Communication professor Alison Trope was featured on KPCC's Pat Morrison show on Oct. 7 to discuss the significance of Sesame Street's newest character, Lily. The new Muppet struggles with childhood poverty and hunger. Sesame Street has designed Lily to always look down at her feet to show her insecurity. “Seeing a character like Lily gives something concrete, and maybe empowers children to think about [the issue],” Trope said. "Sesame Street was originally set in the urban streets for a reason, so the show could educate children about more serious issues from the get-go." Lily was introduced in the latest episode, "Growing Hope Against Hunger," as a way to expose young viewers to the issue of poverty. Listen to the interview here