We had an incredible event welcoming Cohort #2 of our Youth Ambassadors Program! This special day was made even more inspiring with the presence of Maegan Lujan, an exceptional leader and former foster youth who has journeyed from challenging beginnings to becoming an executive at Toshiba, North America. Maegan shared her invaluable insights and experiences, …
On Friday, October 4th, our Pathways housing program hosted an impactful voter registration event! 🗳️✨
Youth from all our housing sites came together to register to vote, connect with community partners, and enjoy a shared lunch. It was more than just a registration drive—it was an opportunity for young people to learn about civic engagement and …
As part of United Friends of the Children’s advocacy efforts, Chief Programs and Policy Officer Derric Johnson represented UFC at the National Youth Employment Coalition’s (NYEC) 2024 Youth Days in Washington, D.C., from September 11th-13th. The event gathered over 130 participants, including government officials, nonprofit leaders, and youth advocates, with a focus on empowering young …
This year, our 3rd annual Foster the Conversation event kicked off Foster Care Awareness Month in partnership with the La La Land Foundation and the La La Land Kind Cafe in Santa Monica. The night was buzzing with love and support from friends, donors, and partners. This year’s panel included a UFC alumnus: Mikol,  two …
This month, our Pathways clinical team launched new monthly workshops! We wanted to hear from our residents to tailor these workshops to their hobbies and interests, so we asked them. Our foster youth shared they wanted to get movin’ (walking, hiking, gym), engage in traditional groups (anxiety management, anger management, men/women’s groups) and creative arts groups (painting, …
A College with Care gift supports youth like Melissa. Coming from a low-income household, the prospect of college seemed unattainable. UFC helped her family navigate the complexities of financial aid and provided Melissa with a dorm kit to ensure she had essentials such as groceries, books, and supplies.
With support and guidance from UFC, Melissa negotiated …
On Saturday April 13, we held our annual College and Career Day at Cal State Northridge. Our youth had the opportunity to hear from professionals from various industries including, Legal, Food and Entertainment. Our panelist professionals shared about the journey that led to their careers and gave our youth encouragement and advice about their …
This month, our middle and high school students are gearing up for UFC’s annual Career Day in April. In preparation for this event, students are utilizing new virtual reality technology, which allows the kids to interact with real professionals from various industries. Youth have the unique opportunity to meet professionals, ask questions, engage in dialogue, …
This month, our education team honored Black History Month by taking our middle and high school scholars to the ‘Black College Expo’ at the LA Convention Center. Our youth got to explore the possibility of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and speak with representatives from many institutions. This experience allowed our scholars to envision themselves …
Last year, we relaunched our volunteer program after a long hiatus due to COVID-19. A total of 55 volunteers came back strong, participating in events such as College and Career Day, Next Gen Trivia, Thanksgiving Dinner, holiday gift-wrapping session, Education and Pathways holiday parties, and more. Our fabulous volunteers helped wherever they were needed!
Each one …