Since launching our My First Place™ program in Los Angeles in 2010, we've helped more than 1,000 young people in Southern California move from foster care to self-sufficient adulthood. We recently caught up with two former participants, Sierra and Danyell. See what they have to say about their time in program and where their paths have taken them since.
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN LOS ANGELES: Where Are They Now
The Field Center at the University of Pennsylvania surveyed nearly 300 current and former foster youth from across the country to understand the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had. The responses paint a stark picture of young people once again being forced into precarious circumstances beyond their control. We've seen similar job loss numbers among our program participants, but with with First Place by their side a temporary loss of work won't derail their plans. In times like this, the importance of our work is clearer than ever. While our young people navigate the transition to independence in the midst of crisis, we're here to keep them on stable footing, focused on the future, and ready to get back to work as the economy recovers.
Today, our San Francisco Independent Living Skills Program is hosting a virtual workshop on the importance of voting, giving young people the chance to learn about the history, how-to, and why of exercising the right to vote. Do you remember the first election you cast a ballot in?
Access to immediate/emergency housing doesn't just prevent foster youth homelessness in the moment of crisis. It's often an important piece of the puzzle in helping young people achieve the lasting stability that allows them to plan and work for the future. #AB1979 will help ensure that housing is there for young people in foster care when and where they need it. We're thrilled to see Assemblymember Laura Friedman's bill signed into law, and we're honored to have been part of the broad coalition of organizations working in support of the measure!
Assemblymember Laura Friedman
September 25 at 3:31 PM ·
Great news! My AB 1979 was just signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Since taking office in 2016, I’ve been working to break down the barriers in our foster care system and provide a safety net for this particularly vulnerable population. #AB1979 ensures that the immediate housing needs of at-risk youth are being met, and promotes overall housing stability to reduce their risk of falling into homelessness.
Thank you @CWDA_CA, Alliance for Children's Rights, Children Now, First Place for Youth, End Child Poverty CA for your advocacy!
Great news! My AB 1979 was just signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Since taking office in 2016, I’ve been working to break down the barriers in our foster care system and provide a safety net for this particularly vulnerable population. #AB1979 ensures that the immediate housing needs of at-risk youth are being met, and promotes overall housing stability to reduce their risk of falling into homelessness.
Thank you @CWDA_CA, Alliance for Children's Rights, Children Now, First Place for Youth, End Child Poverty CA for your advocacy!
Please share to help spread the word! There's just 6 days left to double your impact. Support First Place with a donation to through Travis Credit Union Foundation COVID Relief Initiative and they'll automatically match your gift!
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Ways To Give
Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? Registration deadlines are fast approaching in many states. Head to Vote.org to check your status and find links to official voter information for every state.
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Check Your Voter Registration Status - Vote.org
"Making sure that our young people are not only surviving but thriving...has a huge ripple effect in communities and in society,"
Wise words from Tipping Point Community CEO Sam Cobbs, and we know he believes with his whole heart because he made sure we believed and carried them with us every day in our work as he led First Place. We wouldn't be the organization we are today without him. Learn more about how Sam and Tipping Point are taking on the fight to end poverty in the Bay Area in this fantastic profile from 7x7
7X7.COM
Sam Cobbs leads Tipping Point's fight to build prosperity in the Bay Area's most vulnerable communities
Earning a high school diploma is an important step toward success, but a recent UCLA Black Male Institute study of Black foster youth in L.A. County found that just 51% graduated on time in the 2018-19 school year. And their chronic absence rates are twice that of average students. Researchers hope this new data will help educators and policymakers respond to the specific experiences and challenges of Black youth in foster care.
MYNEWSLA.COM
UCLA Study Details Educational Experiences of Black Youth in Foster Care - MyNewsLA.com
November is #CareerDevelopmentMonth! Finding the right career can be a long process, but without family to rely on for support, young people in foster care are especially under pressure to figure it out fast. At First Place, we're committed to helping our young people identify and work toward careers that suit their interests and allow them to thrive in the long run.
Stay tuned all month for youth career spotlights, information on our education & employment programs, and more!
Over the last 10 years, the My First Place LA team has grown from a team of 3 to over 30 staff members. LaMont Walker, Education and Employee Manager, shares his experience and fondest memories since first joining the organization seven years ago. Stay tuned for more from the team as we commemorate the 10 year Anniversary of My First Place in Los Angeles.
#FPY10YearsLA #FirstPlaceforYouth #fosteryouth
She turned in her ballot more than a week ago, but Southern California Executive Director Suzanne Brown saved her sticker so she could get in the full election day spirit.
There's less than 36 hours until polls close for the 2020 election! If you haven't returned your ballot yet or you missed the advance registration deadline, check the California Secretary of State's Early Voting page (https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/) for information on where you can drop off your ballot, vote early, or complete a same day registration to cast your vote provisionally. Don't miss your chance to make your voice heard!