Fostering Change

In this week's episode of Fostering Change,  we revisit Rob’s conversation with Gideon Bernstein, Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy and the author of The Workbook for Giving: Exercises for identifying the resources, giving goals, and giving strategies for you and your family.

Gideon Bernstein has served as a trusted financial advisor to families in Orange County, California, for decades.

Currently a Principal and Chief Investment Officer at Leisure Capital Management, his passion is working with nonprofit boards, families, and private foundations to help them achieve their philanthropic missions. 

Gideon has served as a board member of numerous charitable organizations, Vice President of Investments, and Chairman of the Board for the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County. He holds designations as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP).  

Gideon is also the author of Giving: A Handbook to Happiness for the Modern Philanthropist.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ The Secret to Happiness: It's Giving.

🖐️ The new Workbook that was just published

🖐️ What inspired you to write the book?

🖐️ What does it take to be a philanthropist?  NOT Millions of $!

You can find out more about Gideon and his books by visiting:

Website: www.thejoysofgiving.com

Learn more about how YOU CAN GIVE at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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April Dinwoodie is an Adoption Activist, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Consultant, and Parent Coach.  Dinwoodie’s podcast Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World helps facilitate an open dialogue about identity, family, and differences of race, culture, and class.  As a transracially adopted person (Black/bi-racial, adopted into a white family), April is fiercely dedicated to sharing her experiences to audiences of varied spectrums.  In this week’s Fostering Change, April shares with host Rob Scheer her thoughts on helping individuals get a better understanding of people with similar backgrounds.  She often consults with companies and organizations to develop stronger and more astute teams, and ultimately find even more purpose in our individual and collective work.  In addition to consulting with corporations, schools, and government grants, and keynote speaking and training,  April serves as Executive Director of Transracial Journeys.

Story Key Notes: 

🖐️  Adoptment – Mentoring Program

🖐️ The calendar as a practical tool for conversation and action supporting the needs of youth separated from family of origin. 

🖐️ Mothers’ Day – the realities of complicated holidays in adoption and foster care

You can find out more about April by visiting:

Website: www.juneinapril.com

April’s Podcast: Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World

Facebook: @juneinapril

Twitter: @juneinapril

Instagram: @juneinapril

LinkedIn: April Dinwoodie

YouTube: April Dinwoodie

Tilktok: @juneinapril

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Originally airing in May during National Foster Care Awareness Month, on  today’s “Best of” episode of Fostering Change Rob interviews Stacy Huston, Executive Director of Sixdegrees.org, the award-winning nonprofit founded by Kevin Bacon with a mission rooted in connecting people to resources. Six Degrees supports impactful initiatives to sustain and enrich local communities by developing partnerships and solutions working collaboratively with local leaders, residents, and celebrities, on increasing youth empowerment, justice and equality, and improving a sustainable living environment. 

The organization prioritizes the lived experiences of communities that are commonly underserved and under-resourced. They reach their audiences through video, content and Public Service Announcements about subjects that are meaningful to the community, with a big focus on youth: particularly early education, arts programming and early literacy.

Stacy received the 2022 Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for her work with SixDegrees related to Hunger. She has overseen social media campaigns such as “l Stay Home For”, garnishing more than 1.2 million posts and 2.1 Billion engagements globally, winning 4 Webbys and A Shorty Social Good award. 

Story Key Notes: 

🖐️  “Cake it Like a Kid” - in support of Pediatric Cancer Awareness

🖐️  SixDegrees.Org produced Play On

🖐️  Getting People Moving the Right Direction

You can find out more about Stacy by visiting:

Website: SixDegrees.Org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixdegrees.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixdegreesofkb/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sixdegreesofkb?lang=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacybradford/

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Today we revisit Angela Featherstone - model, actress, philanthropist: Founder of the organization Fosteringcare.org, a nonprofit trauma-healing and trade school for youth aging out of foster care in Los Angeles.

The school is contributing to halting the negative outcomes that so many youth who age out of foster care experience, including homelessness, incarceration, and human trafficking. Moreover, the school is also very importantly training young people in healing modalities, so that they leave school with a trade/occupation that will enable them to achieve self-sufficiency.   They are now working with Jae Canas from UCLA Behavioral Sciences who is now creating a trauma-healing template from our paradigm for the Dept of Mental Health.

Who is Angela?  

Within a year of emancipating herself from foster care at 17, Angela Featherstone became Canada's top model when her September, Flare magazine cover broke all previous records for sales. 

She quickly expanded upon her success and left for New York where she signed with the illustrious Click agency. She would travel the world as a top fashion model, working with such great photographers as Oliviero Toscani, Piero Gemelli, Irving Penn, Albert Watson, David Bailey, and Bruce Weber. 

But for her life's work of acting, she downplayed her striking features to play unlikely roles, emerging as an actress with exceptional versatility. She is best known for playing Chloe in Friends and the fiancé (Linda) who left Adam Sandler's character (Robbie) at the altar in The Wedding Singer. 

Most recently she played the role of Maggie on Showtime’s Ray Donovan and Jame on Girls for HBO. She has created sitcoms for Sony, DreamWorks, and NBC television, and written nonfiction for Time, Jane, Flare, The Huffington Post, Dame, and Zoomer. 

Her essay about childhood trauma, God Said No, was published in the 2014 edition of Gargoyle Magazine and nominated for the Pushcart Prize. In 2011, she curated Fuck Pretty, a show at the Robert Berman Gallery featuring important and emerging female photographers, and recorded “Coattail Glide” with Raymond Pettibon and the band The Niche Makers. 

Recently, Angela served as a consultant on the important documentary about the effects and healing of trauma, Cracked Up.

Story Key Notes: 

🖐️  Essay about Childhood Trauma

🖐️  Children's Action Network

🖐️ A Trauma-Healing Non-Profit for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

You can find out more about Angela by visiting:

Website:  www.Fosteringcare.org

Instagram: @thefosteringcarehealingshool

Twittter: ​​@ppp_healing

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, in the midst of one of the hottest summer’s on record, we revisit our interview with Sharlee Jeter, President of the Turn 2 Foundation, a non-profit established by her brother, baseball legend Derek Jeter, and their father, Dr. Charles Jeter, to motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "Turn 2" healthy lifestyles.  They provide help for youth to reach their full potential by creating and supporting initiatives that promote leadership development, academic achievement, positive behavior, healthy lifestyles and social change. 

She also serves as vice president of strategy & development for Jeter Ventures, which encompasses Derek’s full portfolio of business operations. She is the co-author with Dr. Sampson Davis of the powerful book, The Stuff: Unlock Your Power to Overcome Challenges, Soar and Succeed . It was inspired by the authors’ own personal challenges and is intended to inspire readers to recognize their own strength and potential to succeed. Sharlee received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Spelman College. She resides in New Jersey with her son, Jalen. 

ALSO:

Congratulations to #Turn2 President Sharlee Jeter for being honored by One Hundred Black Men during its 60th Anniversary Gala. Recognized for her commitment to creating positive change, Sharlee received the Jackie Robinson and Community Impact Award. Held at Lincoln Center, the special event celebrated One Hundred Black Men's 60-year legacy and profound impact on the Black community.

Story Key Notes: 

🖐️ Giving kids a platform and an opportunity to succeed and live their maximized lives

🖐️ There are so many synergies that can be discussed during this podcast

🖐️ We have a responsibility to provide youth the opportunity to find & use their voices

You can find out more about Sharlee by visiting:

Website:  www.turn2foundation.org

Instagram: @sjeter2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharlee.jeter.7 

Twitter: ​​@sjeter2

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

Listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change at https://www.comfortcases.org/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, as we continue our “Best of Season 4” series, we revisit our interview with Rob’s friend, David Ambroz, author of “A Place Called Home.”  David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. In writing about the book, Hillary Clinton stated: “It’s impossible to read… and not want to redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for far too long.”

David currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.  Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing  up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Rob and David have an enlightening conversation about the foster care system, grit, courage and integrity.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️What made you decide to revisit your childhood experience with poverty and in foster care in A PLACE CALLED HOME

🖐️  What qualities and/or circumstances allowed you to survive such deprivation and abuse?

🖐️ How did your sexuality change your foster care experience?

You can find out more about David by visiting:

Website: https://www.davidambroz.com/

More about the boo:  A PLACE CALLED HOME: A Memoir

Twitter: @DaveAmbroz

Instagram: @hjdambroz

Learn more about Comfort Cases at https://www.comfortcases.org/

To view previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit:  https://comfortcases.org/podcasts/

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As we continue our “Best of Season 4 Series” this Summer, we go back to a true favorite: Rob Scheer talks with Lauren Ruotolo, author of “Unstoppable in Stilettos”, inspirational speaker and award winning content producer. 

Be this the first time you’ve heard this interview, or an encore, we know you’ll love Lauren as much as we do.

At 18 months Lauren was diagnosed with a rare disease called McCune Albright's Syndrome which left her walking with crutches full time at the age of 5 years old. After spending more than 20 years in magazine publishing and healthcare, Lauren now commits 100% of her time advocating for the 61 million people in the US and 1.2B globally who identify as disabled. Currently she is working with global corporations on why including disability in all your DEI, hiring and believes that all people matter.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Inclusion Matters

🖐️ Segregation Started for Me at the Young Age of 5

🖐️ Self Love and Acceptance  -- The idea of accepting who you are, where you came from and how exist 

You can find out more about Lauren by visiting:

Website: www.laurenruotolo.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenruotolo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenruotolo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/laurenruotolo

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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For our first “Best of” episode in July, we are revisiting our interview with Kenisha Anthony, a first-generation college graduate, award-winning advocate for youth, and author. Known for being resilient and bold, Kenisha Anthony is an outspoken activist utilizing her experiences to empower others. As a foster care visionary, she starred in the documentary, Foster Shock and has been featured on NPR and in Essence Magazine. Join our host Rob Scheer as he talks with Kenisha about her eye-opening memoir, LABELED,

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Purpose of writing memoir

🖐️ Lived experiences as a child in care, advocate and social worker

🖐️ Life after foster care, college, career focus, healing, family, moving forward

You can find out more about Kenisha by visiting:

Website: www.kenishaanthony.com

Facebook: Kenisha E. Anthony

Twitter: aboutkenisha

Instagram: aboutkenisha & aboutlabeledbook

TikTok: aboutkenisha

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Michael leads the executive efforts of the national nonprofit organization, Childhelp – a national leader in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. 

Childhelp believes that every child has a unique contribution to make to the world.

Prior to his role with Childhelp, Michael has served in executive leadership roles with other national and international nonprofit organizations such as Easter Seals and Project CURE. Currently pursuing a PhD in Education from Seattle Pacific University, Michael is looking to advance the education, vocational, and communal support of children who have experienced, or at risk of experiencing abuse; as well as children and youth who are a part of our national foster care system

Childhelp has just launched the Courage First Hotline – a national hotline staffed with professional counselors to assist athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone in the athletic communities who are concerned about emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. 

Childhelp has also established the first evidence-based prevention education curriculum designed to educate students preK-12th grade on not only the signs and symptoms of abuse, but what to do when they witness or experience abuse. This curriculum has now included a new module around Human Trafficking.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ About Childhelp

🖐️ A foundation to assist youth in foster care; as well as youth at risk for, or experiencing abuse

🖐️ The First Evidence Based Prevention Education Curriculum

You can find out more about Michaeli by visiting:

Website: www.childhelp.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/childhelp

Instagram: www.instagram.com/childhelpf

Twitter: www.twitter.com/childhelp

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

Listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change at https://www.comfortcases.org/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally posted in March, we couldn’t be happier to share Rob’s interview with his good friend, Mike Thorne, Mike’s focus of work is Human Transformation. He accomplishes this through an association with Vistage Worldwide, the largest Peer Advisory firm, and his work as Chairman of the National Council for Adoption.

As the author of the new book, Hustle With Heart: Unlocking Self-Worth Through Personal Trust Communities, he works to help people transform and thrive - at home and at work - to find a better way forward with their lives.

Mike is the former President of Yankee Candle and Russell Athletic and most recently CEO of Challenger Turf. He is a father of 3 adult daughters and has been married to his best friend for over 32 years. He invests his time with high integrity growth oriented leaders (and/or their leadership) who care about humanity and the environment

At age 46, Mike met his biological Mom and siblings, but not his dad. He was told that his dad didn't like successful people, but was talented at breaking and entering. Sitting in a living room with people he shared blood with but had never known until then was a turning point - Grateful vs resentful.

Mike shares so much in this interview with Rob Scheer, including these messages:

• Take care of your thoughts when alone. Take care of your words when with other people.
• The struggle of believing to belong: Belong. Build. Believe

Other Key Story Notes:

🖐️ Know and Own Your Own Story

🖐️ Define Your North Star

🖐️ Build Your Personal Trust Community Across All Aspects of Your Well Being

You can find out more about Mike by visiting:

Website: mikethorne.co

Instagram: @ptctransformer

Twitter: @ptctransformer

Linkedin:  linkedin.com/in/michaelbthorne

YouTube:@mikethorne3768 You Tube

You can purchase Mike’s book, Hustle With Heart, by clicking THIS LINK.

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

Listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change at https://www.comfortcases.org/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.