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May Newsletter | Our Standards: Led by Youth, Guided by Experience

May Newsletter | Our Standards: Led by Youth, Guided by Experience

Foster Greatness May Newsletter | National Foster Care Awareness Month

Isabel Stasa
May 05, 2025

Every month, we’ll be sharing community updates that include insights from our Thriver Stories, thoughts from Panel Discussions and our Theme Release for the month!

May 2025

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month!

Hi FG Member!

What a month it’s been! April was all about empowering our foster youth with life skills and financial strategies that set them up for success. From budgeting workshops to value-defining sessions, our community showed up BIG—proving that with the right tools, these incredible young people can thrive, not just survive. 💪💰 Huge thanks to everyone who shared expertise, donated, or cheered them on. You’re changing lives, one skill at a time!

🎉 MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH—LET’S CELEBRATE! 🎉

This is our time to shine! Foster Care Awareness Month is all about amplifying voices, celebrating our community, and mobilizing support for foster youth everywhere. And guess what? We’re kicking it off with a BRAND-NEW PROGRAM that’s going to blow you away… Introducing the ✨ Storyteller Collective ✨—a powerful platform where foster youth and alumni can share their stories, own their narratives, and inspire the world. Get ready for heart, healing, and a whole lot of #FosterGreatness!

May is packed with events, advocacy opportunities, and ways to uplift foster youth—starting with the Storyteller Collective launch! �💨 Follow us, share posts, donate if you can, and most importantly, listen. These stories? They’re game-changers. Let’s make this Foster Care Awareness Month the boldest, loudest, and most impactful yet. Who’s with us? 🚀

🌟 Meet Our Storyteller Collective Ambassadors! 🌟

This month, we’re thrilled to introduce the ✨ FG Storyteller Collective 2025 ✨—a powerful platform where foster youth and alumni own their narratives, inspire change, and prove that every story matters while developing tangible leadership and digital media skills. These incredible ambassadors are living proof of perseverance, brilliance, and #FosterGreatness. Get ready to be moved, motivated, and totally fired up by their journeys! 💥💛

🌷 Jennifer Tai, MSW
Jennifer shattered statistics, earning her master’s while battling housing instability and zero family support. Now a mental health therapist, she’s living proof that "after the storm is when the flowers bloom." 🌸 Her mission? To be the light she needed—and to remind you: Your dreams are valid. 💡

⚡ Abril Leonyvelez
Skateboarder. Star Wars superfan. Housing justice warrior. Abril’s research on foster youth housing will be published at UCLA, and they once hiked 24 hours with Navy SEALS! 🏔️ Their advice? "There are many ways to lead—find yours." (Thanks, Princess Leia!) Abril’s story? Pure rebellion + hope. ✊

🎨 Antoinette Gutierrez
First-gen grad. Full-time worker. Single mom of THREE. Antoinette rewrote her story through art, discipline, and unshakable self-belief. 🖌️ Her rallying cry? "Be your biggest fan!" She shares to prove "impossible" is a myth—and to show up for youth like her. Queens rise! 👑

💎 Chyenne Santini
Model. Advocate. Fox 11 feature. Chyenne turned pain into platform, proving "your legacy is built in the hardest moments." 📸 Her wisdom? "Trust divine timing." From homelessness to signed modeling contracts, she’s a walking testament to magic in the mess. ✨

🌍 Emmerald Evans
International advocate. Traveler. System disruptor. Emmerald went from foster care to global changemaker, capturing stories through her lens. 📹 Her key to success? "Use every resource—and be a good steward of it." She’s here to ignite hope and show what’s possible. 🔥

🎨 Taylor Rockhold

Taylor is a multifaceted force—litigation paralegal, youth advocate, proud mom, and honors graduate who turned her struggles into strength. 🏆 Her mantra? "Your current situation is not your final destination!" She shares her story so no foster youth ever feels alone. You’re seen, you’re heard, and Taylor’s got your back! 👏

In April, we empowered foster youth with essential life skills to set them up for success! 💰 Our Financial Literacy Workshop broke down the basics of saving, budgeting, and even life insurance—giving youth the tools to build confidence and stability with their money. Then, Lakievia Johnson, MBA, PMP, CSPO, led a transformative Value Tags Workshop, helping participants uncover the core principles that drive their decisions and shape their futures. Together, we equipped them with both practical skills and personal clarity—because thriving starts from within! 🚀

🔍 Value Tags Workshop Spotlight: Values are the guiding principles that shape your actions and choices every day. In this workshop, participants assessed their beliefs and identified their top five personal core values—laying the foundation for intentional, purpose-driven living! 💡

This April, our Head of Community Engagement & Public Affairs, Isabel, took Foster Greatness global—jetting off to the United Kingdom to forge powerful alliances with care champions, advocates, and care leavers abroad! 🚀 From high-level meetings with members of the UK House of Lords to serving as the official USA representative speaker at the groundbreaking One Voice Summit, Isabel amplified our mission on an international stage. This isn’t just networking—it’s the launchpad for Foster Greatness’ worldwide transformation, ensuring foster youth everywhere have a stronger voice, deeper resources, and a united global community. The future of foster care advocacy has no borders—and we’re just getting started! 🌎

ISF Scholarship & Mentoring Program

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO: MAY 15, 2025

🎓 Do you know a young adult ages 18–24 who has experienced foster care?
This is not your average scholarship… it’s a life-changing opportunity!
Here’s what you get with ISF:
✅ Tuition support for college, trade school, or certification programs
✅ A personal MENTOR to walk alongside you 💬
✅ A 4-day retreat in Dallas focused on leadership & life skills
💯 AND… an incredible 85% graduation rate!

Note: while the application says age limit “23 years of age or less on April 30th of the year of application”, the Foster Greatness team has verified with ISF Leadership that former foster youth aged 24 may still apply.

National Network for Foster Sibling Connections Meeting 👫

Calling all advocates, researchers, social workers, and lived experts! 🗣️ The National Network for Foster Sibling Connections is back with another monthly meeting on May 6th at 1:00pm PST | 4:00pm EST to tackle the challenges and opportunities in supporting foster sibling relationships. 💞 Together, we’re working to elevate best practices, advocate for policy changes, and ensure siblings in foster care stay connected. Whether you’re a professional or a lived expert, your voice matters—join us and be part of the change!

https://community.fostergreatness.co/c/general-events/national-network-for-foster-sibling-connections-monthly-meeting

🌟 Story of My Courageous Self with Lakievia Johnson 🌟

Vulnerability = power, and your story? It’s your superpower. 💥 Inspired by Brené Brown, this workshop helps you unpack the highs, lows, and messy in-betweens that shaped you. Walk away owning your narrative—flaws, triumphs, and all. 6pm EST | Notebooks + bravery required!