What truly defines a state’s priorities isn’t the policies it writes, but the futures it makes possible for its children. That belief was at the heart of “Kids First Maryland: Elevating Policy, Practice and Possibility for Children,” a statewide convening that brought together leaders from across sectors to reimagine what it means to put children at the center of policy and practice.
The event was sponsored by the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth and Families, along with the Do Good Institute and the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, and served as a space for collaboration among policymakers, advocates, funders and researchers. Together, they explored how public systems, from education and health to housing and family support, can work collectively to advance the well-being of every child.
In a recorded message, Maryland Governor Wes Moore emphasized the shared responsibility to create a state where every child can flourish. “Our children are our greatest responsibility,” he said. “By ensuring that every child has a chance to grow and to learn and to thrive, we're building stronger families and stronger communities and a stronger future for Maryland.”
Our children are our greatest responsibility. By ensuring that every child has a chance to grow and to learn and to thrive, we're building stronger families and stronger communities and a stronger future for Maryland.Governor Wes Moore
The daylong convening took place in Thurgood Marshall Hall, the home of the School of Public Policy, where Dean Gustavo Flores-Macías connected the conversation to the School’s broader public mission. He reflected on the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall, noting that policy is never abstract but deeply personal in its impact, and urged participants to listen deeply, challenge assumptions and imagine what it would mean if every decision truly put children first. “If we can begin to answer this question together,” he said, “Maryland will be a stronger, more just and more compassionate place for every child and family.”
Dean Boris Lushniak of the School of Public Health urged attendees to bridge the gap between research and real-world change. “How do we turn policy into practice?” he asked. “How do we take that policy, put it into practice with what we have control over, which is increasing the possibilities, the potential, the future?”
Associate Provost for Community Engagement Tania Mitchell shared how the University leverages collaboration to turn ideas into impact. “The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative, through convenings like this one, facilitates powerful conversations that shape policy and practice in service of a better future,” she said, noting that the University’s commitment to community engagement helps carry Karabelle Pizzigati’s legacy forward across Maryland.
In his keynote address, Alger Studstill, executive director of the Social Services Administration at the Maryland Department of Human Services, discussed the complexities of Maryland’s child welfare system and emphasized the importance of working together to improve outcomes for children and families. Reflecting on the state’s child welfare system, Studstill noted that even well-intentioned policies can fall short without the right support structures. He urged attendees to envision an ecosystem where families can seek help before crisis and young people always have someone to turn to. His remarks emphasized the day’s theme of elevating, not just reforming, policy and practice through collaboration, compassion and accountability.
Throughout the convening, participants revisited the legacy of Karabelle Pizzigati, whose career was devoted to empowering advocates and improving the systems that shape children’s lives. Her namesake initiative, housed at the School of Public Policy and the School of Public Health, prepares students to become ethical leaders who champion fairness and opportunity and strengthen policies that help every child thrive.
Following the morning plenary, attendees spent the day in discussions and breakout sessions focused on education, economic security, mental health, family well-being and other pressing issues affecting children and families across Maryland. Each session reflected a shared goal: to transform ideas into action that centers children in every decision.
In her closing remarks, Clinical Professor Brandi Slaughter, program director of the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative, reminded attendees that the convening was not a conclusion but a catalyst. “The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative exists to nurture and connect a new generation of advocates who will continue this work long after this conference is over. …I hope you carry the spirit of collaboration and conviction that we can build a Maryland where every child, no matter their background, zip code or circumstance, has the chance to thrive.”