

0:19:03.080 --> 0:19:05.399
<v Speaker 1>of a pivotal moment. But it's funny because I was

0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:09.080
<v Speaker 1>talking to Hank Paulson recently, who has also started, you know,

0:19:09.119 --> 0:19:12.320
<v Speaker 1>doing podcasts, and and he asked a question about, you know,

0:19:12.359 --> 0:19:18.960
<v Speaker 1>what sparked your interest in UM public service and and

0:19:18.960 --> 0:19:21.520
<v Speaker 1>and I was thinking back, it was, you know, thinking

0:19:21.560 --> 0:19:25.080
<v Speaker 1>about growing up and I I guess for everyone were

0:19:25.359 --> 0:19:27.919
<v Speaker 1>who we become as a product in some part of

0:19:27.960 --> 0:19:31.720
<v Speaker 1>our parents and my parents, you know, my mother is

0:19:31.720 --> 0:19:36.920
<v Speaker 1>the most outgoing. Um always love children. We grow up

0:19:36.960 --> 0:19:40.359
<v Speaker 1>with just children and friends and neighbors everywhere. She was

0:19:40.400 --> 0:19:43.240
<v Speaker 1>the favorite mom, so everyone came to our house. And

0:19:43.560 --> 0:19:47.520
<v Speaker 1>my father has a great storytell or, a great um

0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:50.200
<v Speaker 1>has a great sense of humor. And when I look

0:19:50.280 --> 0:19:52.879
<v Speaker 1>at my path on how I got to Sesame Street,

0:19:53.280 --> 0:19:57.359
<v Speaker 1>it wasn't a straight line, but they instilled in me

0:19:58.040 --> 0:20:00.320
<v Speaker 1>sort of a love of children, and so I really

0:20:00.320 --> 0:20:02.840
<v Speaker 1>thought i'd be a teacher. I loved education. I worked

0:20:03.119 --> 0:20:06.080
<v Speaker 1>with children my whole life. When I went to Washington

0:20:06.160 --> 0:20:10.800
<v Speaker 1>after college, because you're so excited about all that Washington offers.

0:20:10.840 --> 0:20:13.719
<v Speaker 1>At that age, I got much more involved in politics

0:20:13.760 --> 0:20:17.960
<v Speaker 1>and and public service and media and really started to

0:20:18.040 --> 0:20:19.720
<v Speaker 1>understand when I was at the White House that you

0:20:20.240 --> 0:20:25.200
<v Speaker 1>public service could be used to address systemic issues rather

0:20:25.280 --> 0:20:27.000
<v Speaker 1>than one on one with the child. We could do

0:20:27.080 --> 0:20:30.560
<v Speaker 1>so much through government through public service. And it's a

0:20:30.560 --> 0:20:33.320
<v Speaker 1>long way of saying that when I adopted my daughter Lily,

0:20:34.280 --> 0:20:38.000
<v Speaker 1>I had gone back to ABC and I that is

0:20:38.040 --> 0:20:41.080
<v Speaker 1>my pivotal moment. It wasn't as a child, but all

0:20:41.119 --> 0:20:44.879
<v Speaker 1>of those things caring about children, interested in education, tying

0:20:44.920 --> 0:20:48.439
<v Speaker 1>that into public service and media. I think when I

0:20:48.480 --> 0:20:53.000
<v Speaker 1>became a mom and adopted my daughter from China. It

0:20:53.640 --> 0:20:57.080
<v Speaker 1>all came together because I focused then on the importance

0:20:57.119 --> 0:21:00.600
<v Speaker 1>of educational media. For the first time, I was paying

0:21:00.600 --> 0:21:06.160
<v Speaker 1>attention to children's programming and quality children's programming, and Sesame

0:21:06.200 --> 0:21:09.119
<v Speaker 1>Street was just the perfect place I could combined everything

0:21:09.200 --> 0:21:12.719
<v Speaker 1>I cared about education. What better place to be as

0:21:12.760 --> 0:21:17.560
<v Speaker 1>a as a mom and policy and communications and as

0:21:17.600 --> 0:21:20.920
<v Speaker 1>a nonprofit organization doing the work we're doing, and the

0:21:21.040 --> 0:21:23.640
<v Speaker 1>need to raise the money to support that work. It's

0:21:23.640 --> 0:21:26.240
<v Speaker 1>so important to tell these stories and to and I

0:21:26.320 --> 0:21:28.800
<v Speaker 1>will say if there's every if there's any pivotal moment

0:21:28.840 --> 0:21:32.880
<v Speaker 1>in helping me connect all those dots and end up

0:21:32.920 --> 0:21:37.280
<v Speaker 1>where I did. It was becoming Lily's mom. Oh that's

0:21:37.280 --> 0:21:40.680
<v Speaker 1>so beautiful. And now you're the mom of so many

0:21:40.760 --> 0:21:43.920
<v Speaker 1>children around the world because you're doing all of these

0:21:43.960 --> 0:21:48.600
<v Speaker 1>amazing good works for them. As we end this wonderful conversation,

0:21:49.080 --> 0:21:51.719
<v Speaker 1>what makes you optimistic? I have a feeling I know

0:21:51.760 --> 0:21:54.359
<v Speaker 1>what you're gonna say, but but really, what gives you

0:21:54.400 --> 0:21:58.320
<v Speaker 1>hope today? Because there is so much of a feeling

0:21:58.400 --> 0:22:04.200
<v Speaker 1>of depression and darkness, uh and people having a really

0:22:04.280 --> 0:22:08.480
<v Speaker 1>rough time. Well, I mean, if you anticipate what I'm

0:22:08.480 --> 0:22:13.000
<v Speaker 1>going to say. It's probably children, and and that that

0:22:13.359 --> 0:22:15.280
<v Speaker 1>is I mean, I don't want to sound cliche that

0:22:15.359 --> 0:22:19.160
<v Speaker 1>children are the hope, but I I feel that so deeply.

0:22:19.560 --> 0:22:24.720
<v Speaker 1>And I would say, in spite of these incredibly challenging times,

0:22:25.320 --> 0:22:29.000
<v Speaker 1>one thing that does encourage me is that because of

0:22:29.000 --> 0:22:34.400
<v Speaker 1>this pandemic, education is more top of mind than ever.

0:22:34.600 --> 0:22:39.479
<v Speaker 1>And in all of my convergensations internationally globally, there is

0:22:39.520 --> 0:22:43.960
<v Speaker 1>no one talking about how we recover um and build

0:22:43.960 --> 0:22:47.080
<v Speaker 1>back better, if you will, from what we've learned that

0:22:47.240 --> 0:22:50.879
<v Speaker 1>doesn't focus on education. We have to and I feel

0:22:50.920 --> 0:22:56.879
<v Speaker 1>like it's put um children at the top of the

0:22:57.000 --> 0:23:00.840
<v Speaker 1>issues that matter most and and I hope that includes

0:23:00.920 --> 0:23:04.679
<v Speaker 1>early education. I think there's a much greater appreciation of

0:23:04.680 --> 0:23:07.240
<v Speaker 1>how important that is, and that does give me some

0:23:07.320 --> 0:23:11.800
<v Speaker 1>sense of optimism. Well, thank you so much, Sherry, thank

0:23:11.840 --> 0:23:16.320
<v Speaker 1>you for what you do. We thank sesame workshop, congratulations

0:23:16.359 --> 0:23:19.639
<v Speaker 1>on the new position you're about to take on. Thank

0:23:19.640 --> 0:23:22.560
<v Speaker 1>you so much and continued good luck for the sake

0:23:22.600 --> 0:23:25.840
<v Speaker 1>of the children here in our country and around the world. Well,

0:23:25.880 --> 0:23:28.159
<v Speaker 1>can I say one last thing, Milon, because when you

0:23:28.200 --> 0:23:30.960
<v Speaker 1>think of role models and when you think of inspiring

0:23:31.440 --> 0:23:34.679
<v Speaker 1>young women and girls. You are at the top of

0:23:34.680 --> 0:23:38.719
<v Speaker 1>that list, and you have made such a difference by

0:23:38.720 --> 0:23:41.520
<v Speaker 1>inspiring so many of us, so I want to thank

0:23:41.560 --> 0:23:44.560
<v Speaker 1>you as well. Oh well, that's lovely. I probably shouldn't

0:23:44.600 --> 0:23:48.160
<v Speaker 1>have given you extra time for that, but anyway, ever,

0:23:48.320 --> 0:23:53.440
<v Speaker 1>onward as we say, and thanks again. It's amazing how

0:23:53.520 --> 0:23:58.000
<v Speaker 1>much good can be accomplished with vision, persistence, and a

0:23:58.040 --> 0:24:01.960
<v Speaker 1>cast of fuzzy muppets. Here are three things I took

0:24:02.000 --> 0:24:08.080
<v Speaker 1>away from my conversation with Sherry Weston. First, never underestimate

0:24:08.160 --> 0:24:12.240
<v Speaker 1>the power of media and muppets. In Afghanistan, for instance,

0:24:12.600 --> 0:24:17.199
<v Speaker 1>Sesame Workshop has not only improved children's literacy scores, but

0:24:17.359 --> 0:24:21.600
<v Speaker 1>also persuaded their parents that sending their daughters to school

0:24:21.640 --> 0:24:26.679
<v Speaker 1>is a good thing. Second, as Sherry tells us, we

0:24:26.800 --> 0:24:31.520
<v Speaker 1>must not forget about the world's ongoing humanitarian crises, such

0:24:31.520 --> 0:24:35.159
<v Speaker 1>as the millions of people displaced by the Syrian conflict,

0:24:35.640 --> 0:24:38.720
<v Speaker 1>and we can help make a real difference there by

0:24:38.760 --> 0:24:47.000
<v Speaker 1>directing resources to children's early education. Finally, remember that representation matters.

0:24:47.760 --> 0:24:51.320
<v Speaker 1>A world of possibilities opens up for children when they

0:24:51.400 --> 0:24:55.600
<v Speaker 1>see themselves reflected in the media, whether it's Zari the

0:24:55.640 --> 0:25:00.119
<v Speaker 1>girl muppet in Afghanistan who joyously attends school, or the

0:25:00.160 --> 0:25:04.240
<v Speaker 1>purple muppet named Bosma will be friends a refugee boy

0:25:04.320 --> 0:25:09.560
<v Speaker 1>muppet named Jad. Kids can absorb the most serious and

0:25:09.680 --> 0:25:14.800
<v Speaker 1>important lessons when they're accompanied by a dose of relatability,

0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:19.840
<v Speaker 1>and for that we can thank Sherry Weston and Sesame Workshop.

0:25:22.000 --> 0:25:24.920
<v Speaker 1>Tune in next Tuesday to hear about our next featured

0:25:25.000 --> 0:25:28.840
<v Speaker 1>woman and discover why she's one of Seneca's one Women

0:25:28.840 --> 0:25:32.639
<v Speaker 1>to Hear. Seneca's one hundred Women to Hear is a

0:25:32.680 --> 0:25:36.320
<v Speaker 1>collaboration between the Seneca Women Podcast Network and I Heart Radio,

0:25:36.480 --> 0:25:50.960
<v Speaker 1>with support from founding partner Pung. Have a Great Day,