Are you following the lives of Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Pipa Middleton, Drake (congrats to him for earning his GED this month), Usher, or Justin Timerlake? New pregnancies, hot couples, divorces, altercations, arrests, CD releases — sometimes the title of pop culture critic fits me very well. Other times I wish I could make the celebrity […]
A Positive Alternative to Hollywood Celebrity Worship Read More »
The Teen Toolbox is on a mission to raise awareness about the needs and potential of youth in transition from foster care and work to counteract negative statistics and stories by showcasing the talent and determination in young people. We invite you to nominate a teen for our “SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month” feature which
Is SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month Safe? Read More »
This weekend I had to pleasure of attending a book signing for “Who Would Have Thunk It: The First Adventures of the Fraser Foster Kids” with George Fraser and his sister Emma Fraser-Pendleton. The eleven Fraser children were placed in foster care after their mother’s mental illness surfaced and their father could no longer care for
George and Emma Author A Book For Foster Youth Read More »
I don’t usually use Wikepedia (for obvious reasons). It is likely that I will never quote this website again, but I found their definition of youth empowerment to be pretty good. According to Wikepedia, youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and
How Are You Empowering Your Youth? Read More »
Are you guilty of asking the teens in your life “What do you want to be when you grow up”? Of course you are. Think about how many times you heard the standard response of “I don’t know”? I’m guilty as well. But I’ve wised up. I have now resigned myself to asking “who are
Seeking Role Models In The Foster Care System Read More »
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson. If you’re wondering why my workshops are called “Life Strategy” workshops instead of life skills workshops it’s because I deliver strategies that can be used in a variety of life situations. Admit it…when you hear life skills your first
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A few years ago I was delivering a workshop to a large group of young ladies in high school. The topic was “Empowering Ladies In the 21st Century”. I asked the group who some of their female role models were and a very spirited young lady answered Keyshia Cole. At that time, Keyshia Cole‘s reality TV
Surprising Foster Care Role Model Read More »
When I posed the question “what was on your wall” did you think I was referring to your Facebook wall? Well, I’m not. I need you to think further back into your history. I have been a New Edition fan since 1983. My bedroom wall was FULL of New Edition posters, pictures, and articles –
What Was On Your Wall? Read More »
There have been times when a teenager has shocked you, frustrated you, disappointed you, or angered you — a child or foster child, a relative, a neighbor, or a client on your caseload. It’s OK to admit it. We’ve all been there. As a teenager I was a huge LL Cool J fan. A self-proclaimed
THANK YOU for supporting The Teen Toolbox and for reading our blog. Through our Packaged For Success™ programs, we utilize youth portfolio development, academic empowerment, and civic engagement to help youth set goals for life after high school and create a road map to reach those goals. We are also strongly committed to supporting youth
Do You Remember These? Read More »