On this episode of Shine, we are joined by Caroline Chambers, a recipe developer, food writer, and the author of "Just Married: A Cookbook for Newlyweds." She's also a mom of 2 (with one on the way!) and has made a name for herself on Instagram as a superstar working mom, constantly sharing tips for how to balance it all.  In this episode, Caroline and Allie discuss tips for staying sane while running a business and trying to keep the family fed and healthy, as well as tricks for getting veggies in, and building healthy eating habits at home.  Find Caroline at https://www.carolinecha ..read more

Today we’re speaking with our internal experts about the importance of Family Choice regarding childcare with the recent passing of AB 22. What is AB 22? AB 22 will extend universal access to full-day transitional kindergarten (TK) programs to all 4-year-olds statewide at no cost to families. Unfortunately, the proposed legislation (AB 22) that expands TK across California, falls short for many families, communities across the state, and especially for childcare workers who kept our state functioning during the long year of COVID. Alison Michel-Hall, who is leading today’s discussion ..read more

Carolina was brought to the United States at the age of 2 years old. Her parents came to the U.S. in search of a better life and in hopes of achieving the American Dream. She grew up in the public-school system, went to East Carolina University to study Psychology and then to Central Law School. Throughout her educational career she faced the complex immigration process like many other Dreamers. She noticed the sacrifices her parents made throughout her life and knew she had to bring unity to the family even if it was divided by a man-made border. She used her passion to unite her own family t ..read more

In this episode of Shine, we speak with Stephanie Collett, a nutrition and health educator at Catalyst Family for over 20 years. We dive into the importance of family meals, helping your kids form lifelong healthy eating habits, and how and why to get kids involved in the kitchen, as well as some practical tips for getting those healthy foods into your children's diets! And be sure to check out the show notes -- Stephanie was kind enough to leave us with some fun recipes that your kids will surely want to get involved with. Thanks for joining us! Black Bean and Avocado Salsa Oatmeal Breakfast ..read more

Tune in for a conversation on becoming a new parent during the pandemic with Emily Oster, co-founder of NAPS and Nurture by NAPS. She is a certified nurse practitioner and board-certified lactation consultant.     Resources: Emily Oster's Decision Making Model Instagram: @NurturebyNAPS Podcast: Unswaddled  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unswaddled/id1560213381 Nurture by NAPS Online Membership ..read more

In this episode of Shine, we are joined by Diana Ladio, a professional musician and educator based in Nashville, TN. She tours playing shows with her electric strings ensemble, The Moxie Strings, and bringing enrichment workshops to schools across the country. She is an avid emotional health advocate and mentor, and as comes through in this episode, she cares deeply about helping children become empowered through music.  In this conversation, we discuss the importance of creative endeavors in child development and tactical things you can do to weave music and creative ..read more

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Today we’re joined by Megan Vincent, Senior Director HR Ops, Cynthia Gallardo, Program Quality Manager, and Sarah Richie, Program Coach. We dive into topics surrounding self-care in the Field of Education, especially during these challenging times. We navigate behavioral challenges in children, how we can be more present in the classroom and be more emotionally available to children. We also provide resources for families at home to better support their children.    Resources:  Placer County SELPA Lighthouse Community Center   Walk ..read more

The importance of play, especially as we head into the summer months, is more important than ever. We’re slowly transitioning into this new normal as we grow closer to post-pandemic. For this particular episode, as things re-open and it’s physically possible to be together again, we’re focusing on the importance of play in nature. Kids will be returning to summer and day camps. We're joined by Site Supervisor of South Lake Tahoe Catalyst Kids, Alexis Hughes, and Program Coach, Sarah Richie who will share their passion and experiences with us as well as valuable resources that can be found belo ..read more

It is National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month! We will be highlighting resources for families, teachers, and providers to support our state’s Dual Language Learners (DLLs). Nearly half of California households represent multilingual families and we recognize the increased significance of supporting our multilingual communities here at Catalyst. Joining us today are our Dual Language Learning experts Lizelle Wulff, Karla Delgado & Jennifer Escamilla. They previously joined us for an interview over on our connection hub last ye ..read more

Today we’re going to get advice on How to look for quality childcare, a topic that is on a lot of parents’ minds right now.  As we know, the childcare sector has been devastated by the pandemic, with thousands of licensed childcare centers in California either permanently or temporarily closed during 2020.   Now we're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and many families who had their kids at home with them over the last year are back to looking for quality childcare for their children. There ar ..read more