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The American family has changed dramatically over the past four decades, raising urgent questions about marriage, economic stability, and child well-being.In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, Melissa Kearney, economist and director of the Strengthening Families Research Initiative, explores the decline in marriage, the rise of single-parent households, and falling fertility rates in the United States. Drawing on decades of research, she connects these trends to economic inequality, child well-being, and public policy—making the case that strengthening families is essential to improving outcomes across society.Show links: • Listen and subscribe (https://stories.nd.edu/podcast/) • Episode page (https://stories.nd.edu/podcast/what-happened-to-the-traditional-american-family/)

In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, Melissa Kearney, economist and director of the Strengthening Families Research Initiative, explores the decline in marriage, the rise of single-parent households, and falling fertility rates in the United States. Drawing on decades of research, she connects these trends to economic inequality, child well-being, and public policy—making the case that strengthening families is essential to improving outcomes across society.• Watch on YouTube (https://youtu.be/l8l6ziFRviw) • Episode page (https://stories.nd.edu/podcast/what-happened-to-the-traditional-american-family/) • Listen and subscribe (https://link.chtbl.com/notre-dame-stories?sid=megaphone)

Explore the Reliquary Chapel at Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart and see how these sacred objects tell the stories of the saints.Step inside to discover how relics help us remember their lives, seek their intercession, and be inspired by their witness.#NotreDame #Relics #saints #catholic #LivesOfTheSaints #BasilicaOfTheSacredHeart

On March 26, Notre Dame President Father Bob Dowd celebrated the Mass for Peace at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, bringing the campus community together in prayer for an end to violence worldwide.Inspired by Pope Leo XIII’s call for peace, who said "violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people await," the homily invited all to pray for safety, healing, and the grace to be instruments of God’s peace.

Gary, Indiana, is a city with deep roots and a powerful story of resilience. Once a thriving steel town, Gary has faced decades of economic decline—but today, community leaders and the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture are working together to rebuild its downtown and restore opportunity.Through Notre Dame’s Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative, the city is developing a plan to revive its downtown, honor its history, and create a stronger future for residents. With community input and thoughtful urban design, Gary is charting a path toward social and economic renewal.

When Notre Dame student-athlete Daniel Boateng ’26 showed exceptional promise on the soccer field, his mother and grandmother reminded him to never lose sight of the power of education. Now a midfielder for the Fighting Irish, Daniel is helping children in his native Ghana access the same opportunities that changed his life.Through his nonprofit Changing Lives GH, founded with two Notre Dame teammates, Daniel is sponsoring 100 students who might otherwise never attend school and dreaming of a future where every child in Ghana can learn for free.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/fighting-to-educate-children-in-ghana

Each year, more than 12,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. The disease grows rapidly, adapts quickly, and evades the immune system—making it one of the most difficult cancers to treat.At the University of Notre Dame, Meenal Datta, the Jane Schoelch DeFlorio Collegiate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and her research team are pushing the boundaries of cancer research by taking the fight to space. In 2024, they launched a first-of-its-kind glioblastoma experiment to the International Space Station, using microgravity to grow more realistic tumor models and accelerate testing for new therapies.Their groundbreaking work is helping scientists understand glioblastoma in new ways—and bringing us closer to a cure here on Earth.

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation. For many new mothers, the weeks and months after giving birth can be the most dangerous—and too often, lifesaving care ends too soon.When Notre Dame professor, nurse, and researcher Joyce Adams saw these risks firsthand, she developed a groundbreaking model of postpartum care. Tested in Ghana and now saving lives in the U.S., her Focused Postpartum Care (Focused-PPC) program offers women yearlong follow-up visits, education on warning signs, and peer-to-peer support.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/fighting-for-maternal-health