Economic Mobility Starts Early: Emily Westergaard on Education, Opportunity & Health

What if economic mobility starts in kindergarten?

Corey sits down with Emily Westergaard, Executive Director of By Degrees Foundation, to explore how early exposure to education, careers, financial literacy, and trusted mentors can shape a child’s future.

Emily shares how By Degrees works alongside Des Moines students and their families from kindergarten through graduation, helping young people see possibilities they may not have known existed.

The conversation also explores the connection between education, financial stability, mental and physical health, and why creating healthier communities requires more than healthcare alone.

Emily will join the Economic Mobility & Access panel at the 5th Annual My City My Health Conference on November 13, 2026.

SHOW NOTES

In this episode of the Move the City FWD Podcast, Corey talks with Emily Westergaard, Executive Director of By Degrees Foundation, about what it takes to create real pathways toward economic mobility.

Emily explains why By Degrees starts working with students and families in kindergarten rather than waiting until high school to begin conversations about college, careers, trades, apprenticeships, and other opportunities.

They discuss:

Why conversations about careers and education should start in elementary schoolHow early exposure helps young people imagine new possibilities for themselvesWhy families must be included in conversations about a child’s futureHow By Degrees brings college and career experiences directly to studentsThe role of mentors and representation in helping young people see what is possibleHow 529 education savings accounts can help build both financial resources and hopeWhy financial aid, FAFSA, scholarships, and college costs need to be explained much earlierHow By Degrees has helped parents pursue their own education and high school equivalency credentialsWhy meeting people where they are can remove barriers to educationThe connection between education, financial stability, mental health, and physical healthHow healthcare organizations can expose students to careers beyond doctors and nursesEmily’s idea of connecting preventive health behaviors with incentives that contribute to students’ education savingsWhy critical thinking, communication, creativity, and problem solving can keep opportunities open throughout someone’s careerEmily’s personal journey from North High School to Grinnell College and how educators helped change her trajectoryWhy every student deserves someone who