As part of our Alumni Spotlight Series, we interviewed First Star Alumni, who were able to highlight many of the unexpected obstacles foster youth face as they navigate the system and eventually age out of care. They also shared with our community how much the First Star program meant to them, ways they continue to use the lessons learned throughout their time with us, and helpful advice on how our current scholars can transition to college, the workforce, and out into the world!

Listen to the ways First Star has impacted their lives
and their wishes for our current scholars:
Our First Star Alumni on First Star's Impact
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First Star's Scholar Advisory Committee Led the Charge
During National Foster Care Month!

Throughout the month of May, we also featured content created by our Scholar Advisory Committee, under the helm of our First Star Kent State University Academy Director Danielle Green-Welch. The Scholar Advisory Committee is comprised of current scholars from across our entire network of Academies, representing the collective voices of our scholars. For National Foster Care Month, they launched a Big 100 Campaign, which aimed to promote foster care awareness by getting 100 shares or likes for every post they created. Social content included posts raising awareness around foster care statistics, child welfare reform highlights, and each Wednesday throughout the month a Live on IG! talk with First Star Ambassadors and other community supporters.
Make sure to continue following our Scholar Advisory Committee on Instagram @fs.scholaradvisorycommittee ([link removed]) to keep up with their activities all year long!
Tidewater Friends of Foster Care Interviews
First Star CEO Lyndsey C. Wilson
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Tidewater Friends of Foster Care, one of our incredible new community partners in Norfolk, VA, asked First Star to take part in their month-long Foster Care Aware campaign as part of National Foster Care Month. Our CEO Lyndsey C. Wilson sat down to discuss the First Star story with them and all the amazing work we do across the country to ensure our students graduate high school and go onto successful adulthood. They also discuss our newest Academy partner, Old Dominion University (ODU) in Virginia!
Donate to First Star Today! ([link removed])
First Star National Virtual Graduation
Following last year's successful graduation ceremony, First Star hosted a special national virtual graduation to honor the perseverance and hard work of our graduating seniors. Despite the challenges of this past year, we are so proud of our Class of 2021 who are graduating from SEVEN Academies across the country.

Missed the Ceremony? Watch it now on YouTube!
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First Star National STEAM Academy
Watch Our Tech Talk Spring Series Finale on Artificial Intelligence
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Our last Tech Talk of the season was focused on Artificial Intelligence and featured Justin Shaifer, aka 'Mr. Fascinate'. A rising star in STEM education and advocacy, Justin "Mr. Fascinate" Shaifer is a Linkedin Top Voice in Technology with a talent for inspiring Generation Z. Far from camera-shy, Justin has hosted science TV shows with WGBH, Travel Channel, and Al Roker Entertainment.

Growing up in a single-parent home on the South Side of Chicago, he had little awareness of the potential of a STEM career. Self-taught and fascinated by science, Justin earned scholarships from NASA and NOAA that covered 100% of his tuition and room and board at Hampton University. Justin graduated with a degree in marine and environmental science, earning the department’s highest GPA while also serving as student body president. Inspired to pay his success forward, Justin co-founded the STEM Success Summit ([link removed]) , a large-scale conference for diverse STEM students that secured sponsorship from Best Buy and General Motors. Kickstarting his professional speaking career with a popular TEDx Talk "How to Speak Generation Z", Justin continues to reach millions with his content, keynotes, and workshops.

Stay Tuned Over the Summer for Information on our
Fall 2021 STEAM Academy Tech Talk Series
Sign-Up for STEAM Academy Updates ([link removed])
Summer Academies are Around the Corner!
This spring our Academy Directors came together to collaboratively plan a virtual summer program that each Academy could offer to their students. The week-long event in July will be an opportunity for our students to take a variety of workshops, strengthen their team-building skills, and network with other First Star scholars from all across the country. In addition to this action-packed week, we are thrilled that many of our Academies will also be able to host their own in-person events throughout the month. Now that the world is starting to open up again, we know that this summer will set our students up for success as they matriculate into the next grade level this fall!

2021 Virtual Summer Academy Credly Badge

All scholars who complete the virtual summer Academy will be eligible to receive the Credly badge that outlines skills and knowledge learned throughout the Summer Academy! It can also be used on college applications and LinkedIn profiles!

We’re excited that First Star scholars from across all of our Academies will have the opportunity to participate in the collaborative
2021 Virtual Summer Academy this July.
Find Our More About Our Virtual Summer Academy Today! ([link removed])
First Star Awarded 4 Stars
By Charity Navigator
For the 4th consecutive year, First Star is proud to announce we have received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. We couldn't have done this without you. Thank you for trusting us with your donations, your time, and your goodwill. Your trust and support mean so much to us and the foster youth we serve.
2020 Impact Report ([link removed])
In the News

National



Read President Biden's 'A Proclamation on National Foster Care Month, 2021' ([link removed])


NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2021 as National Foster Care Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by reaching out in their neighborhoods and communities to the children and youth in foster care and their families, those at risk of entering foster care, and resource and kin families and other caregivers.



California

Linda Owens, a senior citizen in California, was recognized for her commendable efforts for over three decades in foster care, taking in 81 babies over 34 years. For her service, she was rewarded with a Jefferson Award ([link removed]) for her humanitarian service to foster care and one of the longest-serving resource parents. This past year, across the country there has been a decrease in the number of foster families and parents due to fears of COVID-19. Our very own CEO, Lyndsey C. Wilson, was referenced in the article as a source to confirm these statistics and how hard organizations are working to overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic. ([link removed])

Texas

The Dallas Mavericks are committed to helping foster care organizations during May's National Foster Care Month. ([link removed]) Members of the Dallas Mavericks' staff, including their CEO, Cynt Marshall and her husband Kenneth, are special advocates for Dallas CASA and have been long-time advocates of youth in the foster care system. As part of their 'Mavs Take ACTION!' initiative, which seeks to address racial inequities and disparities, promote social justice, and drive sustainable change, numerous child welfare and foster care organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are recipients of their support.

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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