The School of Public Policy, in partnership with the School of Public Health, hosted the third annual Karabelle Pizzigati Lecture on Children’s Advocacy at Thurgood Marshall Hall. The lecture celebrated the life and legacy of Karabelle Pizzigati, whose pioneering efforts in public policy reshaped the landscape of children’s rights and family advocacy.
The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative, established in her honor, equips students with the skills to drive systemic change. Through a ten-week paid internship, mentoring and hands-on experience, Pizzigati fellows develop the confidence and expertise needed to advocate for children at the highest levels of policy. As Public Policy Dean Robert C. Orr noted in his opening remarks, the initiative is about building bold leaders: “Let’s see if we can make the kind of changes that Thurgood Marshall had in mind. …We need to be bold right now.”
Associate Clinical Professor Brandi Slaughter, program director of the Karabelle Pizzigati Fellows Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth and Families, emphasized the power of imagination in advocacy, describing it as a critical tool that fosters emotional intelligence, creativity and the ability to navigate complex realities.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants,” Slaughter reflected. “Karabelle Pizzigati was relentless in her pursuit to make childhood the best it could be—a childhood where children have the freedom to imagine what they will be when they grow up and not asking themselves whether they will grow up.”
Building on her legacy, Slaughter challenged attendees to reimagine advocacy as a proactive, creative force for systemic change. She highlighted stark disparities faced by Black children, including educational inequities, higher suspension rates and disproportionate poverty. These issues, she argued, demand urgent, collective action. “What if we began to advocate for policies at every level of government that place kids first and foremost in the consciousness of society—policies that are restorative, ones that offer repair from the systemic injustices that we continue to suffer?”
Slaughter concluded by emphasizing the enormous potential of collective action. “Imagine if we got together and relentlessly pursued policies and practices that truly liberated our communities, our families, our children and youth.” She highlighted the pressing need to address systemic disparities in education, early childhood programs and economic resources, framing advocacy as both a responsibility and a legacy inspired by Karabelle Pizzigati’s work.
Terrell Strayhorn, an education and diversity scholar, centered his keynote lecture on the theme of belonging—a concept deeply intertwined with child advocacy. “People don't feel or find a sense of belonging on their own,” he said. “Belonging is built. And for youth, it’s co-constructed along with advocates who don’t tell them where to go and how to feel.”
Strayhorn presented research showing that students with a sense of belonging perform better academically, emotionally and socially. He highlighted how advocates can create environments that foster this critical feeling, breaking down barriers such as discrimination and inequitable resource distribution.
Reflecting on his own journey into advocacy, inspired by his grandmother—a lifelong educator—Strayhorn spoke of the power of grassroots change, noting how advocacy groups can push for systemic changes that support marginalized families, whether through equitable housing policies or access to quality education. “The life the world needs is in our people. What we need to do is advocate for policies, programs and practices that create spaces where they can shine,” he said.
Public Health Dean Boris Lushniak added a broader perspective to the meaning of advocacy, drawing on the Latin roots of the word “advocare,” meaning “to summon or call to one’s aid.” He emphasized the enduring importance of speaking up for those who cannot. “It’s caring. It’s doing. It’s action,” Lushniak said.
Building on this theme, Kati Mapa, director of public policy for the Child Welfare League of America, praised theKarabelle Pizzigati Fellows for their intelligence, passion and dedication to justice. She emphasized their ability to think critically and creatively about solutions to the world’s problems, calling them “capable of creating incredible change.” Mapa expressed gratitude for their efforts in carrying forward Karabelle Pizzigati’s legacy.
Karabelle Pizzigati’s vision of empowered advocates continues to inspire the next generation of policy leaders and instill in them a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for children, youth and families. As Orr noted, “I’d like to think that Karabelle would love to see all of these great, motivated young faces in the room ready to make that difference in the world when we most need it.”
