Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children's November newsletter is here! We’re celebrating Friends of the Children’s 30th anniversary, Native American Heritage Month, and highlighting the incredible journeys of alumni like Truett and Tah-Jae. Plus, check out the HeART of the Children, a new book showcasing over 400 inspiring youth art projects from across our national network. Don't miss these powerful stories and learn how you can help us empower more youth and families to reach their dreams. To read the November newsletter, please click here: https://bit.ly/3OmsZfS

Join us for an online learning event in recognition of National Native American Heritage Month! This is a time to celebrate the diverse traditions, languages, stories, and achievements of Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples. In a conversation with Native advocate and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Suzan Shown Harjo, we will reflect on some of the most pressing issues facing Indian Country, including Native rights, Tribal sovereignty, repatriation, and the harm of stereotypes, mascots, and cultural appropriation. Indigenous Peoples: Myths, Misconceptions, and Realities Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:00am PDT / 11:00am MDT / 12:00pm CDT / 1:00pm EDT?? Register now: https://bit.ly/3CwdKP5

Meet Taj, a motor transport mechanic stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with the U.S. Marines. Taj’s journey with Friends of the Children began in kindergarten, and for 12 transformative years, his mentors helped guide him through life’s toughest choices, setting him on a path of purpose. Growing up as an only child to hardworking parents, Taj faced challenges and struggled to find his own identity. Taj’s Friend, Darren, opened doors and introduced him to new experiences, and Taj credits to helping him discover confidence to shape his future. Taj’s story is a powerful reminder of how mentorship changes lives. Read more about his story here: https://bit.ly/3UT8ECB

November is Native American Heritage Month! At Friends of the Children, we are proud to honor and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples. This month, we recognize the resilience, strength, and enduring legacy of Native communities, including our partnerships with Sovereign Tribal Nations such as the Oglala Lakota Nation, the Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes, and the Klamath Tribes. We continue to nurture our work with Indigenous communities through existing chapters, including Eastern Idaho, Eastern Montana, Fargo-Moorhead, and the Twin Cities. With your support, we aim to expand our program to 25 states and Sovereign Tribal Nations by 2025 to provide 12+ years of no matter what support for youth and families across the country.

In early 2024, Friends of the Children invited program youth to embark on a creative journey of self-expression through the transformative power of art. Youth from across the country, guided by the theme “Who Am I?”, explored their identity, culture, and sense of belonging within their communities. This led to a a powerful collection of artworks that tells their stories. The heART of the Children is a book that features over 400 youth art projects, including paintings, poetry, sculpture, and video. This book showcases the heart and creativity of the youth in our programs, and we are honored to share it with you: https://bit.ly/4e87p9B Thank you to Greg & Michele Goodwin for making this youth art project possible! We are grateful for their commitment to our mission and collaboration in bringing this vision to life.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Friends of the Children! ???? Whether you're going out trick-or-treating or staying in carving pumpkins, we hope you have a spooktacular day filled with fun, laughter, and lots of candy ???

Friends of the Children - Stockton is seeking a passionate, committed leader to used their lived experience, vision, and connections to the Stockton community to serve as the Executive Director. The ideal candidate will have experience in working with community leaders, caregivers, families, and children, understanding the unique disparities amongst the communities served. They will have good business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, a soft heart for kids and unwavering hope for the impact our program can have for communities in the region. Are you this person or do you know them? To learn more about the Friends - Stockton Executive Director position and to apply, please visit:?https://lnkd.in/gCPB7ydR

Last night, Friends of the Children celebrated our 30th anniversary Gala in Santa Monica, CA! With special guest Simone Biles, who was honored as a "Champion for Children," and founders Duncan and Cindy Campbell for their dedication to empowering youth and families nationwide. Highlights included powerful tributes, inspiring stories, musical performances from GRAMMY-winner Abigail Washburn and Friends of the Children program alum Tah-Jae Franklyn, and a Q&A with Simone who shared her personal connection to our mission. With generous contributions from supporters, the gala raised $3 million to empower even more youth facing the greatest obstacles through long-term, professional mentoring. Thank you to all who joined us last night and to all those who have supported our journey to impact generational change over the past 30 years! Read more about the?National Gala here:?https://lnkd.in/gqKZTuHA

Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs is seeking a passionate, committed leader to used their lived experience, vision, and connections to the Colorado Springs community to serve as the Executive Director. The ideal candidate will have experience in working with community leaders, caregivers, families, and children, understanding the unique disparities amongst the communities served. They will have good business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, a soft heart for kids and unwavering hope for the impact our program can have for communities in the region. Are you this person or do you know them? To learn more about the Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs Executive Director position and to apply, please visit:?https://lnkd.in/eFB8v_mS

Last night, leaders and staff from the Friends of the Children national network were honored to attend the Netflix premiere of Simone Biles: Rising at the iconic Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. It was an incredible evening to be there alongside Simone Biles, her family, director Katie Walsh, and the documentary crew. At the premiere, Simone spoke about her journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics and inspired us with her focus on the importance of mental health. Part 2 of Simone Biles: Rising is out this Friday, October 25th!?