VOLUNTEER TO MENTOR FOSTER YOUTH
After years in the PLANNING & making, we are launching Careerx!
CareerX is a mentorship program that aims to help emancipated foster youth achieve their professional goals, develop basic life and social skills, and work toward self-sufficiency.
Here's the Reality
Over 26,000 foster youth age out
of the system when they turn 18 or 21
every year
They are handed a trash bag, a list of homeless shelters or little resources, and sent into the world with very little resources.
Why It's a Problem
By the age of 18, the average foster youth has
moved through 8 different foster homes
Constant Instability
Moving through so many homes and schools creates a feeling of being unwanted or unloved, and makes it difficult to develop the social and life skills cultivated in a loving home
Lack of Community
Their inability to build trust and maintain relationships lead to a network deficiency
Insufficient Resources
Security and optimism are replaced with loss and hopelessness when youth age out and have nowhere to turn for help
Our MISSION
Foster Nation Engages the community to support and empower foster youth aging out of the system to become SElf-sufficient
PREPARE
We host trainings and programs to get foster youth ready for the real world - from career mentors to career trainings. We help foster youth become even more amazing than they already are by honing their professional skills as they prepare to become self sufficient adults.
SUPPORT
We provide resources and connections that support and meet their basic needs so they can get where they want to go in life. We also host events that build a relatable, supportive and collaborative community for foster youth to feel seen & heard, valued, and supported.
Empower
We raise awareness through
campaigns that bring the foster care experiences to light, and empower foster youth to become self advocates. Our goal is to help them feel good about their life stories by changing the foster care narrative.
Who We Are
Chloe Kinman
Program Manager
Maggie Lin | Co-Founder
Executive Director
The Collective!
The Young Leaders Collective is a diverse group of movers and shakers that believe everyone deserves equal access to success. Our Collective Chairs lead an all-volunteer team in their cities that draws strength from everyone's passion and commitment to the mission.
LOS ANGELES COLLECTIVE
NEW YORK COLLECTIVE
Allie Holcombe / SystemFit, Amaris Galea-Orbe / Sayo Projects, Ashley Cocciardi / GoldenTree Asset Management, Dijana Ilieva / Olé Creative, George Zakharia / SOUND Brands, Jason Rembert / Jason Rembert Studios, Joshua Holland / SystemFit, Mark Dalton / PCL Construction, Mitri Najjar / BioDigital, Mohamed Kanu / Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking, Nicole Virgo-Carter / Pinterest, Raymond Dorcely Jr. / BBDO New York, Rishi Khubani / Live Rishi, Sarah Nehmeh / Bank ABC
WANT TO START A COLLECTIVE IN YOUR CITY?
EMAIL US
Board of Directors
Our superstar champions for all things related to programming, fundraising, and marketing for Foster Nation.
Caroline Kunitz| Board President
David Milken | Board Treasurer
Jeanne Pritzker | Board Secretary
Aaron Elster
David Herman
Jacqueline Shamtoob
Kate Somerville