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 school
- How early exposure helps young people imagine new possibilities for themselves
- Why families must be included in conversations about a child’s future
- How By Degrees brings college and career experiences directly to students
- The role of mentors and representation in helping young people see what is possible
- How 529 education savings accounts can help build both financial resources and hope
- Why financial aid, FAFSA, scholarships, and college costs need to be explained much earlier
- How By Degrees has helped parents pursue their own education and high school equivalency credentials
- Why meeting people where they are can remove barriers to education
- The connection between education, financial stability, mental health, and physical health
- How healthcare organizations can expose students to careers beyond doctors and nurses
- Emily’s idea of connecting preventive health behaviors with incentives that contribute to students’ education savings
- Why critical thinking, communication, creativity, and problem solving can keep opportunities open throughout someone’s career
- Emily’s personal journey from North High School to Grinnell College and how educators helped change her trajectory
- Why every student deserves someone who can help them navigate their options
- What Emily hopes comes from the Economic Mobility & Access panel at this year’s My City My Health Conference
ABOUT EMILY WESTERGAARD
Emily Westergaard is the Executive Director of By Degrees Foundation, a Des Moines-based organization working to help more students graduate from high school prepared to pursue education, training, apprenticeships, military service, careers, and other opportunities after graduation.
By Degrees works with students, families, schools, businesses, colleges, universities, nonprofits, and community organizations to build long-term systems of support around students.
MY CITY MY HEALTH CONFERENCE
Emily will be part of the Economic Mobility & Access panel at the 5th Annual My City My Health Conference.
November 13, 2026
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Learn more and register:
www.mycity.health
www.mycity.health
