The Kids' Zone

Stories about growing up in the 21st century city.

This project is supported by funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

In East Chicago, Indiana, where lead levels in the soil are high, EPA signs warn against contact with the dirt.

Lead's Other Toxic Toll: Fertility

New research sounds the alarm on how high levels of lead in topsoil can reduce birth rates.

  1. Mimi Kirk
A young resident of a group home for foster children in Los Angeles.

Does Privatized Foster Care Put Kids at Risk?

The number of kids in foster care is climbing, and so are public costs. In search of efficiencies, many states have at least partially privatized their systems.

  1. Mimi Kirk
A jogger runs in front of the Phillips 66 refinery in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The Kids Trying to Green One of L.A.'s Most Polluted Neighborhoods

For generations, oil refineries brought jobs—and pollution—to the residents of Wilmington. Can a new generation of youthful activists make it a healthier place to grow up?

  1. Mimi Kirk
A child draws as part of a therapy program designed to help kids deal with trauma.

The Spaces That Can Ease Childhood Trauma

Children’s Advocacy Centers make sure kids only have to tell their story of abuse once.

  1. Mimi Kirk
A family embraces as they say goodbye after a visit at San Quentin state prison in California.

Where American Kids Are In Crisis

Kids repeatedly exposed to violence, homelessness, and addiction are more likely to carry the long-term effects into adulthood. A new report breaks down the geographic and racial distribution of this trauma.

  1. Mimi Kirk
A child plays in Santiago, Chile.

How to Design Cities for Children

A billion kids are now growing up in urban areas. But not all cities are planned with their needs in mind.  

  1. Mimi Kirk