Join us for the opening night of the Foster Youth Museum: Lost Childhoods Exhibit in Redwood City!

Get ready to feel the energy! Hype & Hope is your invitation to connect, create, and celebrate. This is where our community and youth come together to bring the hype and build hope for a brighter tomorrow. With music, activities, and inspiring moments, we’re here to spark change, elevate voices, and fuel the spirit that makes our neighborhood thrive. Whether you’re a teen ready to shine or a community member looking to make an impact, this event is for YOU. Let’s build, uplift, and make it happen—together! Raffle prizes and dinner will be offered.

Take a deep dive into the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) by participating in a film screening of California’s Forgotten Children Documentary (https://www.californiasforgottenchildren.com/) followed by a moderated discussion with local experts: Pamela Estes former coordinator of the former Human Trafficking program in the county and Jeremy Latta Social Work Supervisor of Children and Family Services in San Mateo County. Learn what you can do to take action on this important issue in San Mateo County.

This session is recommended for adults and youth 13+. This program will be graphic in nature and may be triggering for some participants.

Join us as we come together to listen to and celebrate young people from our community giving voice to their lived experience in our local foster care and juvenile justice systems.  You won't want to miss their powerful expression of their stories through poetry and spoken word!

Are you feeling overwhelmed or unsure of where to go or who to ask for help? Join us for an evening of learning about the importance of mental health, community suicide awareness, and self-care. You'll have the opportunity to hear from current and former foster youth, Health Youth Ambassadors and crisis awareness experts on their own mental health journey; what was helpful, and how you as a community member can respond and support others in a time of need. You will also have the opportunity to engage in self-care activities, including rock painting and a communal Sound Bath, presented by Manpreet Singh. Participants will be nourished via sound and stillness marking the end of the evening allowing for a supported transition out of the space. We hope you leave refreshed, empowered, and aware of available community resources. You are not alone, so come help strengthen our community, by learning strategies to fill up your own cup and to pour into the cups of others.

Join us for a presentation about CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) in San Mateo County. The presentation will be followed by a conversation panel of experts.

Topics will include:

•        Community Demographics

•        Current local issues

•        What to look for

•        How you can help

San Mateo County Experts on CSEC: Love Never Fails ,Rape Trauma Services, San Mateo County Office of Education, San Mateo County Children and Family Services, San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office and Elizabeth Quiroz, MA Ed.D. Student in Christian Leadership, Author of Purified in The Flame, Co-founder of Redemption House of The Bay Area  and Survivor Leader.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from and be inspired by engaging stories and courageous conversations by and with youth who have navigated our local foster care and juvenile justice systems. Hear directly from young people as they share one-of-a kind podcasts that will celebrate their perspectives and build understanding about issues that often go undiscussed in our community.

Join us for an evening exploring the journey of foster youth in navigating the school system. In an interactive activity, learn about how changing schools can impact not just those who have to move, but everyone around them. Watch and listen to testimonies from those with lived experience. Engage with a panel of experts. You’ll hear from current and former foster youth, resource parents, school administrators, and education professionals. We are excited to have Michelle Lustig, Director for the State of California’s Foster Youth Technical Assistance Program and a passionate champion for Foster Youth, join us. Learn about the challenges and the ways that we can support our young people in schools – an evening that will leave you saying, “Not Again!”

Join us for an insightful Panel Discussion as we continue the conversation from our Hype and Hope event on juvenile justice. Calling all volunteers and community leaders! This is your chance to hear from youth speakers, elected officials, and senior agency leaders, as they respond to the community's concerns and ideas raised during the previous gathering.

Panelists will include:

*   Youth voices sharing their perspectives

*   Elected officials addressing key issues

*   Senior agency representatives responding to community feedback

Don’t miss out – your voice matters!

Have you thought about becoming an advocate for foster youth and juvenile justice youth? CASA of San Mateo County pairs children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems with community volunteers who provide one-on-one support, mentoring and advocacy in the courtroom and beyond. Our caring and dedicated CASA volunteers help children heal from trauma and access the services they need to thrive. Attending an orientation is the first step in our application process. In these one-hour information sessions, prospective volunteers will learn about the commitment and responsibilities required to serve as a CASA volunteer.