Florida’s Children First and Florida Youth SHINE Celebrate Incredible 20-Year Milestone
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Florida Youth SHINE, Florida’s premiere youth advocacy, empowerment, and leadership group. The group was founded by the award-winning nonprofit organization Florida’s Children First and FCF Board Chair Howard Talenfeld, a lead partner of the Justice for Kids Division of Kelley Kronenberg.
To help create Florida Youth SHINE, Howard connected Florida’s Children First with California Youth Connection, a similar organization for youth that he was introduced to while serving on the Board of the Youth Law Center in San Francisco, CA.
Florida Youth SHINE was the first youth advocacy group in the state specifically focused on addressing the unique needs of youth aged 13-26, in and aging out of the foster care system. They also work with youth who are disadvantaged, experiencing homelessness or managing a disability, or have juvenile justice exposure. Their innovative youth-led and youth-driven approach has since become the national “best practices” standard for youth empowerment groups. Today, Florida Youth SHINE has grown to 15 Chapters and 350 current and former foster youth. It has served as a place of affiliation and amplified their voices by passing their own foster care legislation.
Kelley Kronenberg and its Justice for Kids Division proudly support Florida’s Children First and Florida Youth SHINE as Statewide Presenting Sponsor. Howard is proud of the fact that the entire Justice for Kids team is actively involved in both organizations.
Hear from members of Florida Youth SHINE how this organization has forever impacted their lives in this video: https://youtu.be/ds9YwMUhIdE
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