2025 Central Ohio Thanksgiving Together

2025 Central Ohio Thanksgiving Together took place on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at Reynoldsburg High School’s Summit Campus, 8579 Summit Road, Reynoldsburg OH 43068.

Here is a link to more photos. 

Many thanks to the Junior League of Columbus, Reynoldsburg City Schools Leo Club, Temple Israel Columbus, Sozo Church, the Dave Thomas Foundation and My Very Own Blanket. 

2025 SW Ohio Thanksgiving Together

2025 SW Ohio Thanksgiving Together took place on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, 2400 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Here is a link to more photos. 

Many thanks to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Midwestern Plumbing Service, Easley Blessed Foundation, NOaR, the Hamilton County Youth Advisory Board, and to Shaka Heyward and Barrett Carter of the Cincinnati Bengals. 

2025 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Together

2025 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Together took place on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at the Compassion Center, 1012 Sunnyside St. SW, Hartville, Ohio 44632, thanks to support from Hope Bridge. 

Here is a link to more photos. 

Big Table with Junior League of Columbus

On October 21st from 6–8pm, the Junior League of Columbus, in partnership with the Ohio Youth Advisory Board and ACTION Ohio, facilitated A Big Table community conversation on K-12 success, college access, and campus supports for young adults transitioning from foster care.

Link to more photos.
Link to handouts.

The Big Table is a community-wide day of conversation hosted by The Columbus Foundation that aims to inspire civic engagement and authentic human connection. The goal is to build momentum for a just and kind future for all.

Jaleshia Brown receives the 2025 Nikki Chinn Champion of Change Award

Congratulations to Jaleshia Brown for receiving the 2025 Nikki Chinn Champion of Change Award, and many thanks to Caidyn Bearfield, who was last year’s recipient.

The Nikki Chinn Champion of Change Award is a way to honor a former foster who goes above and beyond in advocating and in supporting the voices of today’s foster youth. It is a “pay it forward award” in that each year’s recipient can choose who to recognize next year from a different county. Ohio has 88 counties and in them, there are 88 different experiences.

This award was named in honor of Nikki Chinn, who was literally the Erin Brockovich of foster care, when it came to tracking down police records, working with reporters and shutting down Pomegranate. As well as so much more when it comes to foster care advocacy and the Columbus State Scholar Network.

In the words of Caidyn Bearfield:

• Couldn’t think of anyone else I wanted to give this award to more!  I am so impressed with Jaleshia's hard work and feel heartened to know her and see Nikki’s legacy in action.

• When I think of my dear friend Nikki, I think of someone who doesn’t take “no” for an answer when it comes to youth safety and stays respectful and collected in conflict, who moves forward gracefully in uncertainty, who builds up the peers around them, and who can still laugh at the end of a long day.  Jaleshia, you’re doing it!  Absolutely crushing it!  Thank you!!!

In the words of Jaleshia Brown:

• Such an honor to receive the 2025 Nikki Chinn Champion of Change Award! This award honors a former foster youth who went above and beyond in advocating for and supporting the voices of today’s foster youth.

• Nikki Chinn left a legacy of making a difference in the face of obstacles. I am grateful to be recognized for my efforts to make a difference for current and former foster youth of Hamilton County and Ohio.

• The behind-the-scenes of advocacy work is not always easy or obvious, but I will continue to forge a path for my brothers and sisters of the system by putting their voices, their needs, and their experiences first! I'll continue to lead this work with purpose, vision and hope! 💪🏾

Rotary Event ~ the Rule of Five

Question asked of Lisa Dickson of ACTION Ohio: Most Rotary Clubs offer scholarships- unique barriers facing foster youth re: higher ed. What recommendations would you give to a Rotary Club that wants to build a special scholarship program for former foster youth?

Lisa's Answer:

Five – can everyone hold that number up for me?

• Five: That’s how many different high schools that the average foster youth attends. 
• Do the schools use the same textbooks?  NO. 
• Do new schools always offer the same classes as their old one? NO. 
• Do their credits always transfer? NO. 
• With each transfer, how many months of academic progress are lost?  Five.

• Five: For colleges and universities and others who want to make a difference for foster youth, we've mapped out the 5 R's of supporting student Resiliency in higher education. 
• Scholarships are the doorway in, but student support services are how we stay there.
• Do dorms stay open over the holidays?  NO.
• Is it easy to find a decent apartment when you don't have a cosigner?  NO.
• Does the Pell Grant cover the entire cost of college?  NO.

• Five: Imagine being a young person who ages out of foster care and trying to find a caring adult who is willing to help you practice learning how to drive for five hours. Now multiply that by 10, because Ohio now requires 50 hours for young people between ages 18-21 years old. 
• Five: And how many hundred of dollars does driver's education cost?  You guessed it: $500.
• Are any of us truly independent?  NO.
• This is a personal one for me: I emancipated from foster care early and started college at age 16. I didn't learn how to drive until after earning my Master's degree.

• College support networks and youth advisory boards share this eco-cycle of group development. 
• How many losses did the Columbus State Scholar Network experience last year?
• Five. 
• It's going to take community support to put this program back together. 

2025 Rotary Event

Link to more photos.

On Friday, September 5, 2205, Jenny Stotts facilitated a panel for the Rotary Zones 30 and 31 Institute. Attendees represented 16 states and four countries. The focus of the panel was how to "Build a Village for Foster Youth in Your Community." Here are the PPT slides. 

Panelists included:

• Alivia Johnson, OHIO YAB Youth Ambassador. Alivia participated in the Ohio Supreme Court's Youth Voice in Court Video Project, advocated for foster youth during Statehouse Day, and has co-led sessions for foster youth on leadership and life skills.

• Ann Bischoff, CEO of Star House. Star House does "whatever it takes to partner with teens and young adults as they exit homelessness and thrive in a community of hope."

• Adam Price, Board President of My Very Own Blanket. Adam is a foster parent and an advocate for the foster youth community. MVOB activates volunteers to make and donate blankets for foster youth in local communities. 

• Lisa Dickson of ACTION Ohio (Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now). Lisa's quiet, but fierce advocacy empowers young people to use their voices to motivate meaningful change.

• Michelle Mays, founder of FosterHub and author of the Dumpster Doll book series (soon to be featured in an upcoming film). Michelle was inspired to start FosterHub because "former foster youth might be on their own, but they're not alone."