Let me start with a little honesty… ahem. Prior to sitting down and actually beginning to write this blog posting, I had no idea what November’s posting would be! I think of these postings as I do journalism, at least what I learned in journalism class in high school. News should always be relevant and timely - amongst other things, of course. There was no way a posting sitting in the drafts could capture, not just the last week with our first Trunk o’ Treat on October 24th but the ribbon cutting that took place on October 31st for the Transitional Youth Empowerment program.
Woosah...
With this posting coming of the heels of Halloween, I want to say, I don't consider myself to be a believer of superstition; however, I will also admit, even with the Transitional Youth Empowerment Program ribbon cutting being planned and posted on our website in late September there was one very big detail holding us back from posting over and over on other platforms to draw the attention of many as you do for organizational and life altering events until we were a day away. Somehow before the, legal, completion of this “detail” I didn't want to jinx one of the biggest events in Meryl's Safe Haven’s history to have to cancel it. Just a few sleepless nights, don’t worry, I’ll recover. Think you know what it is?
Go ahead, try to guess. Even if you guessed it, I don't think you would believe it. It’s like me forgetting that I needed to have a payroll processing company to pay people - how’d you miss that, Doc? I digress … You want to know what it was? Fine, I’ll tell you.
The location and the signing of the lease for the location.
At the end of September, we had a problem we hadn't had before: two possible locations to call home for our Transitional Youth Empowerment Program. Although I felt I knew the best decision, there was something holding me back from moving forward and I later realized what it was - there was a little sense of loyalty to someone who hadn’t earned it. We'll call that another posting for another day. I needed to know I was not only making an informed decision but an unbiased one so I sought counsel - legal counsel and the heartfelt counsel of friends (and family) which is Biblically described as being sweet as perfume and incense - I needed people who would tell me what I needed to hear not what I wanted to hear. Those discussions helped to make it very clear and so I did what needed to be done to move us forward as an organization.
Fast-forward a bit.. As I stood there with (heavy) scissors poised in my hands, sweating because it seems like someone turned the heat up, the weight of the moment hit me! The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Transitional Youth Empowerment Program symbolized the start of actualizing Meryl's vision; it wasn't just a formality - it marked the launch of what we were designed to be.
Leading Up to the Ribbon Cutting Moment
For anyone new here, Meryl's Safe Haven was created in honor of my aunt, Meryl, who I lost in 2022. A conversation I vividly remember having with her was related to starting a program for young people, more specifically creating a space for young people who had aged out of the foster care system. As a pre-adoptive parent, an educator, a previous teen center director... etc. etc. etc. I said to her, "do you know how hard that will be?". Her response to me.. "I never said I woud be there, I just said I would run it." Two years later and we were both right - this is hard and she's not here and, some days, it’s harder because she’s not here.
Cutting through the ribbon brought a sense of relief. A "woosah" moment like no other. It was a declaration that this program which had been delayed multiple times was open and ready to make a significant impact but more importantly, to me, it was the moment that indicated we had arrived at our "why".
The Programming Aspect
With the ceremony behind us, we are ready to dive into the heart of the work for this population. The Transitional Youth Empowerment Program has been crafted to equip our youth with essential tools for facing life’s challenges head-on: group reflection to process trauma, financial education to create long-term financial independence, career and educational support to help with long-term success, and a team of supports to help develop and actualize goals many of them, likely, wouldn't have dared to dream out-loud.
Join Our Movement
As I conclude this reflection on our ribbon-cutting and the start of the Transitional Youth Empowerment Program, I invite everyone to take action. Your support—whether through donating, joining us for our 2nd Annual Rent Party, volunteering, mentoring, or spreading the word—can spark change in someone's life. Together, we can foster a thriving community where our youth who have or will be aging out of the foster care system feel empowered to shape their futures.
Take a deep breath with me...
Congratulations!