Foster Achievement Fellowship Newsletter. Wednesday, April 22, 2015

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1 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 Foster Achievement Fellowship Newsletter Wednesday, April 22, 2015 IN THIS ISSUE by FAF President, Edwin P resswood- Castro Fostering Achievement Fellowship is an organization which addresses the comprehensive support structure to assist foster youth making the transitions from a structured foster care program to independent young adulthood. The Fellowship program provides financial, academic, and social support to assist college bound youth aging out of foster care pursing a college education. I hope this newsletter finds you well and your course work and life are amazing. This is a new initiative that the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) will be utilizing to keep our members informed and up to date with what the program is doing. As you may already know, FAF s mandatory requirements are our: weekly one- to- one meetings with our wonderful coordinator (Equan Burrows), weekly group meetings, and doing well in your courses. The Newsletter is dedicated to the FAF members who are unable to participate fully due to other responsibilities (children, work, and etc.). This issue will focus on getting to know the board members, volunteering opportunities and major events held throughout this Spring Semester 2015, and what you can be looking towards to for the future of the Fostering Achievement Fellowship. I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. Stephen Covey Meet the FAF Family Meet the coordinator, interns, and board members who fuel the Fellowship. Page 4 Foster Youth Collegiate Event Learn about the newly annual Collegiate Tour Event FAF coordinated with TCC, FSU, and FA&MU Page 2

2 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 2 speeches about the FAF program by our coordinator and board members. TCC FAF has collaborated with FSU C.A.R.E & Unconquered Scholars and FAMU s Trio program to bring an annual collegiate tour catering to foster youth in the Tallahassee area giving them the a unique college experience. Foster Youth from Boys Town, Inspire, Children Home Society, and Success group homes were all at attendance. This event was an exciting 3 day event from March 17-19, 2015 and explored all three campuses and their respective organization/ programs dedicated to supporting foster youths transition to college. Day one, at TCC entailed a great tour of TCC s wonderful campus, followed by a spirited basketball game with our talented Women s basketball (Lady Eagles) team and ended with inspirational Day Two, at FSU began with a introduction of the beautiful FSU campus, followed by a presentation of the FSU C.A.R.E/Unconquered Scholars program by the great Lisa Jackson, Coordinator of Unconquered Scholars, and some members of the Unconquered Scholars program, a delicious meal at the magnificent Suwannee room, a meet & greet with the women s softball players including 2014 USA softball National player of the year, Lacey Waldrop, and ended at a lively softball game between FSU Seminoles Vs. Troy University Trojans. with a delectable meal at Rattler s dining hall, followed by an orientation with admissions, a great campus tour, a sit in on FAMU s symphonic band, and ended with a conversation about the Trio Program. This was an inspirational event that cannot have been made possible without the motivation and determination of the FAF interns from FSU, Emily Rattini- Reich and Caroline Johnson Day three, at FAMU began

3 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 3 MORE PICTURES Foster Youth Collegiate Experience Equan s surprise party. FAF members and foster youth playing basketball with the talented Lady Eagle s. Foster Youth Collegiate Experience Equan leading the tour at TCC. Fostering Youth Collegiate Experience FAF has gone through some great changes this semester. We established a student board, got involved in volunteering opportunities, and are holding more events so FAF members can get to know one another and keep up dated with the program. FAF had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer and be role models to the youth at Boys Town group home. It was a wonderful experience where FAF members were able to talk and encourage foster youth to follow their dreams and go to college. This was a one- time event for this semester but we re working on making it a monthly event. So FAF members can have the opportunity to get involved and encourage foster youth. FAF members and board members had the great idea to throw our amazing coordinator, Equan Burrows, a surprise party as gratitude for the motivating, inspiring, and amazing work he does, and for just being the awesome person he is. It was a great meeting filled with great food, inspiring stories, tears and laughter. FAF will also be working on holding events on the weekends for other FAF members who are unable to attend the weekly group meetings and want to get involved and get to know the FAF family. We will be holding events such as horseback riding, skating, fishing trips, picnics, and much more. If you have any suggestions or need any help working out the scheduling of these events please speak with Equan. FAF is scheduling an all- day fishing trip in Panama City Beach; we re just waiting until the weather gets better. But be on the lookout for the text messages and s to stay updated! FAF is slowing evolving into a bigger more amazing program that it already is. We strive to cater to the needs of all our members. So if you have any suggestions, want to get involved, or if there is anything we can do to help please let us know! Get excited for your future with FAF!

4 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 Equan Burrows is the coordinator of the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) program at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). He is also the coordinator of Black Male Achievers (BMA), a program designed to empower and educate its students on the importance of the successful completion of their post- secondary aspirations through the practices of academic, social and occupational excellence. Equan obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminology from Florida State University and a Master's Degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. He has been a prominent voice at TCC since 2011 in the Lifetime Sports Complex and Campus Life and even established the first multinational trip for Eagle Adventures during his time at TCC. His hobbies include playing musical instruments, watching and participating in sports, organizing community based programs, volunteering and spending time with family. Megan Downey is a higher education intern for the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) program at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Counseling from the University of Toledo in 2014 and is currently working towards her Masters of Science degree in Higher Education Student Affairs at Florida State University. Megan works for the Florida State University Career Center in Employer Relations. Her dream is to work with students and help them find their passion in life. In her free time, Megan enjoys going to Disney, dancing, and spending time with her friends. Amanda Peters is a higher education intern for the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) program at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science focusing on Sociology and Communication in Amanda is currently working towards her Masters of Science degree in Higher Education Student Affairs at Florida State University. Her passion is to advise, recruit, and assist incoming students in higher education. In her free time, Amanda enjoys boxing, working out, practicing yoga, and spending time with her friends and her puppy named Goose.

5 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 5 Emily Rattini- Reich is a social work intern for the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) program at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from the University of Florida in 2013 and is working towards her Masters of Clinical Social Work at Florida State University. Emily s passion is to work with family systems and vulnerable populations in the community. In her free time, Emily enjoys painting and spending time with her family and a giant cat named Sir Catson. Caroline Johnson is a social work intern for the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) program at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Florida State University and will graduate in May of Caroline plans to go straight into a master s program in social work upon graduation. Her passion is to go into policy work and program development for vulnerable populations. In her free time, Caroline enjoys traveling, volunteering, and participating in Florida races. Ms. Andrea Peavy is the president of the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) Leadership Board at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). She comes to FAF from the sunny city of West Palm Beach, Florida. Ms. Peavy is pursuing her Associate of Arts degree in social work and looks forward to attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University to complete her bachelor s degree. She plans to obtain her Master s degree in Social Work from Florida State University, focusing on child welfare and the judicial system. Ms. Peavy is excited to grow the FAF program by incorporating younger foster youth in the community. In her free time, she enjoys expressing herself through hip- hop dance as well as involvement with community service activities.

6 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 6 Edwin Presswood- Castro is the vice president of the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) Leadership Board at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). He is currently working towards his Associate of Arts degree at TCC and will graduate in May Edwin is transferring to Florida State University in the summer of 2015 to pursue his Bachelors in Family & Child Science. He is from the alluring city of Miami, FL. He has a passion for people and aspires to work with children in unfortunate situations, specifically foster care children, to aid them in being successful and accomplishing their dreams. Edwin enjoys being outdoors, the beach, traveling, Netflix, cooking, and gaining a better understanding of people and the world. William Clark Gipson is the secretary of the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) Leadership Board, Secretary of the Black Male Achievers Program, as well as the Vice President of Every Nation Campus at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). Mr. Gipson is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Social Work at TCC. William will graduate with his Associate of Arts degree in August of 2015 and plans to attend Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University (FAMU) for a bachelor of Social Work. His dream is to start an after school program for elementary aged children and also aspires to reach college students with the gospel. In his spare time, William enjoys reading, volunteering, and watching and playing sports. Shanice Thompson is the public relations chair of the Fostering Achievement Fellowship (FAF) Leadership Board at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). She is studying sociology at Tallahassee Community College and plans to graduate with her Associate of Arts degree. Shanice has aspires to attend Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in the fall of 2015 to complete her bachelor s degree. Her goal is to obtain a Ph.D in sociology and continue on to become a college professor. Shanice strives to positively impact youth and help them understand the value of an education. In her spare time, Shanice enjoys reading, writing and dancing ballet, modern and jazz. She aspires to be an advocate for all foster youth and be one of the faces that demonstrate anything is possible with a little hard work.

7 FOSTER ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER Issue 1 Foster Achievement Fellowship Newsletter Please like, share and follow us on every social media network! Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: Appleyard Drive Tallahassee, FL 32304