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How Are You Empowering Your Youth?

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 11, 2012 | 0 Comments

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 […]

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Seeking Role Models In The Foster Care System

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 9, 2012 | 0 Comments

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 […]

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Share Your Teachable Moments

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 4, 2012 | 0 Comments

“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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Surprising Foster Care Role Model

By Nicki Sanders | Oct 2, 2012 | 0 Comments

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 […]

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What Was On Your Wall?

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 27, 2012 | 0 Comments

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 – […]

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They Need Love

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 25, 2012 | 0 Comments

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 […]

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Do You Remember These?

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 20, 2012 | 0 Comments

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 […]

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Foster and Adoptive Parents Rock

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 18, 2012 | 0 Comments

As I Grow ~ Author Unknown   As I grow, please understand that I am growing up and changing very fast.  It must be difficult to keep pace with me, but please try.   As I grow, listen to me and give me brief, clear answers to my questions.  Then I will keep sharing my […]

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Protect Foster Youth From Identity Theft

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

The predicted outcomes of youth who age out of foster care are grim – homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, unintended pregnancy, and low educational attainment.  The high incidences of these social ills within this population are most often associated with a lack of stability and healthy, permanent relationships or not acquiring essential life skills before being thrown […]

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