First Place for Youth

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First Place for Youth With the right guidance and support, teens leaving foster care can defy the odds stacked against them.

Our staff from across Northern California, Southern California, and Mississippi recently gathered at our Impact Summits ...
10/23/2026

Our staff from across Northern California, Southern California, and Mississippi recently gathered at our Impact Summits to reflect, connect, and align on the strategies that drive our mission forward, complete with a Halloween theme and costume contest to keep things festive!

This yearā€™s summit also featured a presentation exploring AI and its growing relevance to our sector. Staff connected with colleagues and learned skills through a presentation from Jonathan Liebert, CEO of BBB Serving Southern Colorado.

When our teams work toward shared goals, equipped with the right tools and knowledge, our impact is stronger.

Weā€™re proud to work alongside people who bring passion and commitment to this work, and we canā€™t wait to see what we build next!

Young people say they want hopeful stories of people beating the odds, and people with lives like theirs on screen. Thos...
10/22/2026

Young people say they want hopeful stories of people beating the odds, and people with lives like theirs on screen. Those are findings from the 2026 Teens & Screens report from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA, which surveyed more than 1,500 young people ages 10ā€“24.

Read the research: https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/teens-screens-26

This month, our Solano team partnered with For A Better Future, a supported living services agency, to connect youth dir...
10/21/2026

This month, our Solano team partnered with For A Better Future, a supported living services agency, to connect youth directly with career opportunities and potential employers!

Co-Founder Ari met with youth to learn about their goals and share available positions. Youth were highly engaged, and several have already expressed interest in pursuing careers in the field.

Partnerships like this help bridge the gap between career interest and real employment outcomes.

How can the entertainment industry tell more meaningful, authentic stories about young people who have experienced foste...
10/20/2026

How can the entertainment industry tell more meaningful, authentic stories about young people who have experienced foster care?

First Place for Youth's Director of Communications, Jayme Catalano, recently joined a convening with UCLA's Center for Scholars & Storytellers to dig into that exact question. Too often, foster youth are reduced to harmful stereotypes on screen, the "bad kid," the "damaged" teen, the inevitable failure, portrayals that reinforce stigma and obscure the real systemic conditions, often tied to poverty, that bring families into contact with the child welfare system.

A young person's time in foster care may be part of their story, but it should never be treated as the whole story.

Read more about our partnership for narrative change: https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/blog/changing-the-story-one-character-at-a-time

Being in the room isn't the only way to make a difference.If your schedule doesn't allow you to join us in Los Angeles o...
10/16/2026

Being in the room isn't the only way to make a difference.

If your schedule doesn't allow you to join us in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 22, 2026, your support still matters just as much. Every contribution helps us continue empowering transition-age foster youth across Los Angeles County and beyond.

A few ways to make an impact, even from afar:
- Make a gift in honor of the evening
- Become a sponsor, recognized as part of this year's celebration
- Share this event with someone in your network

This year, we're also honoring Debbie Allen with our inaugural First Place Community Impact Award, recognizing her leadership and lasting impact on our communities.

Thank you for standing with us, in the room or from afar. Every bit of support changes a young person's story.

Learn more: https://firstplaceforyouth.org/key-of-possibility/

šŸ  Every young person deserves a safe place to call home. Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of ...
10/15/2026

šŸ  Every young person deserves a safe place to call home.

Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, includes $150 million dedicated to creating housing for current and former foster youth and young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

"As young people, we are often told that housing is an issue for our future, but for foster youth and young people experiencing homelessness, it is an issue of the present. Proposition 1 recognizes that stable housing is foundational to education, opportunity, and the ability to build a future. Investing specifically in youth who are navigating housing instability means creating pathways to stability in a moment when support can make a lasting difference."
ā€” Juliet, 17, Los Angeles

When young people have a safe place to live, they have a stronger foundation to thrive.

šŸ“¢ Share this post and help spread the word about how Proposition 1 supports youth housing.

Our team recently took a group of youth to LACMA's seasonal Night Out event, where they explored the Geffen Gallery, wal...
10/14/2026

Our team recently took a group of youth to LACMA's seasonal Night Out event, where they explored the Geffen Gallery, walked among the museum's iconic Urban Light installation, and engaged with art in ways that sparked genuine curiosity and conversation.

Helping youth discover free and low-cost community resources is one small but meaningful part of building their independence and quality of life.

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting In the Key of Possibility this October 22nd! Your support is ...
10/10/2026

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting In the Key of Possibility this October 22nd! Your support is helping us create an unforgettable evening in celebration of foster youth and the futures they're building.

There's still time to join us, as a guest or a sponsor. Every contribution helps us continue empowering transition-age foster youth across Los Angeles County and beyond!

Get your tickets or learn about sponsorship opportunities today: https://paybee.io/quickpay.html?handle=firstplace&ppid=26

At 20, Shantel is writing a new story, for herself and for foster youth across Hattiesburg, Mississippi.After moving thr...
10/08/2026

At 20, Shantel is writing a new story, for herself and for foster youth across Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

After moving through several foster homes, Shantel pushed forward, graduating high school despite the disruptions of the pandemic. Today, she's part of the inaugural My First Placeā„¢ cohort in Mississippi, enrolled in a medical assistant program, and living in her own apartment for the first time.

"When I came to First Place, I got everything I needed," she says. "My life just started. Now I'm enjoying everything."

With stability, support, and a clear plan for her future, Shantel is proving that with the right support, young people don't just survive, they thrive.

Our LA Career Coaches partnered with ABC Construction in the San Fernando Valley to give youth a hands-on look at career...
10/07/2026

Our LA Career Coaches partnered with ABC Construction in the San Fernando Valley to give youth a hands-on look at careers in the skilled trades!

Participants toured active worksites and explored opportunities in electrical, plumbing, and low-voltage systems, learning about training, certifications, and career growth. As a token of appreciation, youth received Milwaukee tape measures to support their continued interest in the trades.

Thank you to ABC Construction for investing in the next generation of skilled workers!

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