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 …
Rosa joined UFC’s Scholars program in 2015. Initially hindered by a lack of support for her learning needs, UFC helped Rosa secure the necessary educational accommodations to get her through middle school and high school.
In 2021, Rosa was accepted to CSU Dominguez Hills and decided to proceed without accommodations to avoid stereotypes. Rosa lost …
Meet our April Hero of the Month, Aida Berduo Berry, Vice President of Advisory Services at WSP! With nearly 25 years of experience in transportation, Aida is a trailblazer in civil rights advocacy and inclusion. Her dedication to fostering positive change in our communities is truly inspiring.
Every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of their living situation. With the number of California students experiencing homelessness on the rise, the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) is calling on lawmakers to allocate $13 million in ongoing funding to support educational initiatives.
This funding will provide essential services like counseling, technology access, and …
This month, our middle and high school students are gearing up for UFC’s annual Career Day in April. In preparation for this event, students are utilizing new virtual reality technology, which allows the kids to interact with real professionals from various industries. Youth have the unique opportunity to meet professionals, ask questions, engage in dialogue, …
Meet Jocelyn. Jocelyn’s journey with United Friends began when she was in the 8th grade. Now, as a freshman at university, her involvement in the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) has become a vital part of her life. For Jocelyn, being part of YAP is more than just participation; it’s a commitment to advocating for foster …
This month, our education team honored Black History Month by taking our middle and high school scholars to the ‘Black College Expo’ at the LA Convention Center. Our youth got to explore the possibility of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and speak with representatives from many institutions. This experience allowed our scholars to envision themselves …
“Last year, cannabis was the drug most widely used during pregnancy in the U.S., according to the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration…Does legalization cause parenting impairment, family dysfunction, and negative child outcomes?” Dive into what the legalization of recreational cannabis in Minnesota and other states means for the evolution of our …
Introducing our Hero of the Month, Franco Vega! Over two decades ago, Franco kickstarted his journey by teaching transition-age foster youth and establishing an employment haven for recovering addicts and the homeless.
In 2011, he founded The RightWay Foundation, a game-changing program tackling trauma and job hurdles for foster youth through mental health services and job readiness …