“The Early Show with Alax,” supported by UNM-based research teams at the Family Development Program and the Cradle to Career Policy Institute, received a Rocky Mountain Emmy.
The show, produced by MediaDesk and Film Nest Studios for the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), is backed by research and family engagement by two university-based programs.
The show delivers resources to New Mexico families, emphasizing creativity and surprise. Alax, an intergalactic ambassador of care, interviews experts, learning alongside parents and caregivers without judgment while incorporating humor and showing it’s okay for adults not to have all the answers.
The show has covered various topics relevant to adults raising young children, including safe sleep, the importance of play for early skill building, language development and literacy, milestones, fatherhood, pregnancy and Pre-K.
“The idea for this show emerged from years of our collaborative work and research for the Early Childhood Education and Care Department,” said Janelle Garica Cole, training and developmental educational manager at the UNM Family Development Program. “We’re so proud of our team’s involvement, maintaining the show’s connection to families’ concerns and needs, ensuring that the content it shares is vetted by early childhood professionals and families alike.”
“The Early Show with Alax” started in 2023, conceived by MediaDesk, a New Mexico-based creative agency, and backed by a team that includes the UNM Family Development Program, the UNM Cradle to Career Policy Institute, New Mexico PBS and United Way of Central New Mexico.
It is now in pre-production for a third season, anticipated to be released in spring 2025.
To date, the show’s content has garnered over 11 million views and more than 26,000 subscribers on YouTube.
“This Emmy is an exciting affirmation of the show’s quality and creativity,” said Hailey Heinz, deputy director and senior research scientist at UNM’s Cradle to Career Policy Institute, who also serves as one of the writers on the show. “New Mexico has become a strong national leader when it comes to early childhood support for families, but we know from our research that families and communities still don’t always know about the available programs. We’re so pleased to be part of this innovative show that bridges entertainment and information in a way that families connect with.”