Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Keri Vellis, Biological, Adoptive, Foster Mom, Author & Advocate. Keri has 3 biological children & adopted three from foster care. She has fostered over 20 children, written 3 children’s books: Sometimes – for foster children; When I Was Little – for children who have suffered from trauma & abuse, and her latest book, Tummy Mom for adoptive children. Keri has a NonProfit Keris Kids which distributes the books nationally. To find out more about these titles, please visit: https://www.kerivellis.com/ Watch Full…
Author: Rob Scheer
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Jodi Grinwald, Founder & Change Agent, Today is the Day, LLC,CEO & Co-Founder, Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation.Jodi has over 17 years of experience as a not-for-profit (for-impact) organization expert and has won several benchmark awards. After working in leadership positions for two national not-for-profit (for-impact) organizations, Jodi, became the Ceo & Co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. The organization provides 100% funding to children who meet the financial needs requirements to take ongoing lessons in the…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Jen Lilley. On May 26, 2007, Lilley married Jason Wayne. In 2016, Lilley and her husband became foster parents through the organization, Childhelp. In June 2019, Lilley and Wayne adopted their two foster sons and in July 2019, she gave birth to a daughter. She is currently pregnant and due with her child VERY SOON. A star on both the silver and small screens, including the Academy Award-winning film THE ARTIST, NBC’s iconic daytime series “Days of Our Lives,” ABC’s “General…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Mindy Henderson, author, editor, speaker, advocate. Henderson is the author of THE TRUTH ABOUT THINGS THAT SUCK, A Motivational Speaker, Writer, Coach, Host of The Truth About Things That Suck podcast, guest contributor of “Morning Motivations” on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” lifestyle morning show and was recently named an “Austin Woman to Watch” by Austin Woman Magazine. After a 20-year career in high-tech, Mindy shifted her focus toward helping others realize their potential and normalizing disability. Driven to build a…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Shenandoah Chefalo,Owner/President of Chefalo Consulting: Trauma-Informed Specialist.Shebabdoah is a former foster kid, Author of Garbage Bag Suitcase: A Memoir and owner of Chefalo Consulting. They talk about Looking at the whole person and whole system transformation to create systems of healing. Watch Full Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfucNlt2nQU Story Key Notes: Understanding the impact of trauma on people and the impact of trauma on organizations.That when we look at systems designed to help, we often focus on those they serve.Thinking about intentional actions towards…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with York Bradshaw, Ph.D. President, Urban Hunger Project, Inc.York Bradshaw had a long career at several universities, where he served as Professor of Sociology and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic work focused on improving education and health in cities in both the U.S. and Africa. More recently, he served as an educational consultant and professional grant writer. And he is now President of the Urban Hunger Project. Urban Hunger Project is a nonprofit organization that serves food…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Susan Silverman, a rabbi, writer and activist. She is the author of Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful, Broken World (Da Capo Press) a memoir that weaves the story of her family, formed through birth and adoption, with Jewish theology and ritual. Susan is the founding director of Second Nurture: Every Child Deserves a Family — and a Community. Second Nurture partners with communities in LA County and Columbus, OH, to help them prioritize fostering and adoption from foster…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Marcy Bursac, Adoptive Mom, Author, Podcast Host, and App Designer.Foster care adoption was Marcy’s Plan A. She and her husband adopted a biological sibling pair. While remote schooling her children during the pandemic, Marcy began to see a gap between adults with a desire to adopt and the 115,000 adoptable children within the United States. With a heart for those children and a deep desire to take action, Marcy wrote a book (The Forgotten Adoption Option: A How-To and Self-Reflection Guide…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Nancy Molenda, Executive Director, Mattel Children’s Foundation and Mattel Corporate Philanthropy, and Brittany Cruickshank, Senior Specialist, Mattel Children’s Foundation and Mattel Corporate Philanthropy. At the Mattel Children’s Foundation, play is one of the most powerful ways we can affect meaningful change in kids’ lives. So whether it’s on the playground, at home, or at one of our many volunteer events, Mattel is committed to ensuring all children have the opportunity to play. Watch Full Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyD68wxXnVY Story Key Notes: Mattel’s MissionFoster…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Kate Trambitskaya, Chief Executive Officer, Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children. As Chief Executive Officer, Kate oversees the administration, programs, and strategic plan of Spence-Chapin. Kate began working at Spence-Chapin in 2012, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel for the organization. Before coming to Spence-Chapin, Kate was a Senior Team Leader/Attorney for the Family Court Legal Services, Administration for Children’s Services in Brooklyn for six years, representing the Commissioner of Social Services in court and various judicial proceedings.…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify / Stitcher / RSS In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Rita Soronen,President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita is a national non-profit public charity executive with extensive national experience in fundraising, grantmaking, strategic planning and organizational management and program growth. Children’s social justice issues are always a focus while providing a business environment of accountability and excellence in finance management, marketing, communications, governance and planning on their behalf. Watch Full Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHEojIoQgXA Story Key Notes: Who does DTFA Serve?What does Scaled Mean?More than 11,000+ children have been…
In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Leigh Anne Tuohy, Foster Care advocate, Motivational Speaker, NY Times Best Selling author and Interior Designer. Leigh Anne is an interior designer by trade, but her heartbeat is advocating for children at risk of slipping through the cracks of society. Leigh Anne and her husband Sean live in Memphis, TN. They are the proud parents of daughter Collins, and sons Michael and Sean, Jr. Watch Full Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nolf2a8JNs Story Key Notes: Forever Family FridayBuild a Community that Inspires You. Surround Yourself with Others that Want to Make a Difference.Take…