Seeing improvement in learning starting with confidence and exposure

Seeing improvement in learning starting with confidence and exposure

Author: MetroFamily Magazine October 2, 2023 Duration: 28:52

Freedom City OKC’s founder, Brittany Carter-Thomas, Esq., joins us today to talk about their mission: to support and improve education in Oklahoma City. Freedom City's vision is for 100% of students to be at or exceeding grade-level standards, confident, and exposed to numerous extracurriculars. Meeting each student "where they are" through programs such as Freedom Girls, Afterschool Programming, In-School Math, Awkward Conversations Support Group, Lunch Mentoring, summer camps, and In-School Reading, students enrolled are seeing anywhere from 30-45% increases in test scores and grade levels. Learn more about Freedom City at www.freedomcityokc.com.


Born from a need for connection and practical support during a challenging time, Raising OKC Kids-Conversations with MetroFamily is a video podcast that goes beyond simple advice. Created by the team behind MetroFamily Magazine, it serves as a virtual gathering place for parents and caregivers in the Oklahoma City metro. Each episode focuses on real conversations, not lectures, bringing local experts and experienced parents to the table to discuss the topics that matter most in day-to-day family life. You’ll hear honest dialogues that blend professional insight with lived experience, all centered on supporting children and strengthening community ties. This podcast is built on the idea that sharing knowledge and stories is how we collectively navigate the complexities of raising kids. The format allows you to see the faces behind the voices, adding a layer of warmth and familiarity to each discussion. Whether it’s navigating educational choices, finding local creative outlets, or managing family dynamics, the conversations are grounded in the specific context of the OKC area. Tuning in means joining a wider circle of local families who are learning, adapting, and growing together. It’s a resource designed to inform and reassure, offering perspectives you can use immediately. The Raising OKC Kids podcast naturally evolves with its audience, tackling a variety of subjects that reflect the ever-changing landscape of family life in our community.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 88

Raising OKC Kids – Conversations with MetroFamily
Podcast Episodes
Developing Emotional Intelligence Alongside our Kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:39
Dr. Helen Hadani and Rachael Katz are authors of the book The Emotionally Intelligent Child, and they join us to talk about strategies for raising self-aware, cooperative and well-balanced kids. We discuss how to build e…
Rerelease: De-stigmatizing Mental Health in the Workplace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
Mental health has been a trending topic lately, especially as it relates to our new “work/life balance.” Join us as Michael Dickerson, founder of the Dickerson Consulting Group and the podcast The Spillover Effect, talks…
Coping with grief during the holidays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:17
Erin Engelke and Heather Gaglio with local nonprofit Calm Waters Center for Children and Families join us to provide tips, coping strategies and affirmation for families and children experiencing grief during the holiday…
Giving Back with Rachel Holt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:42
Local mom and executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs Rachel Holt joins us to talk about what giving back means to her both professionally and personally. She shares recent milestones for the Oklaho…
The State of Retail in Oklahoma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:25
Cléo Nash, the Executive Director of the Independent Shopkeepers Association, as well as Paige Beal, owner of Tulips Home & Gift in Norman, join us to talk about the whirlwind of the pandemic and how local retail is rec…
The Family Dinner Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
Did you know shared family meals have a positive impact on our kids mental health, in addition to their physical health? Therapist, author and psychology professor Dr. Anne Fishel shares why family mealtimes are so impor…
For the love of STEM (rerun) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:42
Madison Whitekiller, who holds the title of 2022 Miss Indian Oklahoma, joins us to talk about her platform: guiding Native American youth to discover success through STEM. She discusses her own journey to a STEM field, a…
RSV in kids is on the rise in OKC. Here’s what you need to know. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
Local mom and chief of pediatric infectious disease for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at OU Health, Dr. Donna Tyungu joins us to discuss the rapidly rising number of children with RSV in the metro. Dr. Tyungu shares the s…
Turning a child's interest into a career: Opportunities in STEAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
This month we are joined by a representative from The Boeing Company to talk about how just a spark of an interest can turn into a life-long passion. Fueling STEAM opportunities for all ages within Oklahoma, Boeing is a…
State of Foster Care in Oklahoma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:49
We get an update on the foster care system in Oklahoma from Dr. Deb Shropshire, director of Child Welfare Services for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and Destyni Trayler, senior program director for Sunbeam F…