Community Leadership Forum

2009 Summit: Education Issues Impacting Foster Children

Thursday, April 16, 2009, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm

California Endowment's Center for Healthy Communities
1000 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Junior League of Los Angeles is proud to host the 2009 Summit on Education Issues Impacting Foster Children.

Keynote Speakers: 
Panel Membership:

2009 Summit Framework: Education Issues Impacting Foster Children 

This year our speakers and panelists will focus on topics critical to ameliorating the education issues impacting foster children in Los Angeles.

  • We support and encourage an easier way for foster children to gain awareness and access to college funding sources.
  • We understand the value that mentorship programs offer foster children to improve their chances in successfully graduating high school.
  • We recognize a need for community involvement to uphold education rights for foster children and provide knowledgeable and caring decisions on their behalf.
  • We acknowledge the need to simplify the transitional process foster children face when moving between schools.
  • We realize the value educational courses can provide current and potential foster parents/caregivers in maximizing awareness of resources and services that address immediate and long-term support of foster children.
  • We want to share the knowledge of a 2-year initiative that redesigns 30-year old foster care regulations and present an overview of the new federal government fostering youth connections law. 

The 2009 Community Leadership Forum will bring together community leaders and experts in the areas of Education and Foster Care by creating a collaborative environment that fosters individual and organizational awareness, influence partnerships, that produce resolution of these issues.

2009 Summit:  Schedule of Events

 8:00am-8:30amRegistration & Continental Breakfast
 8:30am-9:45am  Welcome & Keynote 
Michelle Kezirian, JLLA President 
Keynote Speakers
 9:45am-10:15amNetworking Opportunity & Resource Fair 
We invite Non-profit and Government Agencies who serve that serve foster youth
to share information about current or proposed programs.
10:15am-12:15pmPanel Discussion (Short and Long-Term Solutions)
Panel Presentations
Moderator Led Discussion
Audience Q&A Session
12:15pm-12:30pm  Closing Remarks
Panel Moderator 

More Information about Education Issues Impacting Foster  Children:
JLLA 2009 Community Leadership Forum Fact Sheet - coming soon!
California Foster Youth Education Task Force Fact Sheets

Click here for volunteer information.

Community Leadership Forum Mission

The mission of the Junior League of Los Angeles' Community Leadership Forum is to bring together community, non-profit organization, and foundation leaders, along with our members to share knowledge, enhance awareness and advance the cause of an issue impacting Los Angeles.


2009 Summit Vision

This year our summit will focus on topics critical to ameliorating the education issues impacting foster children in Los Angeles. We believe that there should be an easy way for foster children to have access to funds for college. We understand the value of mentorship programs to improve the chances that foster children will graduate from high school. We see a need for community involvement in holding education rights for foster children and having someone who can make knowledgeable and caring decisions on their behalf. We hear their pleas that they want to make the many transitions from school to school easier. And we even see the value in making available educational courses to current and potential foster parents so they can become more aware of the structure and services available to them.

Target Audience

Community Leaders, including: political leaders, foundation members, non-profit organization employees and volunteers, educators and Junior League of Los Angeles members, and interested members from other Junior Leagues in California, including State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) members.

2008 Summit Overview

Please click on the link below for an overview of the Junior League of Los Angeles 2008 Summit - Aging Out of the Foster Care System held Tuesday, March 4, 2008. The overview includes photos as well as a list of actions that each of us can take to improve the conditions for these youth (starting on page 6). We encourage each of you to share this overview with others that care about foster care and improving the situation for those aging out.

2008 CLF Summary

Key speakers at the last year's event were Venus Manuel, Andrew Bridge, Judge Michael Nash, Dr. Margot Kushel, Ingrid Hines, Ed Howard, Sam Cobbs, and Martine Singer.

For more Information e-mail: communityleadershipforum@jlla.org or call (323) 957-4280