Courageous Connection's Kick Off To National Foster Care Month

When: Wednesday May 1st

Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tickets: $30/person 

Appetizers will be served from 3 local businesses as well as a wine bar representing some local wineries.

This is the first annual Courageous Connection Kick Off to National Foster Care Month.  This event will feature an introduction to Courageous Connection and the important work they are doing with current and former foster youth, a City Proclamation presented by Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis supporting local foster youth, special guest speaker Daniel Heimpel, founder of Fostering Media Connections, and the unveiling of a commissioned public art piece representing the lives of the approximately 500 foster youth that live within the Elk Grove Unified School District.  Light appetizers will be served from 3 local businesses as well as a wine bar representing some local wineries.

Courageous Connections mission is to engage, support and provide resources to youth living in and emancipating out of the foster care system by building authentic relationships with the youth, raising awareness within the community, providing access to normalizing activities, access to items needed by youth, and helping to provide the tolls, skills and confidence needed for the youth to become self sufficient and fulfill their true potential.

Below are some chilling statistics that show a need for our focus and the impact this program can have on a child and a community.

· Over 50% of youth will not graduate high school

· Less than 1% of foster youth will graduate from a 4 year college

· 50% of youth will experience homelessness within 18 months of emancipation

· 1 in 3 youth will live in poverty after emancipation

· Over 70% of California state prison inmates spent time in the foster care system