“We Don’t Need Another Program—We Need a Movement”

By Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, Founder of Rosemary’s Babies Co.

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A few weeks ago, I held an educational session with the young people in my class. I was heartbroken but not surprised to hear how deeply gun violence, housing insecurity, and social isolation are affecting their lives—especially our young parents. The stories they shared shook me. These aren’t just statistics. These are our kids.

I’m Ms. Rosemary—a name that stuck through the tough times while I was building Rosemary’s Babies Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our organization supports teen parents between the ages of 9 and 19. Some have loving families. Others face homelessness. But all of them have something in common: trauma, fear, and a growing sense of hopelessness.

What struck me most was a conversation with a young father—still a teen himself—who told me he got a gun to protect his newborn son. That moment stayed with me. Because he didn’t say it with anger. He said it with fear. He wants to live. He wants his child to live.

And in that moment, I knew: We don’t need another program. We need a movement.

What’s Wrong?

These kids aren’t just struggling with teen parenthood—they’ve been parentified long before that. Many are raising siblings, managing trauma, and surviving violence at school, at home, and online. They don’t feel safe anywhere.

Even more heartbreaking? They’re afraid of growing up. I remember wanting to be an adult so badly as a child—to live freely, to make choices. But today’s youth aren’t dreaming of adulthood. They’re scared of it. That’s not normal, and it’s not okay.

What Can We Do?

This isn’t about launching another after-school program or creating another app. It’s about showing up in real life, as mothers, fathers, caregivers, and mentors. It’s about creating environments—at home, at school, and in our communities—where kids feel seen, heard, and safe.

Here’s how to start:

👶🏽 For Parents of Little Ones:

• Delay Social Media: Reduce exposure to content that’s too mature, too violent, or too confusing.

• Create Safe Spaces: Go to sensory-safe places—libraries, parks, or nature walks—without screens or pressure.

• Know Their Circle: Be mindful of who your child is around. Every home has different standards, and values aren’t always shared.

  
  

🧑🏽‍🎓 For Parents of Teens:

• Respect & Relate: Teens need privacy, but they also need your presence. Make room for both.

• Daily Love: A hug and “I love you” every day reminds them they matter.

• Know Their Friends: Spend time with their crew. Understand both sides of your teen.

• Open Communication: Let them express their pain, joy, and confusion—without fear of being dismissed.

• Build Trust in Authority: Speak positively about safe adults, from teachers to police, and introduce your child to mentors and role models.

A Call to Action

Our kids are struggling—not for lack of services, but for lack of connection. They’re calling for a movement of moms and dads, neighbors and leaders who will show up consistently, listen deeply, and love them unconditionally.

Let’s stop waiting for someone else to fix it. Let’s stop passing trauma down like an inheritance.

Let’s start a movement—right in our own homes. Because programs are good. But movements change lives.