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College Bound 6/22/2024
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Did You Know?
Just in Time for Foster Youth recently received a Project Innovation grant from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation! The foundation is granting nearly $3.5 million this year to non-profits that are strengthening communities through innovative solutions.
The grant is supporting JIT’s overall mission and was awarded for our unique, individualized, relationship-centered approach to serving transition age foster youth in San Diego County. The funding will ensure that our youth-focused services continue to make a tangible, long-term impact on the success and well-being of deserving young people in our community. Together, with philanthropic partners like the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, we will strengthen and expand our services/community model so that foster youth can take ownership of their futures and break the cycle of foster care, now and for generations to come!
July 7, 2021
Upcoming
events
events
July 8: Coach Approach Training
July 15: New Volunteer Info Session
July 30: Fishing Day
July 31: Coach Approach Practice
Painting in the Park with Career Horizons
by Nyla Vivas, JIT Staff
Career Horizons had their second in-person event on Saturday, June 19 at Chicano Park. The Career Horizons cohort got together — participants and coaches — on a sunny San Diego day to engage in an empowering painting session led by volunteer Kelly from Little Ant Art. Kelly did step-by-step instruction while each participant painted their own interpretation of a sunrise with an inspiring message.
The Career Horizons cohort is based on how we can further empower our female-identifying participants by deepening connections and bonds within our community. Painting in the Park served as a great time for our cohort to get some self-care, chat, eat great food including small bites from delicious charcuterie baskets from SD Platter People, and explore their new horizon of painting.
Participant, Alyssa Player shared, “I really enjoyed the event and being able to meet some people in the program while also getting to be creative and have fun outdoors! The snacks were so cute and the instructor was super friendly!”
Since the COVID pandemic hit, many of our participants have shared they were seeking community and support when joining Career Horizons. The Just in Time community was eager to meet that need and collaborate to create memorable experiences for our volunteers and participants, both virtually and in-person. Painting in the Park is just one of many to come!
As the eventful day came to an end, many of our participants shared they are looking forward to the next Career Horizons event and can’t wait to hear what it is!
Bridges to Success BBQ
by Derahn Johnson, JIT Contractor &
Rachel Trujillo, JIT Staff
Bridges to Success, our service that empowers young men through personal and professional development, recently hosted their second in-person event of the year – the B2S Summer Kick-Off BBQ!
Participants, coaches, and staff gathered at long-time JIT volunteer Jim Rower’s house in Ramona for a day filled with delicious food, fun games, great conversation, and even better company. The event strengthened the momentum of success and enthusiasm from recent Bridges to Success workshops and social events. The men continue to foster connections within the JIT community, further establishing an authentic, supportive brotherhood.
Open conversation was encouraged and the men touched on topics such as masculinity, identity, confidence-building, and relationships. Everyone shared how much they appreciated being able to have these types of conversations since it can be uncommon for this open dialogue to happen for men from their backgrounds. These moments represented powerful steps toward a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of B2S.
A highlight of the day was a cornhole tournament, where teams of two – one participant paired with either one volunteer or JIT staff member — went head-to-head in a competitive beanbag toss, with a prize of several restaurant gift cards for the participant in the winning pair. Eight teams faced off, but only one could win: participant Isaac Gunn and JIT B2S Consultant DeRahn Johnson!
“I had fun playing — and winning — the bean bag toss tourney and connected with someone doing similar things as I am on TikTok,” shared Isaac. “Seeing everyone was something I needed!”
At the end of the day, memories were made, bonds were deepened, and many youth shared that they are looking forward to getting together as a group again!
A Place to CAll Home: Sebastian’s story
by Rachel Trujillo, JIT Staff
Growing up as a foster youth, Sebastian never felt he had a place to call home. He often found himself living with other people such as family members, often ones who he wasn’t close with or he described as toxic in his life. That’s why it was such a milestone when he recently saved up enough to move into an apartment with his girlfriend and their one-year-old daughter.
However, Sebastian soon found himself overwhelmed with new expenses; he now had a place to live and raise his child, but no furniture to make it into a home. He had a plan: start with basic necessities then slowly buy furniture and other home goods over the course of years. That plan would soon become accelerated when he found his Just in Time community!
In May, Sebastian joined JIT for College Bound, where he also learned about the other services we offer, including My First Home, our service that helps transition age foster youth furnish their first apartments or rooms. Sebastian immediately applied and by June he was having his own personal My First Home shopping day to furnish his nearly-empty apartment. All the furniture and necessities he planned to accumulate over the years suddenly became attainable in one moment!
“It was a cool experience,” shared Sebastian. “I got a lot of stuff I wouldn’t be able to afford. The free furniture was enough, but having it delivered by volunteers was above and beyond my expectations!”
In addition to furniture, cleaning supplies, and other essentials, Sebastian also received décor, including a special framed Disney puzzle created by our partners from Step Up Foster Youth Mentors at the Rock Church.
When asked to describe his experience in one word, Sebastian said “Surprising,” adding that “It was a great experience. More than enough!”
With a stable home established, Sebastian is now determined to focus his attention on his career. He’s currently an electrical apprentice and studying at City College on his path to becoming an electrical engineer. He also aspires to get a master’s degree in electrical engineering, a dream that his JIT community will help him turn into a reality!
