Winds and rain from tropical storm Debby did not dampen the fun for the NEXT STEPS barbecue held at the Village on Saturday August 3rd. Over one hundred young adults and their children gathered to celebrate family and friendship thanks to the support of Weinstein Legal Team who underwrote the event. The event featured food trucks, a DJ, face painting, a bounce house, and priceless displays of family!
The sense of family is varied for young adults who have lived experience in foster care. For some, they have strong relationships with their birth families, and for others, family ties may have been severed leaving youth to find people who they can surround themselves to create familial bonds.
While our SOS NEXT STEPS program is designed to provide a continuum of services such as assistance with securing affordable housing, employment, education, financial management, and more – the overarching result of our program is that young adults are not alone during the critical time in their lives as they seek full independence. SOS provides stability, love, and caring support for everyone in the Next Steps program. Maleka Smith, Next Steps Manager, shared “It is not out of the ordinary to get a call late at night from someone seeking relationship advice, how to navigate a difficult situation at work, or needing help to pay a utility bill while they work and attend school. They are our family, and we help out in the same way any other family member would.”
Weinstein Legal Team’s mission is centered in advocacy and education. This is why they are committed to leveraging their position in the South Florida community to make a positive impact. Together with non-profits such as SOS Children’s Villages Florida, Weinstein Legal Team strives to uphold justice, support vulnerable families, and build a brighter future for the next generation.
