First Place for Youth

Our Los Angeles youth had an incredible experience at A&E Television headquarters recently! During the two-hour session, youth engaged with representatives from Production, Finance, Post & Business Affairs/Legal, exploring the diverse career pathways within television and the entertainment industry. The A&E team was generous with their time, and we wrapped up our visit with a lively Q&A session led by Richard Rothstein, VP of Creative Affairs.

A big thank you to everyone who organized this event and the staff who supported getting our young people to Beverly Hills during rush hour!

&E

Do you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)? If so, we’re excited to share about this exciting initiative through !

If you make a gift to First Place for Youth and commit to spending down half the money in your DAF by September 27, we will be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in matching funds.

Find out more about the campaign: https://www.halfmydaf.com/for-donors

We're so proud of First Place for Youth participants Andrea and Marelyn who recently completed an 8-week paid internship with the Leadership Arts Mentoring Program (LAMP)!

During their internship, Andrea and Marelyn worked on creative projects, participated in workshops, and gained practical experience in the arts industry. Last Thursday, at their showcase at The Grand, Marelyn inspired an audience of over 150 people as a student speaker, while Andrea wowed everyone with her music performance! Congratulations and well done, Andrea and Marelyn! 🌟🎨🎶

Our Summer Bridge adventures with Santa Clara County youth continue with an inspiring Redwood excursion on the UC Santa Cruz campus!🌲 Youth trekked through the beautiful natural spaces, learned about the rich history of the area, and got a glimpse of college life and opportunities. It was an unforgettable experience that combined the beauty of the outdoors with the excitement of exploring new possibilities.

Kudos to our dedicated team for making these impactful experiences possible for our youth! Stay tuned for more Summer Bridge recaps!

Join us on Tuesday, August 27 at 10AM PST for an exciting virtual event hosted by the EmergingTech Economic Research Network (EERN)! Matt Levy, First Place's VP of Evaluation and Learning, will be speaking on a panel about our pioneering use of generative AI in the nonprofit sector.

As organizations increasingly adopt genAI tools, understanding their impact on economic opportunity for low-income communities is more important than ever. This event will explore how philanthropic and nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area are leading the charge in leveraging genAI to break down barriers to economic mobility.

Be sure to register to join in on the conversation and submit your questions: https://www.frbsf.org/news-and-media/events/2024/08/genai-for-economic-opportunity-early-learnings-from-philanthropy-and-nonprofits/

GenAI for Economic Opportunity: Early Learnings from Philanthropy and Nonprofits - San Francisco Fed Please join us on August 27 for a series of panel discussions from our EmergingTech Economic Research Network (EERN) on how philanthropy and nonprofit

Our Los Angeles team had a fun time at their Summer Bridge Universal Studios Hollywood Event! We had 23 youths show up for the event and they all had a blast visiting Super Nintendo World, riding rollercoasters, and enjoying all the attractions at the park. Thank you to all the teams for making this happen!

Pasadena City College opens new housing for students transitioning out of foster care Organizers said the goal over the next two years is to turn an adjacent property into another 16-unit complex to serve even more foster youth.

We're thrilled to share that Sky Celine, My First Place participant, was interviewed by CBS News Los Angeles! 🌟 Sky opened up about what having her own place means to her as a youth who has experienced foster care. Tune in today at noon on Channel 9 or 5PM on Channel 2 to hear her powerful story!

Hope you can catch it!

Our Santa Clara County team kicked off their Summer Bridge program with a fun-filled picnic in the Redwoods! The day was packed with scavenger hunts, painting, and games, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the outdoors and build community. With a great turnout and plenty of delicious food, it was the perfect way to stay engaged during the summer months. ☀️

Huge thanks to our incredible team for planning and executing this memorable event for our youth! Stay tuned for more Summer Bridge recaps!

Our Back-to-School Drive was a success! 🎉🎒

Thanks to your incredible support, our volunteers packed each backpack with the school supplies our scholars need to succeed this year. We're so grateful for everyone who contributed and helped make this possible.

We're excited to get these backpacks out to our scholars in the coming weeks as our Summer Bridge Program wraps up. Your generosity is setting them up for a great start to the school year! THANK YOU!! 💙

It's not too late to join us for an exciting night of baseball & Star Wars fun! ⚾️✨

Every ticket purchased through our unique link for the Oakland Ballers vs. Boise Hawks Professional Baseball Club (Star Wars Night) game on Friday, 8/16 will raise $10 for FPFY!

Buy your tickets here today:

Ballers vs. Boise Hawks (Star Wars Night) Ballers vs. Boise Hawks (Star Wars Night) Buy tickets for Park on 08/16/2024, Oakland from vivenu. A celebration of Star Wars with special surprise guests. Please note: we've made our ticket prices all-inclusive of any fees, so you will not see any additional...

Yesterday, we celebrated a major milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for transition-age youth housing in Pasadena! 🎉

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of First Place for Youth, Heritage Housing Partners, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Community Foundation, and the City of Pasadena, we've transformed two properties into six studio apartments for young people transitioning out of foster care. This project is more than just housing; it's a place these young adults can finally call home.

Special thanks to U.S. Congressmember Judy Chu, Pasadena City College CEO and President Dr. José Gómez, Jeannine Bogaard from Pasadena Community Foundation, Charles Loveman of Heritage Housing Partners, Pasadena City College Board of Trustees Vice President Steve Gibson, and Pasadena City Councilmember Felicia Williams for their invaluable support. Through these partnerships, we're setting the stage for a brighter future—one where every young person has the chance to thrive. 🌟

Stay tuned as we continue to expand this initiative, with plans to add 10 more units in the coming years!

Photo Credit: Richshell Allen/PCC

Join us for an exciting night of baseball and Star Wars fun while supporting First Place for Youth! ⚾️

Every ticket purchased through our special link for the Oakland Ballers vs. Boise Hawks (Star Wars Night) game on Friday, August 16th, will raise $10 for our organization. Your support helps make a difference in the lives of older foster youth!

📍Purchase tickets using our special link:

Ballers vs. Boise Hawks (Star Wars Night) Ballers vs. Boise Hawks (Star Wars Night) Buy tickets for Park on 08/16/2024, Oakland from vivenu. A celebration of Star Wars with special surprise guests. ...

Pasadena City College opens first housing unit for foster youth The housing units are intended to serve youth 18 to 21 who are transitioning out of the foster care system and are attending the college.

On Thursday, July 18, our partners at Art + Practice hosted an incredible Job & Resource Fair for young adults in Los Angeles!

Thanks to our incredible programmatic teams, our young people were well-prepared to engage with various employers and showcase their readiness to take the next steps in their careers. ✨

Events like these highlight the importance of community and partnership in creating pathways to success for our youth. First Place for Youth has been honored to continue to collaborate with A+P, a nonprofit organization that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. A+P has been a pillar of support in our community, providing invaluable resources and opportunities for young people to thrive.

📍Read more about the event on our blog:

New Connections & Opportunities Were Made at the Art + Practice Job & Resource Fair! - First Place For Youth On Thursday, July 18, First Place for Youth partnered with Art + Practice to host a fantastic Job & Resource […]

Join us for another Kendra Gives Back Event on Sat., July 27th at 1pm at the Kendra Scott location at Santana Row in San Jose! Our Development team will be there to raise awareness about our organization's impactful work, and we look forward to meeting you.

Whether you shop in-store or online, 20% of your purchase will be donated to our organization. If you're shopping online, be sure to use the code GIVEBACK-GZEWB from July 27-28th to support us with your purchase.

Please spread the word to your family and friends who are looking to make purchases with purpose!

🛍️ Address: Kendra Scott Santana Row STE 1070, San Jose, CA

⏰ Our Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive is wrapping up this weekend, and we need your help to ensure our young people are fully equipped for the school year ahead! We’re still in need of stationery, portable chargers, planners, and more.

Order from our Amazon Wishlists by SUNDAY, July 28 and be a part of this important effort. Let’s give these young adults the tools they need to succeed!

🔸 NorCal Wishlist: https://a.co/fhhZOaI
🔹 SoCal Wishlist: https://a.co/aJPTEfi

Thank you for your support!

Our Back-to-School Supply Drive is in full swing! ✨📚

We’re on a mission to equip our scholars with everything they need for a successful school year. This year, we’re looking for stationery, portable chargers, planners, and more to help them put their best foot forward!

Shop from our Amazon Wishlists by Wednesday, July 24 to lend a helping hand. Every item donated helps our young adults start the school year with confidence!

🔸 NorCal Wishlist: https://a.co/fhhZOaI
🔹 SoCal Wishlist: https://a.co/aJPTEfi

Let’s make this back-to-school season the best one yet!

Our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to Amy Lemley, First Place for Youth's co-founder, as she steps down from her role as Executive Director at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) on October 1.

While still a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, Amy co-founded First Place for Youth—the first housing program for former foster youth in California. At JBAY, Amy continued to champion for system-impacted youth, leading groundbreaking policy actions such as establishing the nation’s first tax credit for foster youth and extending foster care from age 18 to 21.

Her visionary leadership and relentless advocacy have transformed the lives of countless young people. Thank you, Amy, for your unwavering commitment to making more possible for foster youth! 💙

Read Amy's interview with EdSource here: https://edsource.org/2024/influential-foster-youth-advocate-steps-down-from-advocacy-organization/715648

Leader steps down from foster youth advocacy group Amy Lemley is stepping down Oct. 1 from her executive director role at John Burton Advocates for Youth, a nonprofit that advocates for California’s homeless and foster youth.

🌟 Join Us for Our Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive! 🌟

It's that time of year again! At First Place for Youth, we're dedicated to ensuring our scholars have everything they need to succeed as they head back to school. This year, we're looking for stationery, portable chargers, planners, and more to help them shine.

Want to make a difference? You can easily support by ordering from our Amazon Wishlists by Wednesday, July 24.

🔸 NorCal Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FFIECOGEJPET
🔹 SoCal Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/35XHWYJSOMU6L

Let's help these amazing young adults start their school year with confidence and readiness!

This past weekend, our Los Angeles County team hosted a forklift certification event at A Community of Friends (ACOF) with 9 amazing youth participants. We are thrilled to announce that 8 of them earned their certification! A huge thank you to all the staff who supported and encouraged these young people to complete the full certification. This is a significant step towards gaining valuable job skills and opportunities!

Our Alameda County/ SF County hosted our first official Summer Bridge event on a beautiful sunny afternoon at Lake Chabot Regional Park!

Armed with facts and tidbits about the wonders of the majestic Redwood tree, youth were encouraged to embrace nature by using sustainably sourced natural materials from the area for use in their art projects, and by offering thoughtful and meaningful insights and inquiries of nature during the hike. Through fellowship and support, participants networked and collaborated, created, built, and shared experiences with each other in a unique outdoor setting!

Read more about the event on our blog: https://firstplaceforyouth.org/summer-bridge-kickoff-at-lake-chabot/

Stay tuned for more exciting summer events!

Summer Bridge Kickoff at Lake Chabot - First Place For Youth First Place for Youth’s Alameda County/ San Francisco County team hosted their first official Summer Bridge event on a beautiful […]