Seita Scholars Foster Care Awareness Walk 2021

1903 West Michigan Avenue,Kalamazoo MI 49008

22 May, 2021

Description

The Seita Scholars Program invites you to join us for a walk to spread awareness and raise funds for the program. #letsbreakthestigma The Seita Scholars Program invites the public to join us on May 22nd, 2021 for our fourth annual Foster Care Awareness Walk on Western Michigan University's campus! This walk is an effort to spread awareness about foster care and fundraise for the Seita Scholars Program's student emergency fund. We will be passing out information about foster care and the Seita Scholars Program at the event with the hope that you will learn something new and pass on what you have learned to others! May is Foster Care Awareness Month. National Foster Care Awareness Month provides an opportunity for people all across the nation to focus their attention on the needs of youth in foster care. According to research by the Casey Family Programs, only around two to four percent of youth from the foster care system will earn a college degree as of 2010. The Seita Scholars Program is part of a larger initiative to change the college-going paradigm of youth in the foster care system. The goals of the Seita Scholars Program, are to: Create transitions that lead to success in college and career for Western Michigan University students from foster care ages 18 to 25 years old. Develop a community of scholars among WMU students who have aged out of foster care, and create a safe community to deconstruct and reconstruct identity. Educate WMU students from foster care and their support network to enhance their professional skill set. Transform WMU students from foster care by integrating experiences from students’ past to build opportunities for their future. Registration begins at 9 AM and the walk will begin at 9:30 AM at WMU's Kanley track, located across from the Student Recreation Center on campus. Rain location will be the indoor tennis courts at the WMU Student Recreation Center. Registration is $15 for adults and $10 for students over 12, $5 for children 12 and under, and free for Seita Scholars. This price includes a t-shirt, music, food and more. If you are an agency looking to bring awareness to your services and/or programs, you can purchase a ticket for $50 and a table will be provided for you to set up your information. If you can't attend the walk and/or would like to attend and help a student attend, please feel free to sponsor a student for $15. For sponsorship levels and information, please contact Elyse Hogan at the email provided. Please join us in spreading awareness and showing support for youth who experienced foster care on our campus and in the state. After Foster Care Awareness Walk we will paint the rocks by the pond . Masks are mandatory for this event as well as filling out the mandatory COVID-19 wellness survey located in the add-ons section in the checkout. For more information, contact the administrative assistant Laura Cornish via phone at (269) 387-8344 or via email at [email protected].