Bestselling author Ashley Rhodes-Courter to share personal experiences in the foster care system
Southwest Florida-based A.N.A.’s Friends is launching a new event, Among Friends, that will initiate a much-needed community conversation that allows participants to better understand the foster care experience.
Set for April 10 in Fort Myers, “Among Friends: A Conversation about Healing, Belonging and the Power of Connection” will include local parents and caregivers, along with case managers, volunteer advocates, community leaders, dedicated supporters and others ready to deepen their commitment to youth in foster care.
Headlining the inaugural event is author, speaker, child welfare advocate and change-maker Ashley Rhodes-Courter, who was born to a single teen mother and shuffled between 14 foster homes and institutions before being adopted at age 12. The author of New York Times bestselling memoirs “Three Little Words” and “Three More Words,” Rhodes-Courter’s books follow her personal journey through Florida’s foster care system.
Following Rhodes-Courter’s presentation, the evening continues with Conversations Among Friends, a guided discussion experience in which attendees will reflect on the themes of healing, belonging and connection while considering opportunities for the community to play a more meaningful role in supporting children and teens impacted by foster care.
“Most people have a basic understanding of the foster care system, but they don’t truly understand its complexities or the challenges that children and teens in foster care are facing every day,” said Jessica Stanfield, CEO of A.N.A.’s Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children in Southwest Florida who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. “Among Friends will create an opportunity to expand that basic knowledge and understanding so everyone in our community – no matter the title or resume – can be a friend and begin advocating for vulnerable youth who need our support to heal, grow and thrive.”
Among Friends will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 10 at Caloosa Sound Convention Center, 1375 Monroe St. in Fort Myers. Individual tickets are $200 and include dinner, wine and signed copies of “Three Little Words” and “Three More Words.” For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit ANAsFriends.org/AmongFriends.
Various levels of sponsorship opportunities are available and range from $1,000 to $15,000. Sponsorship benefits include website logo placement, reserved tables, recognition during the program, speaking opportunities and more. For more information about sponsorships, visit ANAsFriends.org/AmongFriends.
The day after Among Friends, A.N.A.’s Friends is hosting the inaugural EmpoweredU Conference, an invite-only event tailored to teens and young adults preparing to age out of the dependency court system. The conference will equip attendees with skills and knowledge to step successfully into adulthood by connecting them to resources like career pathway support, education, mental health resources, financial basics and more. Rhodes-Courter also will serve as keynote speaker for EmpoweredU, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson St. in Fort Myers. Teens in the dependency court system and foster families interested in attending can contact A.N.A.’s Friends at 239-245-7787.
About A.N.A.’s Friends
A.N.A.’s Friends is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to vulnerable Southwest Florida children and teens who have been Abused, Neglected and Abandoned (A.N.A.). “Friends” of the organization includes individuals, businesses, foundations and nonprofits that collaborate through partnerships that provide a safer, more nurturing environment allowing youth to heal, grow and thrive. Originally founded in 1983, A.N.A.’s Friends is a United Way Partner Agency that serves youth in the dependency court system across Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For more information, please visit ANAsfriends.org or call 239-245-7787.