She’s always been a fierce defender of parents and children. Now, Heidi Stevens is helping build a better support system for parents as the Creative Director of Parent Nation at the University of Chicago. As a columnist at the Chicago Tribune, she told  important stories about all the people doing good in and around the city. She isn’t afraid to share her own stories of struggle or call out the wrongs she sees happening, especially when it comes to the mistreatment of girls and women. She talks with Jeanne about why you can be really lonely surrounded by others, why she decided joy would be the key to her kids’ childhood, the expectation put on women that she absolutely hates, and why being human means you get a second, third, or even a fourth chance to get it right.

About Heidi:

Heidi Stevens is the Creative Director for Parent Nation, a new initiative at the University of Chicago's TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health. Parent Nation works to build a society that ensures all parents have the information, resources, and supports they need to optimally raise their children. Prior to joining Parent Nation, Heidi worked at the Chicago Tribune for 23 years as a writer and editor. For the past decade, she wrote a daily column called Balancing Act. Heidi was awarded the Anne Keegan Award for Distinguished Journalism in 2018. She maintains a nationally syndicated column once a week and lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.

Twitter: @HeidiStevens13
Facebook: @HeidiStevens
Instagram: @heidikstevens
Website: TMW - Center for Early Learning + Public Health