2021: A New Year for First Star
We have persevered through a very trying year. 2020 began like all others, filled with optimism for our foster youth, and the abundant hope a new year brings for them: advancing in school and experiencing a safe and positive home placement. However, our excitement quickly shifted to disappointment for our youth as the novel Coronavirus took hold of the country and of the world.

We shifted our focus. We reimagined connectivity and engagement and repositioned our goals to align with innovation, sustainability, and social justice.

We celebrated. In the midst of all the woes 2020 brought us, we managed to highlight the good. We celebrated our graduating seniors for their unrelenting pursuit of academic attainment and post-secondary enrollment. 100% of our scholars graduated from high school! In a pandemic!

And now we are looking ahead with abundant gratitude. It is at moments like these that we take inventory of our lives, our work, and our communities. We are resilient, formidable, and we are stronger than ever.

Take a Look at our Highlights from 2020
2020 Impact Report ([link removed])
Our Academies are Recruiting
As we plan for long term sustainability in 2021, our focus on scholar engagement and the number of youth we serve will be key in our ability to grow the capacity of our Academies across the country. That is why all 14 of our Academies are currently recruiting new students to start during their 2021 Summer Academies!

For students interested in becoming a part of
one of our Academies get in touch HERE. ([link removed])
Become a First Star Scholar Today!
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Scholars' Voice Town Hall
Our First Star Scholar Advisory Council hosted the first-ever Scholars’ Voice Town Hall, on Saturday, January 16th. The First Star Scholars Advisory Council (SAC) is comprised of youth representing First Star Academies from across the country. SAC gives scholars the opportunity to be engaged in social justice and freely share their ideas and opinions.

The inaugural virtual town hall was an opportunity for First Star scholars to dialogue about issues that are relevant to them. The national conversation focused on 1) Justice & Equity 2) Racism in America and 3) LGBTQ+ Rights. The conversation featured a panel of experts from educational, religious, political, and cultural organizations to engage in healthy conversation with our scholars around these topics, to hear their concerns, and talk about ways to move toward improvement. US Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio had a special message for our students.

A Message from Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
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First Star National STEAM Academy
We are launching our first Tech Talk on Saturday, February 6th

The First Star National STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Academy is a virtual national learning platform for high-school-age foster youth, led by technology and grounded in social justice.

Join us for our monthly series of interactive Tech Talks led by positive STEAM professionals who are researching, innovating, and contributing to their community. Our first Tech Talk on Saturday, February 6th at 12pm PST/3pm EST, will feature renowned geneticist and host of the podcastIn Those Genes ([link removed]) , Dr. Janina Jeff.
Sign Up Today! ([link removed])
In the News

Colorado

A program in Colorado to place children with foster families could soon be a model for other states to follow. The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 ([link removed]) will restrict the number of children going into residential care starting this year. Tennyson Center for Children came up with a program that allows kids without a family to stay there temporarily. Rather than placing children immediately into residential care, the goal at Tennyson is for advocates to spend 30 days finding the right foster family for that child.

Missouri

A pair of bills intended to aid parents fostering and adopting children ([link removed]) in the state of Missouri passed through a House committee. They would allow Missourians who serve as foster parents for at least six months to receive a tax credit to cover the cost of the process and also offer a $10,000 tax credit to anyone facing non-recurring adoption fees and expenses. Rep. Hannah Kelly, who presented both bills before the House Children and Families Committee, said the incentives would help Missouri children find both short-term and permanent homes.

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New Jersey



We are so proud of Riccardo Dale, former First Star peer mentor, for becoming a Councilman in his hometown of Beverly, NJ. A graduate of Rowan University, Riccardo has also started the non-profit Free All Minds ([link removed]) , which offers mentorship to underprivileged youth in the South Jersey area. We can't wait to see what else is in store for Riccardo and how he will continue to help those in his community. Check out his interview with fellow First Star peer mentor Isaiah Showell.

Start 2021 with a Gift to First Star!
Your support helps us continue to work to uplift communities and create change by building strong pathways for hundreds of high-school-age foster youth to post-secondary education and successful adult lives.
Donate Today ([link removed])
Stay Connected!
Make sure you are following us on all our social handles
to stay up-to-date with our Academies.
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