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George – From Foster Care to PowerNetworker

By Nicki Sanders | May 24, 2012 | Comments Off on George – From Foster Care to PowerNetworker

Our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males continues with George Fraser.  George Fraser is a successful business man, renowned speaker, and author of three books.  He is the founder of the annual PowerNetworking Conference, the largest gathering of Black professionals, business owners and community leaders.   George Fraser was born in Brooklyn New […]

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Exavier – Love of His Foster Mom Propelled Him To Succeed

By Nicki Sanders | May 22, 2012 | Comments Off on Exavier – Love of His Foster Mom Propelled Him To Succeed

Exavier Pope owns The Pope Law Firm.  He is a Sports & Entertainment Attorney, Media Personality, Fortune 500 Speaker and Peak Performance Strategist, Writer, Economic Developer, and former foster youth.  Exavier shared his amazing  story for our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males.   Exavier’s foster mother, Emma Lily Mitchell, declared to […]

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Bob – Tough But Fair Foster Father

By Nicki Sanders | May 17, 2012 | Comments Off on Bob – Tough But Fair Foster Father

Today we continue our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males with the interview of another foster father with KidsPeace.  Bob O’Connor and his wife Coco have been foster parents for 23 years.   They have had short-term placements, long-term placements, and provided therapeutic foster care and respite care.   They have been foster parents to […]

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Dyral – Discipline, Expectation, and Foster Fatherhood

By Nicki Sanders | May 15, 2012 | Comments Off on Dyral – Discipline, Expectation, and Foster Fatherhood

Our fifth blog post in our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series dedicated to teen males in foster care focuses on fatherhood.  Dyral Brown is the single, foster father of two teen males ages 14 and 16.  As a young professional, Dyral realized that he could connect with and have a positive influence on […]

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Toni – Foster-Adopt Mother, Advocate, and Author

By Nicki Sanders | May 11, 2012 | Comments Off on Toni – Foster-Adopt Mother, Advocate, and Author

Today we continue our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males in foster care by addressing mental health. Toni Hoy and her family have endured separation, loss of parental rights, and criminalization by the system put in place to protect children.  Toni’s son, Daniel, has been placed in the Illinois foster care […]

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Dorothy – Foster Mom, Youth Advocate, Role Model

By Nicki Sanders | May 8, 2012 | Comments Off on Dorothy – Foster Mom, Youth Advocate, Role Model

Dorothy Cordero has been a foster mother for many years.  I interviewed Dorothy and her foster son, Chris, for The Teen Toolbox National Foster Care Month blog series on teen males in foster care.  Chris has been a part of Dorothy’s family for six years.  There are two other male foster teens living in the […]

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Chris – Being A Foster Child Gave Me Opportunity

By Nicki Sanders | May 4, 2012 | Comments Off on Chris – Being A Foster Child Gave Me Opportunity

  Chris Nixon has resided in the home of Dorothy Cordero for the past six years. They were referred to me through KidsPeace, a private charity dedicated to serving the behavioral and mental health needs of children, families and communities. I interviewed them together for The Teen Toolbox National Foster Care Awareness blog series on […]

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Ronald – Foster Care Teen, Advocate, and Volunteer

By Nicki Sanders | May 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Ronald – Foster Care Teen, Advocate, and Volunteer

May is National Foster Care Awareness and The Teen Toolbox will dedicate our blog as a platform for teen males in the foster care system to share their stories of triumph and success.   Ronald Hennig is focused, motivated, and wise beyond his years.  He is a soon to-be 18 year old male in the […]

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Reading Means The World Is Your Classroom

By Nicki Sanders | Apr 25, 2012 | Comments Off on Reading Means The World Is Your Classroom

You may have read my last blog about empowering youth to take calculated risks.  One way to improve critical thinking skills and to encourage calculated risk taking is through reading regularly.   Reading is preparation for the future.  We cannot put a price tag on the value of a quality education.  No child can be […]

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