2017 Alumni Powerhouse Networking Conference, New York City
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Shalita O’Neale
CEO, Fostering Change Network
800-660-2338
soneale@fosteringchangenetwork.com
ALUMNI POWERHOUSE NETWORKING CONFERENCE, NEW YORK CITY
New York City, May 19, 2017 –Fostering Change Network (FCN) will be hosting its fourth Alumni Powerhouse Networking Conference (APNC) at the New York Hilton – Midtown in New York City. FCN is an organization founded by Shalita O'Neale, a former foster youth who thrived despite her circumstances, going on to become a sought after national and international foster care advocate and a serial social change entrepreneur. The purpose of APNC is to bring entry to mid-level professionals and entrepreneurs from across the country who have experienced the foster care system to a supportive, professional space where they will promote their business endeavors, get feedback from other foster care alumni on how to build and expand their businesses (and non-profits), and connect professionally and personally with other adult professionals from foster care. The APNC is the only national conference planned for and by Alumni/Adoptees of the foster care system specifically for personal and professional development.
The success of the previous three APNC’s has resulted in a demand to take it across the United States. In addition to the conference in NYC, in 2017 the APNC will also be in Cleveland and California. The APNC has attracted support from national sponsors such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Dave Thomas Foundation and the Walter S. Johnson Foundation and has partnered with national foster care advocacy organizations such as iFoster, Fred Finch Youth Center, California Youth Connection, One Simple Wish, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and Jim Casey Youth Opportunity Initiative. Past sponsors have included John Hopkins University, Prudential Insurance, Miles and Stockbridge, P.A., Foster Care 2 Success, Together We Rise, Foster Focus Magazine, FosterClub, Maryland Local Departments of Social Services.
The APNC conferences have doubled attendance every year since 2015, welcoming 200+ foster care alumni professionals and entrepreneurs nationwide and featured presentations from Alumni of Foster Care Professionals from across the country. The APNC network of attendees is composed of males and females in the 18-50 age range of virtually every larger ethnic group.
At the Six Degrees of Foster Care Gala that will be taking place on the evening May 19th. We will be honoring Alumni/Adoptees and a few advocates of foster care leading in child welfare and beyond with our Heart of the Alumni Movement Award. Our current honorees include, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels (from RunDMC), Chris Chmielewski with Foster Focus Magazine, Serita Cox with iFoster and Sherry Lachman with Foster America.
Our vision is to dispel the foster care stigma and to let young people in foster care know that there is promise and opportunity after the foster care system and there are people who have been in their shoes waiting to help them find it. For more information on the APNC and the Six Degrees of Foster Care Gala, see the attached Media Kit and/or visit http://www.alumnipowerhouse.net/apnc-media-kit/