Up to New Possibilities" Supporting Youth through Higher Education on
April 27 at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte. The
event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual symposium is
for public and private agency staff involved with foster youth,
universities, students, church leaders, public officials, businesses
and community members interested inpromoting independence, self-
sufficiency and educational advancement for youth "aging out" of the
foster care system.
Sponsors for the event include Johnson C. Smith University, the
Department of Social Work and the Mecklenburg County Department of
Social Services. Special workshops will feature John Emerson, Casey
Family Programs; Heidi McIntosh, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human
Services; Eileen McCaffrey, Foster 2 Success; Sonyia Richardson,
Another Level Consulting; Derrick Anderson, Foresight Leadership
Training; JJ McEachern, Central Piedmont Community College; Brennon
Graham, The Relatives; Family Finding and the Children's Home Society.
"The purpose of this event is to educate, problem solve and forge
partnerships in our community that will support youth, who have aged
out of the foster care system or experienced similar life
circumstances and desire a college education" said Pat Newell,
Director of Johnson C. Smith University's Foster Care Initiative (in
photo). The university is forming a Foster Village Network Center to
provide opportunities for young men and women who have aged out of the
foster care system. It is designed to help them pursue their
entrepreneurial ambitions and the possibilities available through
continued education. Further details may be found atwww.jcsu.edu/
phasingup.
Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is the premier
independent urban liberal arts university located in the heart of
Charlotte, N.C. It offers a progressive liberal arts curriculum with
26 fields of study to more than 1,600 students. The University
prepares students for success through excellent academic programs with
a focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global
responsibility.
