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September Newsletter | Education
Isabel Stasa
October 07, 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024
Hi FG Member!
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 following month!
Quick Access
September’s Theme Recap
In September, Foster Greatness dove into purposeful conversation with Lived Experience Leaders about what it is like to navigate education 📚🎓 when one is or has been in the foster system. With September marking the month that many people around the world begin transitioning [back] into the education and academic realm, we at Foster Greatness wanted to uplift the voices of those in our community.
We know just how difficult this particular time of year can be for those in our community. For some, it marks the very first time they will go to school while in foster care. For others, this time of year can serve as a reminder of the connections they no longer have as they watch friend group rekindle their connections at school after their summer break. We know this time of year can come with BIG emotions, BIG challenges, and so much more. That’s why we brought together our community through conversation to shed light on this experience and what we can do better as a community.
We were honored 🤩 to have Brina Williams, Eugenia Wallace, and Brandon Youngblood share their time with us to unpack their educational journeys and offer advice to our community. Brina, Eugenia, and Brandon each joined Foster Greatness throughout the month of September as part of our Thriver Stories podcast🎙️. Foster Greatness 💙 was delighted to bring the three Thrivers together for a LIVE panel discussion, Integrating Education and Support Systems for Foster Youth, at the end of September to continue exploring, as a collective, how we can improve the educational experience for foster youth and remove barriers on this pathway. 📚
Insights from Thrivers ✨
❝ “There needs to be a real investment in building networks for those young people so that when career aspirations, educational aspirations arise, they have the support system and the individuals there that can make that feel accessible.” Brina Williams |
❝ “Awareness, support, and advocacy are crucial in addressing the barriers faced by foster youth in higher education” Eugenia Wallace |
❝ “Talk to people that you know about foster care. I don’t think there’s a lot of visibility out there. I think if people were more hip to it, that might spark some differences.” Brandon Youngblood |
Panel Discussion Overview 🎤
Integrating Education and Support Systems for Foster Youth
We recently hosted an insightful and deeply moving LIVE panel conversation 🤩 as part of our ongoing "Thriver Stories" 🎙️ series. The panel brought together three remarkable individuals—Brina, Eugenia, and Brandon—who shared their personal journeys through the foster care system and higher education 🎓. Each of their stories illuminated both the struggles and triumphs of navigating the educational landscape as foster youth, providing invaluable insights into the changes that are still needed to truly support our community.
A key theme that emerged from the discussion was the profound impact that one caring 🩷 and consistent person can have on the educational success of foster youth. Whether it’s a teacher 🍎, advisor, or mentor, having someone who listens, advocates, and believes in the potential of foster youth can dramatically transform their academic experience.
The panelists also emphasized the need for educators and staff to view foster youth as whole beings—individuals with complex histories, challenges, and dreams. Eugenia shared how having someone guide her through available resources, such as housing assistance, allowed her to stabilize her life and dive into her college experience fully. When staff stay informed about the specific obstacles foster youth face, they can tailor programming and events to help them acclimate to campus life, reducing the barriers that keep many from thriving.
The panel also addressed the deep-rooted fear foster youth often have of asking for help. Independence is instilled in foster youth from an early age, often pushed upon foster youth as they transition out of the system. This hyper-focus on independence can make it difficult for them to reach out when they need support, which is why it’s crucial for educators to approach interactions with empathy and patience.
Another striking takeaway from the discussion was the reality that many foster youth see college as a means of survival, rather than an opportunity for personal or academic growth. Being stuck in survival mode prevents them from fully experiencing what college has to offer and impedes their ability to explore their potential. It became clear that showing foster youth what’s possible—by connecting them to resources ㈾ and community 🤝 —can shift their mindset from mere survival to empowerment 🎗️.
The powerful stories shared during this panel remind us all that supporting foster youth in education requires more than just access to programs and scholarships. It calls for an active, empathetic engagement from staff, a consistent presence of people who believe in their future, and a community of care that embraces foster youth as whole individuals. In reflecting 🤔 on these stories, we are reminded that while systemic change is needed, the impact of even one person can be life-changing 🩵.
Watch the full panel below!
What Else is New? 🤔
In September, we hosted our first monthly events focused on giving you an opportunity to connect, empower, and learn from and with others in our Community.
Our debut monthly Founder’s Conversation with Mark Dusseau was a major success! We had current and aspiring founders join the call to learn from Mark’s journey as well as each other on the mindset to start and scale a business that is focused on Social Impact. We had founders who were trainers, authors, and consultants join the call and Mark shared his journey starting his social impact technology company. Our Founder’s Conversations will be the second Wednesday of every month at 6pm EST | 3pm PST. Our next one will be THIS WEEK on October 9th at 6PM EST | 3PM PST and Mark will be sharing all about how to leverage your lived experience in your business strategy to build a strong business.
We also had our very first Advocate Meet Up! Advocates from across the country joined to be in community, share, and learn from each other. Our first Advocate Meet Up was filled with great connections, lots of resource sharing, and genuine story telling. What a great place to connect and share freely with each other! We will open this space, led by our lived experience community, on the first Wednesday of every month at 1PM PST | 4PM EST. We invite you to join as we set the standard for driving meaningful change!
Did you think that was all we were up to this month? Of course not! Here at Foster Greatness, we always believe that we could be doing more and meeting more people in our community where they are at. That’s why a central point of achieving our mission is getting directly involved on the ground with our community all across the nation. In September, Foster Greatness attended the Daniel Memorial Conference in Orlando Florida! At this conference focused on Independent Living programming for foster youth, we were able to join in community to learn from organizations, advocates, and current/former foster youth across the nation. We are taking everything that we learned and bringing it directly into our community to ensure we are always improving how we serve and empwoer those directly impacted by the foster system.
October Theme and Events 📆
October’s Theme: Mental Health & Well Being
We are proud to introduce our theme of the month for October, focused on Mental Health & Well-Being 🧠 ✨. With the holidays right around the corner, we know this season can stir up challenging emotions and a sense of disconnect from those around us. That's why we're shining a spotlight on how our mental health and well-being can be affected and exploring ways to nurture it. We have some powerful discussions and fun events planned to help address this topic and foster a sense of community among our members. 💙
📆 Check out our events below to mark your calendars for some invigorating discussions, content, and events we’ve got planned! Held LIVE on our Community!
Founder’s Conversation with Mark Dusseau
CCAI Internship - Live Q&A with Alumni Panel 🎤
Upcoming Virtual Cooking Party, RSVP by Oct 11th!
Discussing a Place to Belong with Gaelin Elmore
Foster Greatness’s mission is to co-create a dynamic platform with people directly impacted by the foster system to set the standard of empowerment and support. We are providing accessible, authentic connections and support by creating a lived-experience led platform. Our vision for every person who is and has been directly impacted by the foster system to feel empowered and supported.