United Friends of the Children

Senator Alex Padilla made history last week when he became the first Latino to represent California in the US Senate. He will be replacing former CA Senator and new Vice President Kamala Harris, whose first official act as VP was to swear in Padilla. Though Padilla has said his top priorities will be election security, immigration, criminal justice reform, and climate change, his attention is currently centered around COVID-19 relief. Padilla hopes to address the dire effects the pandemic has had on the health and economy of communities of color. It is empowering to see our government diversifying, especially for our foster youth of color who are now seeing themselves better reflected in our representatives. Read more about Alex Padilla from the Los Angeles Times here: lat.ms/3605dRp Sam Hodgson / San Diego Union-Tribune

None other than Beyoncé herself stepped up to use her platform to address the staggering levels of housing insecurity that have been brought on by the pandemic. She has been doing so through her BeyGOOD Foundation alongside the NAACP. The partnership has been offering $5,000 grants to those in need of housing assistance, with a total of $500,000 ready to be distributed to struggling families. This is the second time Beyonce has made a concerted effort to ease the financial burdens faced by Black Americans in the wake of COVID-19. She previously collaborated with the NAACP over the summer to start a Small Business Impact Fund with aims to support Black-owned businesses. Read more about Beyonce’s efforts to help her community from W Magazine here: bit.ly/2XIV2fz : Getty

CA Governor Gavin Newsom recently released a new plan to give school districts with fewer COVID-19 cases extra funding if they reopen for in-person schooling. However, this proposal may only exacerbate the learning gap between upper- and lower-income students. Since the coronavirus disproportionately affects individuals in low-income areas, those districts may lose out on these critical funds and in-person schooling. Los Angeles Unified School District and Long Beach Unified School District sent a letter to Newsom rebuffing his proposal, stating, Affluent communities where family members can work from home will see schools open with more funding. Low-income communities bearing the brunt of the virus will see schools remain closed with lower funding. Read more about this pending issue from LAist here: bit.ly/3q1F1gz

There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it. -Amanda Gorman Young Los Angeles-based poet Amanda Gorman was selected to read a poem at President Joe Biden’s inauguration this past Wednesday, an impressive accomplishment for the twenty-two-year-old, as she made history as the youngest poet to write and recite a piece at a presidential inauguration. Inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris' place in office, Gorman recently a...nnounced her intention to run for president herself once she turns the age requirement of 35. There’s no denying that a victory for her is a victory for all of us who would like to see ourselves represented as women of color in office. It makes it more imaginable," says Gorman. "Once little girls can see it, little girls can be it. Because they can be anything that they want, but that representation to make the dream exist in the first place is huge even for me." Read more about Gorman and her future endeavors from the Los Angeles Times here: lat.ms/3o7mvSV : Rob Carr / Getty

COVID-19 has presented a myriad of challenges for all of us, but particularly for those within the child welfare system. Pandemic regulations have made the process of closing child welfare cases even more difficult, especially for those families who do not have access to the online resources needed to make progress on their cases. Children are still being steadily indoctrinated into the system, while the exit process is more backed up than ever. As a result, the number of chi...ldren in the child welfare system has reached its highest total of the last 14 years. Parents, lawmakers, and social workers continue to work through these issues by adapting procedures to suit the ever-shifting needs of youth during a global pandemic. Kids are lingering and families are waiting. We are causing additional trauma and harm that can’t be undone later down the road, said Leslie Heimov, the executive director of the Children's Law Center of California, an organization that represents LA County foster children. Read more about these ongoing challenges from LA Progressive here: bit.ly/359cwp9

Join us on November 16th from 6-7PM PT for our 2020 Virtual Gala in support of foster youth! This live online event will be hosted by Tiffany Haddish, with special guest Jordan Fisher, and musical performances by Taylor Goldsmith with Mandy Moore, and JIMMY WAYNE! All proceeds benefit current and former foster youth in our Pathways housing and Scholars education programs. Click here to purchase your tickets and learn more: bit.ly/31qWDJa

The Kansas City Star's six-part series tracking the outcomes of transition-age foster youth has recently won a top public service honor in the Eppy Awards (an international competition for digital media), and received first place in public service at the National Headliner Awards. Entitled "Throwaway Kids, the project shines a light on where foster care is failing, and has led to new propositions in foster legislation across several states. Learn more from the Kansas City Star here: bit.ly/31SrwpT

The affects of COVID-19 on foster youth have put many transition-age youth in a position of impending homelessness. The ongoing pandemic has resulted in many youth losing access to stable housing, financial stability, and food security. And while other kids can turn to external support systems during these trying times, foster youth often lack these sorts of safety nets. As the pandemic wanes on, advocates are calling for extended foster care services, more transitional housi...ng programs, and increased funding for programs like Florida Youth Shine, which brings foster youth together for social connectivity, and the Chafee Program, which teaches youth independent living skills. Taking preventative measures and investing in positive programming can make all the difference in preventing youth homelessness. These kids have a lot of potential, and they're at a really critical crossroads in their life. And if we can provide some support to guide them towards a productive, healthy developmental trajectory, now's the time to do it, said Dr. Jamie Howard, clinical psychologist at Child Mind Institute. Read more about the affect COVID-19 has had on foster youth from Today Show here: on.today.com/35ipMHC #NHYAM

We hope you’ll join us on Monday, November 16th from 6-7pm PT for our 2020 Virtual Gala in support of foster youth! The event includes a silent auction with all proceeds benefiting foster youth in our programming. Tune in to bid on some fabulous prizes! Here's a sneak peek at three of our auction items: VIP Los Angeles Rams Tickets - Touch down! Score 4 tickets and pregame field passes to a 2021 home game at SoFi Stadium.... The AOC Foodie Staycation Package - Enjoy a two-night stay for two at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood along with a delicious meal at A.O.C. for up to 6 people. Blushington Makeup Class and a Gift Card to the Martinez-Samuel Salon - Get ready to be pampered at a makeup class for 5 people. This package comes with 5 Martinez-Samuel Salon blowouts and Kérastase conditioning treatments. Purchase your 2020 Virtual Gala tickets here: bit.ly/3iJgIjp

Our 2020 Virtual Gala in support of foster youth is quickly approaching, and the excitement is building! Tune in on November 16th from 6-7pm PT to take part in our auction where you can win some incredible prizes. A few of our most highly anticipated auction items include: The Luxury Escape to Napa Package - Take a roundtrip flight to Napa for a two-night stay in a one-bedroom suite at Auberge du Soleil. Grab dinner for two at The French Laundry, and head to a wine tasting a...t Colgin Cellars Page! This exclusive item will only be available for auction LIVE at our event. The Winter Escape Package - Board a private helicopter to Montecito and take a tour of the Happy Canyon Winery. Then head off to Rosewood Miramar Beach for a two-night stay with a complimentary lunch featuring Happy Canyon wine. The Hotel Bel-Air Luxury Staycation Package - Escape the city with a two-night stay in a Grand Deluxe Room at Hotel Bel-Air with a $95 daily breakfast credit and dinner for two at Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air. Get your tickets and get ready to bid here: bit.ly/3iJgIjp

Kids in the Spotlight, Inc. aims to help foster youth heal from their experiences in foster care through the art of storytelling. Recently featured in the Los Angeles Times, 5 youth in the organization wrote & created short films that will premiere tomorrow, November 5th at 7pm at a drive-in movie theater set up in the Sears parking lot in Glendale, CA. Check out Kids in the Spotlight’s website for more info here: bit.ly/3mseV4D

An innovative new Bay Area pilot program, Launchpads, offers a solution to transition-age youth looking for housing stability by matching foster youth with available housing hosts. These hosts are thoroughly screened and house TAY with the support of a child welfare stipend used toward rent and other expenses. TAY tenants must work or be enrolled in either college or job training to qualify for the program. Transitioning out of foster care is especially difficult during the pandemic, but with a program like Launchpads, more youth will have a safe haven to start their lives. Read the full story from The Imprint here: bit.ly/3o9Tgjr

Today's the day! Election Day is finally here, and it's time to flex your civic pride by casting your ballot. At United Friends, we’ve shared resources about voting with our foster youth, and have hosted speakers to talk to our youth about the importance of voting as a means of fighting back against injustices. Advocating for real change starts with voting for officials who understand our community’s needs. On this Election Day, we want our current and former foster youth to feel empowered to make their voices heard.

November is #NationalHomelessYouthAwarenessMonth, a time to raise awareness about this mounting issue in our country. Foster youth are particularly at risk of suffering from homelessness, especially when faced with early emancipation. At just 18 years old, too many former foster youth must navigate the uncertain terrain of finding a job, maintaining stable housing, and supporting themselves financially, all on their own. Without proper preparation and support, emancipation of...ten leads to homelessness. Our mission is to ensure that TAY approaching emancipation are supported, and we're proud to offer youth safe and stable housing through our Pathways Program. At United Friends, our support doesn’t end with emancipation. Learn more about our Pathways Program here: bit.ly/3oour38 #FosterBrightFutures #NHYAM

Olympic champion and former foster youth Simone Biles delivered a heartfelt speech to youth in the foster community last weekend as part of a fundraiser for Project Glimmer, a non-profit that financially supports under-served women, including those in foster care. She finished her message with this bit of wisdom: Together, we can inspire every girl to find her voice, to dream big, to create her own definition of beauty, to believe in her power, to find her purpose, to imagine a better future. If I can do it, she can do it, too. Read on from Olympic Channel here: bit.ly/37MX18A Image provided by Olympic Channel

Election Day is fast approaching, and your vote can impact those who have been hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including foster youth and their families. Some state and federal policy proposals seek to allocate more funds to job creation and training, rent assistance, vouchers, and more transitional housing, while additional investments will be made to streamline access to college and mental health services. It’s important that we use our vote to ensure young people get the resources they need to become independent and self-sufficient adults, so let’s do our part and vote this Tuesday! Visit Vote.org for all the resources you need to prepare for election night.

Happy Halloween! With social distancing in full swing, we know that this year’s spooky season is bound to be a little different, but we’re still looking for reasons to celebrate with our current and former foster youth! What are your plans for Halloween? #FosterBrightFutures

This past Monday, police fatally shot 27-year-old Walter V. Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia as he suffered from a mental health episode, which police had been called to de-escalate. Unfortunately, Walter is one of numerous Black Americans who have become victims of police brutality in our country. Our hearts ache for Walter’s family, the city of Philadelphia, and the Black Community continuing to grapple with the ongoing issue of police violence and brutality.

Virtual learning has worsened the divide among students, with those in underserved areas struggling to find the one-on-one support they need to succeed. Students with more financial resources are now seeking personal tutors, which is deepening the inequities in education that already persist. We are going to have an exacerbation of massive inequality, said Dean of UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education Prudence L. Carter. And many children from economically vulnerable b...ackgrounds who need access to tutors will very likely not get that support. Many organizations have stepped up to help combat these issues. Step Up Tutoring, UCLA's Brain Tutor Network, and the Los Angeles Public Library all offer assistance to connect LA County students with tutoring services. But with no end to COVID-19 in sight, the demand for tutors will continue to rise. Read the full story from Los Angeles Times here: lat.ms/3dsV02c

What does it mean to be black in foster care? This question was posed by former foster youth Ángela Quijada-Banks and forms the basis of her new book, The Black Foster Youth Handbook. Quijada-Banks confronted issues of poverty and homelessness as a child before she was taken into foster care at age 16. Now, in addition to authoring this groundbreaking book for foster youth, Quijada-Banks is an entrepreneur with her own podcast. In her book, Quijada-Banks offers lessons to you...th in foster care as well as their adult mentors to guide them in establishing healthy personal identities for youth of color. Read Quijada-Banks’ recent interview on LA Progressive where she discusses her book, growing up in foster care, the state of racial inequities and police brutality in America, and what she hopes to see for people of color and foster youth moving forward here: bit.ly/3kfIFRL See more