Vol. 8, No. 2• May 2004
SaySo Saturday Celebrates Six Years!
by Peaches Sanders and Nancy Carter
On March 6, over 150 young people and their adult supporters came together at Guilford Technical Community College to celebrate youth leadership and SaySo’s sixth birthday. Both youth and adults enjoyed workshops on LINKS programs, public speaking, the expectations of SaySo Board members, and how to foster youth leadership. Names were drawn for “birthday gifts” (door prizes) and announcements were made to introduce some exciting SaySo advancements and projects for the coming year:
- SaySo commissioned its seventh local chapter! Onslow County DSS became seventh agency to establish a local SaySo chapter during the last three years. The others are Moore, Mecklenburg, Caldwell, Wake, Cumberland, and Guilford.
- SaySo retired its first board member, Steaphon James, as he turns 24. Steaphon is a strong voice for foster youths and will undoubtedly continue to promote SaySo while in retirement.
- Going “national” has become a common occurrence for SaySo members. Makeisha is the Senior Youth representative to the National Independent Living Association (NILA). Melinda is on the planning committee for the National Alumni Network (NAN) sponsored by Casey Family Programs. This is the first attempt to pull together foster/alumni groups, so SaySo is pleased to be represented. SaySo won the “Everyday Hero” award in Fostering Families magazine for helping change the profile of foster youth. And of course, for the past two years, SaySo has had youth members win the National Youth of the Year award.
- SaySo elected 18 new members (three representatives from each of the six regions) to its 2004–05 board. They will be commissioned at SaySo Orientation June 11-13. They are:
Peaches S. (co-chair) and Brian M. (treasurer)
Region 1: James P., Julia S., Jessica W.
Region 2: Suzanne J., Melinda M., Darnell W.
Region 3: Frank L., Dayshawn M., Lisa W.
Region 4: Megan B., Vivian J., Curtina K.
Region 5: Amanda B., Antwan B., Makeisha W.
Region 6: Jesica B., Daniel S., Lakisha T.
As you can see, SaySo is doing a lot this year – won’t you join us? It’s free and easy. Just fill out the form at right.
Make a Difference Day Project
The 14th “Make a Difference Day” is Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004. Make a Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others, is sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation. SaySo’s contribution to this event will be a project called “Giving a Child a Smile.”
Giving a Child a Smile. Did you know that many children coming into foster care often have to place their treasured possessions into TRASH BAGS because social services cannot provide a suitcase for every child? Can you imagine what it feels like to put the things closest to you into a trash bag while leaving the only home you have ever known? Well, it has happened to plenty of us, and we can tell you, IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD! SaySo plans to change this by sponsoring a suitcase collection project for Make a Difference Day. We are asking all members, local chapters, and partner organizations to support this project by helping us collect donated new or like new suitcases and duffel bags.
We want every foster youth in our state to be treated with dignity during their moves (which are so hard to begin with). You can help by donating a suitcase or money for so we can purchase new bags. Contact the SaySo office (see below) to request a Project Planning Packet.
for Retiring Member
The Steaphon James Foundation helps to support the medical costs involved with Steaphon’s Marfan Syndrome (a potentially fatal disease) while Medicaid is being appealed. For more information about the foundation, Marfan Syndrome, or to make a donation, contact SaySo.
Steaphon James
SaySo Goes to the State Capital!
Between June 28 and July 2, 2004, nine SaySo members will serve as legislative pages for the Senate, House, and Governor’s, Page Programs. These programs will give SaySo youth the opportunity to see firsthand how laws are made, and to participate in the process.
Three SaySo-involved youths will participate in each program. For the Senate and House Page programs, all youths will be sponsored by a House representative.
We are so excited by this opportunity to help legislators see that foster care has a real, human face! We also hope our participation in this program will open a door so that future SaySo members will be able to work with legislators and explain to them that foster youths have the same needs as their own children.
We hope our pages have fun and pave a path for SaySo straight to the Capital!
Peaches Sanders is co-chair of the SaySo Board of Directors. Nancy Carter is the Executive Director of Independent Living Resources, Inc.
SAY SO is Strong Able Youth Speaking Out, a statewide association made up of youth who are or have been in out-of-home care. This includes all types of substitute care: foster care, group homes, and mental health placements.SAY SO’s mission is to work to improve the substitute care system by educating the community, speaking out about needed changes, and providing support to youth who are or have been in substitute care.
You can be a member of SAY SO if you are under the age of 24, are currently or have been in any kind of out-of-home care, including foster or adoptive care. To join, fill out and mail in the form the below. For more information, contact us by phone (800/820-0001) or e-mail ([email protected]). Also, visit our website: <http://sayso-nc.tripod.com>.
Fill out this form and mail it to SAY SO, c/o ILR, Inc., 411 Andrews Rd., Ste. 230, Durham, NC 27705, or e-mail it to us at <[email protected]>.
Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Age:
E-mail:
Type of out-of-home-placement:
North Carolina County I live in now:
Copyright � 2004 Jordan Institute for Families
