Project Mockingbird

As organizations reevaluate employee benefits, one thing remains clear: supporting working parents isn't just the right thing to do; it's a smart business strategy.

HR Executive recently featured insights from The Best Place for Working Parents on the challenges working parents face during the summer months and how thoughtful, flexible workplace policies can strengthen employee engagement and retention, even as many employers scale back benefits.

We're proud to help amplify expert voices that are shaping the future of work and advancing conversations around family-friendly workplaces.

Amid benefits rollbacks, employers face a summer challenge For the first time, both parents in two-parent households work full time, and they're feeling the squeeze. This expert says flexibility is key.

We’re thrilled to welcome Megan Willman to the Project Mockingbird team as our newest Account Executive! 🎉🐦

Megan brings a passion for storytelling, relationship-building, and meaningful communications work to the flock. With experience supporting impactful causes and organizations, she has a natural ability to connect people, ideas, and stories, and we’re excited to have her bring that energy to our clients across industries.

Beyond her communications expertise, Megan is a creative at heart. When she’s not crafting compelling stories, you’ll find her needlepointing, crocheting, planning a party, or hosting TV-watching parties with friends. 📚✨

Megan is also deeply passionate about voting accessibility, healthcare, and humanitarian rights—causes that reflect the heart and purpose behind so much of the work we do at Project Mockingbird.

Please join us in welcoming Megan to the Mockingbird family! We’re so excited to have her in the flock. 💙

Raise your hand if you've ever referred to yourself as a "dog mom" or "cat dad." 🙋‍♀️

Turns out, there's psychology behind it.

Parade recently featured insights from Momentous Institute on why so many of us see our pets as family, and what those bonds say about our emotional lives.

One of our favorite kinds of media placements: timely, relatable, and backed by expert perspective.

https://parade.com/living/traits-of-people-who-think-of-pet-as-child-according-to-psychologists

We are proud to announce that our ringleader, Lauren McKinnon, has been named to Little Rock Soirée's 2026 Women to Watch.

Little Rock Soirée magazine celebrates the people, culture and causes shaping Arkansas' capital city. Though our headquarters is in Dallas, Lauren has steadily grown our presence and network across Arkansas, building real connections in the community.

Congratulations, Lauren — and thank you for the example you set, leading with gratitude, hard work and a genuine care for the missions we get to support at Project Mockingbird.

https://www.littlerocksoiree.com/women-to-watch/lauren-mckinnon/

What happens when your teen turns to a chatbot before turning to you?

If you’re raising, teaching, or caring for teens, this conversation matters. As more young people use AI for emotional support, parents are navigating new questions about technology, connection, and trust.

A new Mashable feature, with expert perspective from our client Dr. Matthew Leahy of Momentous Institute, explores the growing role AI is playing in teens' lives and offers practical insights on how families can respond. Dr. Leahy explains why real-life relationships remain essential to healthy development and emotional well-being.

Read the full piece below.

Is your teen talking to a chatbot too much? Here's what to do. A practical guide to getting your child back from a chatbot.