dr. beverly daniel tatum. [applause] as we begin this conversation about why does it matter that women are on the brink, i wanted to have each of you start with answering that question for us. , so we'll start with you. >> we know that the health of children is linked to the health of their care giver. and what we understand is that when women are on the brink and when women slip into the truggles of poverty, that it affects of health and development of their kids and that has profound impacts in terms of later life health outcomes. my area of expertise is in adverse childhood experiences and stress, the affect of chronic stress on children. what we understand is that kits who are exposed to chronic stress have increased likelihood of things like heart disease, cancer, chronic disease, in adulthood. so for us as a nation, it's really important to understand that there are not only behavioral impacts and educational impacts but profound health impacts as well. >> that's multigenerational. >> exactly. >> you've

their life expectancy and that ultimately is reflected in the parents of the students that are, that dr. tatum workers with ai-jen? >> exactly. this is not just a matter of, we would, these utopian values we would like to see it happen. we are talking about morbidity and mortality for millions of americans. >> and i think that what the underpinning of this we're talking public policy. >> that is exactly right. >> the congresswoman this morning, senator gillibrand has the american opportunity plan, and those houses seem to look at raising minimum wage, incentivizing child care for businesses and individuals, for making equal pay, that problem go away which would raise the gdp. shoring up women. what would that do for you? what would that do for your population? and, what kind of, do you think the political will is there? are we on the brink, women legislators, anyway of being able to successfully push these public policy initiatives that could change things? >> well, coincidentally tomorrow president obama is convening a white house summit on college opportunity and i will be participating in t