Lopez and Edelman discussing philanthropy backstage before the reception.

AT THE MODERN DENVER ART MUSEUM during the Democratic National Convention, Jennifer Lopez, along with Capitol File, Viacom, Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Ken Salazar and other dignitaries, honored Marian Wright Edelman, who founded the Children’s Defense Fund 35 years ago. Lopez says that Edelman is the “biggest champion of children in our lifetime, a pioneer in the fight for children’s rights.”

Inspired by Edelman’s accomplishments and leadership, Lopez has announced that she is joining forces with her sister Lynda to start a foundation focused on the health and well-being of women and children early next year. She urges everyone to “reach a little higher, dig a little deeper, do a little more to not only help those in need, but to effect a real change.” Before the reception, Lopez sat down with Edelman to find out about how she began her fight for children’s rights and what words of wisdom she can impart for the future.

JENNIFER LOPEZ: I have so many questions to ask, but I’ve narrowed it down. You’ve been involved in advocacy for many years; how did you land in the beginning on children’s issues?

MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN: I wanted to break the cycle of poverty. I saw, after I became a mother, that children had a lot of needs. Once you become a mother you begin to look at things in the world in a different way. I knew the things I wanted for my children and saw how many children didn’t have that. I came out of Mississippi, where I worked on the Head Start program, which was under assault. I saw what a difference the program made to the poorest children, who started school behind. Our country waited until problems became serious before addressing them, instead of intervening early. Head Start seemed a natural way to continue the civil rights movement, a way to redefine the issues across race and class. Breaking the grip of poverty gave rise to the Children’s Defense Fund.

JL: They [the children] are the future and the hope. You have to instill this in the beginning to affect change in the future.

MWE: It’s the right thing to do, the sensible and economically smart thing to do.

JL: I feel the same way. Having just become a mother myself, and being new to philanthropy— it changes your perspective. You realize you want to do better things. You want to make a better world for your children.

MWE: You and I have been blessed with prenatal care and healthcare.

JL: I had a little scare with one of my children at seven or eight days old. I thought: What if I didn’t have healthcare, or what if I didn’t have this doctor to call in the middle of the night? That put it in perspective, in a real way, a human way.

MWE: We’ve spent decades trying to get health coverage for every child. We’ve made great progress, but there are still nearly nine million children in this rich nation who don’t have health coverage. We’re the only industrialized nation not guaranteeing every mother prenatal care. There couldn’t be a dumber policy. You save money if you are prepared. Our top priority is health coverage and prenatal care for every mother and child.

JL: As somebody new to philanthropy, I want to know—what words of wisdom do you have for me? If you had three directives or lessons for people inspired by you, what would they be?

MWE: You have a great strategic and entrepreneurial mind, and bringing your creative spirit to philanthropy is such a gift for women and children. I thank you [for that] and for highlighting this occasion.
We must address the needs of children and women. Understand the need to be strategic and to partner with others—not reinvent the wheel. Build on what works. We know what to do to provide healthcare and a good education. We’ve made a huge amount of progress over the years. Stick with it—don’t be here today, gone tomorrow.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jennifer Lopez. Marian Wright Edelman speaking at a Denver reception in her honor. Edelman and Lopez share the desire to empower women and children.

JL: How do you do that after 35 years? How do you stay inspired? Even as I’m putting together a foundation, it’s hard to get started, to have the support from people. To me it’s a no-brainer, but there is that opposition.
MWE: Everyone says they love children and kiss them during political campaigns, but when they get in the budget room, they forget about them. The idea that anyone would let any child die is outrageous. We let children die from guns every three hours—how can we not be upset? That 80 percent of poor, minority, black and Latino children can’t read at grade level in 12th grade—if they haven’t dropped out—is a disaster.

It’s not right to have millions of children poor in the richest nation in the world. We let a child be neglected and abused every 36 seconds or go without education. It’s going to be our moral and social and economic Achilles’ heel. And it’s going to be the mothers and grandmothers who will change it.
One thing that keeps me going is my faith. I see children beating odds every day. I see the difference when a counselor or grandmother or teacher reaches out. I’ve seen children come from homelessness and violence—they make it when someone says, “I believe in you.”

JL: I totally agree. I ask the question, but I know the answer. How can you not get angry? How can you not care, especially when you’re a mom?

MWE: Yes, and I’m so pleased you’re becoming so visible on mothers’ and children’s issues, and bringing your gifts and talent to this. Tell me about your plans and foundation and what brought you to it?

JL: What brought me to it was the inspiration of my own children. It changed the world for me. I’ve been involved with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Make-A-Wish, but it’s a gesture. How do I make a real difference? How do I leave a legacy? I want to set an example for my children. My sister has been a reporter for many years. She’s knowledgeable about politics and social issues. So with the two of us together, I bring creative energy to it; she brings world energy. We’ve been inspired by people like you who have been fighting this fight for so many years. Just with this conversation with you, I learn so much. We want to empower women and children. It’s about healthcare and education, not only educating children but parents as well who have small children.

MWE: People like you and your sister bring visibility, intelligence, commitment, and passion [to the issues]. It’s so hard to make visible children’s need in the midst of the clutter in society. It’s telling the parents who are well-off that [their children] have to walk streets with others.

We’re the world’s leading imprisoner. A black boy born in 2001 has a one in three chance [of going to prison]: Latino, one in six; white, one in 17. This is a disaster. You can’t write off this bad investment. We’re spending three times more to imprison than to educate.

Every year, having 13 million in poverty loses this country a half-trillion dollars in productivity, poorer health, and increased crime. We need to see that they are healthy, educated, and productive to compete not just in their own country, but others…. This is America’s hope and future.

JL: It’s good to hear you say this. My sister and I have thought about [the foundation] for years. I could be a lightning rod. I know I could bring attention to things people are not listening to… because it’s getting a ton of press. It’s the truth. People have to be held under fire to do things. I hope to help as much as you’ve been able to help children over the past 35 years.

I want to know about your book, too, The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small. I got one of the first copies; I’ll read it on the way home.

MWE: The book is an attempt to get the country to focus on what’s important. In a defining election year, it’s important that children and families be at the center of priorities. I wrote a series of 11 letters on the 40-year anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination. I wrote one to Dr. King. I moved to Washington, DC, during the Poor People’s Campaign. He’d be proud [to see] how much progress we’ve made; he’d be so proud to see that a woman and an African American who reflect the diversity of the world [are represented at the Democratic National Convention]. He would not be pleased to hear about the poverty of children today. There were 11 million poor children before he died; now there are 13 million, mostly in working families. He would not be pleased about the lack of healthcare, and not pleased about the cradle-to-prison pipeline.

I wrote a letter to parents. Parenting is one of the most important roles, but we pay little attention to preparing parents. We talk about teachers being the second most important profession; if they’re important, we need to pay them and value them more. Whoever is in the classroom needs to love and respect children. If you don’t love and respect them, don’t do it.

I wrote a letter to women and grandmothers about the need for us to find our voice and change the world. A letter to faith leaders—how can we live in the richest nation in the world and give more money to the rich and take from the poor? It’s a series of letters to provoke a debate, and most important, to provoke action to end children’s poverty.

JL: As someone who worked with Kennedy in the sixties during the civil rights movement, how does it feel to have the Kennedys pass the torch to Barack Obama? Did you ever think you would see in your lifetime a woman and a man of color [in the presidential race]? How does it feel?

MWE: I am unbelievably proud of how far our country has come; of young people who have been triggered by the hope message and change message; proud of the family image reflected here. [Obama] came from a not-so-easy background, [but has a] I-can-be-and-do-anything [attitude]. This country is a level playing ground. Since Robert Kennedy and Dr. King were important formers of my values and career, we can pick up where they left off. Every American wants, I hope, to finish that job. We won’t think that if we elect Obama, that will solve all the problems. We have to find our voices, and have to create a women’s movement.

JL: What can the average person do to help with these different fights on a smaller scale?

MWE: First, everyone has to get out and vote— vote for people who reflect the values they want the country to reflect. Close the gap between the rich and the poor. Focus on family and children. Are we leaving [the country] better or worse for our children or grandchildren?

We can regain the moral vibrancy in the world. Do your homework, examine positions— democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires everyone to vote. Once elected, hold those in office accountable. We are serious about healthcare for everyone, especially children. We are clear about tax breaks for working-class people—very clear about educating our children. Write letters to editors, go to meetings, check out our websites.

JL: Be loud, write letters, care, vote.

MWE: As adults, be better role models. There is so much adult hypocrisy.

JL: We have to set a good example.

MWE: Tell me about juggling your work and family.

JL: It’s not easy. I’ve been so focused on my career for most of my adult life; the world is a different place for me. Now it’s about my children. I find my focus wanting to make the world a better place, setting an example for how they should live their lives. People do want to help; people really do love doing great things for other people. You just have to give them a chance. You have to instill in children that charitable spirit. They don’t learn if you say it; you have to do it. It should be a big part of my children’s lives.

Thank you for letting us honor you. Everyone, be loud, vote, write letters, go to our websites. You can make a difference; you can do it. ★