Michelle Millben of Explanation Kids
Sometimes the toughest questions come from the youngest people.
Alexandria resident Michelle Millben is on a mission to help kids get answers to the big questions they have about tough and important issues and events in our country.
Parents and educators struggle to give developmentally-appropriate and non-partisan answers to kids’ questions about politics or big events the news - such as homelessness, gun violence, immigration, the environment.
Millben is the creator of Explanation Kids, a company that is developing non-parti-san, fact-based, age-appropriate content that kids, parents, and teachers can use as a tool to explain tough subjects.
“Kids have greater exposure to information than we ever did,” Millben said. “Kids have important questions about what is going on in their world and naturally they ask those questions to the people they trust.”
After leaving her post in the Obama White House in 2017, Millben had the idea for Explanation Kids. But it was an article in The Atlantic after the 2017 tragedy following a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville that pushed her forward. After extensive research, Millben discovered holes in the way crowdsourced information was providing answers to kids questions about the Charlottesville tragedy. So she decided to help kids get the answers they deserve about complicated topics.
As a result, Explanation Kids launched in November 2018. They are currently engaging parents and teachers through their website so their future users can learn more about what they are building. In addition, Michelle has traveled to the SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas, and the Collision Conference in Toronto, ON pitching Explanation Kids’ mission and exhibiting their prototype.
Michelle has an impressive background working in politics and working with youth. She served on Capitol Hill as a staffer in the House Judiciary Committee, attorney advisor in the U.S. Department of Justice, and twice in President Obama’s White House as an advisor. Prior to law school, she was a youth pastor for six years and then switched gears to at-tend law school after answering a call to serve others.
Like the beginning stages of every startup, Millben is bringing in investors to support Explanation Kids’ mission, and Explanation Kids is working with a school system on a pilot program. Parents will initially have access to the platform through their school districts and teachers will have access for classroom use. Eventually, the platform will be available for parents and educators everywhere.
“Our platform will be in school districts across the country and maybe one day around the globe,” Millben said. “More importantly, we hope it’s a staple in homes. We all have biases and leanings on information - and that’s ok! That kind of diversity of thought is what makes our country unique and amazing. No matter where you come from and regardless of your leaning on issues, we can learn together. We believe that sense of togetherness in society makes a better community - which we all need these day,” Millben said.
Explanation Kids has a big list of policy topics it plans to develop over time with explanations for different age groups from Pre-K through 8th grade. “We’re building our platform to address a child’s emotional and social development early.” Millben said.
Behind Explanation Kids is a bi-partisan team of supporters with experience in media, technology and education, including writers who are going to actual historic resources for information.
The company is also being very mindful of every person who may be taking in the content they produce. “While we’re writing, we’re really thinking about a family who’s second language is English, students with sensory disabilities – we’re committed to ensuring our content is comfortable and understandable for everyone,” Millben said. “We’re considering all perspectives and creating content that’s applicable; it’s not easy, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Millben holds a Bachelor’s degree in music performance and business administra-tion in violin and piano. She attended law school at the University of Oklahoma, spending her last year at Georgetown Law School.
In her limited free time, Millben plays in the worship band a National Community Church and is an associate minister at Alfred Street Baptist Church. She also serves on the board for Alexandria’s Carpenter’s Shelter, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington DC, and the Northern Virginia Urban Alliance. She also has sung back-up vocals at events like the Kennedy Center Honors for music legends such as Diana Ross, Sting, Heart, Steven Tyler, James Taylor, Mavis Staples, Carrie Underwood, and Garth Brooks.
