Aging UP is proud to be an inclusive community that is committed to empowering youth with experience in foster care. We recognize that youth in foster care face significant barriers and that Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in the foster care system. We also understand that trauma can negatively affect behavior and that all too often, youth in foster care get labeled unfairly, while the source of why they may act out is often unaddressed.
As a trauma-informed, strength-based organization, we are proud to put our values into action. Thanks to support from our generous community, our staff, mentors, board members and volunteers receive training on trauma as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We also use a cultural focus when matching youth to mentors and offer resources and opportunities that enhance social equity.
Yet, we are committed to doing more. Our current steps include a newly launched youth leadership group, expanding mentor and board recruitment within communities of color, training more on sensitive race, gender and economic issues, increasing the ethnic and cultural experiences for our teens, and advancing the sociopolitical development of the youth we serve.
However, we cannot do this alone. You can help us better serve our diverse community of young people. Join us by donating, volunteering or mentoring.
Together, we empower youth toward happy, healthy, self-sufficient futures. This has been and will continue to be our commitment as an organization.
Thank you for being part of our inclusive and caring community.
