This year, a new group of incredible graduates are stepping into leadership roles as part of our Youth Ambassador Program. We are so proud of their commitment to creating change and showing what’s possible for foster youth everywhere. 💙
Here’s to amplifying youth voices, building community, and continuing the cycle of support. Welcome, Ambassadors — we …
This past June, we celebrated a powerful milestone in our Youth Leadership Program. A culmination of learning, growth, and community.
Over the past year, 36 youth joined us on this journey. They explored organizing vs. activism, connected with changemakers like Dr. David Turner and Dr. Victor Rios, dove into financial literacy, and visited cultural hubs like …
At the start of the month, we hosted a pop-up shop experience for youth in our Pathways housing program, with donated goods from our incredible partners at La La Land Kind Café!
Youth “shopped” for free, picking out clothing, shoes, home essentials, and more. Huge thanks to the staff, volunteers, youth, and La La Land Kind …
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 …