Fostering Change

"If you have nobody, you have yourself." Lillian Colon

When Lillian Colon shared that phrase above with Rob Scheer when he interviewed her recently, there was a pause in the conversation as those words hit home. Reflect on them for a moment.

On today’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob interviews Lillian Colon, who spent more than a decade in a strict New York City orphanage because her father “thought it would be best” to separate from the mother she adored. With restrictions all around her, she strove to be someone better than anyone ever believed she could. Lilly never knew the care and loving attention of a stable family, but she didn’t let obstacles and family tragedies stand in the way of her dreams.

As a child, after the nuns who ran the orphanage took her to Radio City Music Hall to see the famed “Rockettes, “Lilly was driven to become a dancer. A graduate of New York’s prestigious High School of Performing Arts (if you’ve ever seen the movie Fame,” you’ll understand), Lillian became the first Latina Rockette.

Lillian achieved so much more in her career, having performed with some of the great names in Hollywood and on Broadway, including the legendary Chita Rivera. Most recently, she was the oldest dancer in the Hollywood adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights!”

We celebrate this achievement on the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lillian shares all this in her memoir Lilly: The First Latina Rockette. This is a truly lovely conversation with a wonderful, good human. We know you will enjoy her growing-up stories and her performance success.

To find out more about what Lillian is up to, please visit her website: https://www.lilliancolon.com/

You can purchase her book here: https://www.lilliancolon.com/product/lilly-book/

Thank you for listening! Of course, if you have any questions or comments about today’s episode or a suggestion for a guest for Fostering Change, please reach out to us at [email protected].

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In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Giovanna Ventola, an entrepreneur and self published children’s book author who lives in Chicago. She wrote the story of her rescue pup, “Waylon’s World” about Waylon’s journey to his forever home with her in the big city. It’s the first children’s book she’s written but she already has plans to add more to the series. Walyon has been the cutest little mascot for kids and he’s a big hit when they do live readings in Chicago.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Background on How Giovanna Wrote the Story and a Summary About What It Is.

🖐️ Kids reading books and trying to relate to characters

🖐️ The Book as a Tool to Comfort and Empower Children Going Through Any Type of Change

Purchase “Waylon’s World” here: https://www.readwaylonsworld.com/shop

You can find out more about Giovanna by visiting:

Website: www.readwaylonsworld.com

Instagram: @readwaylonsworld and @giovanna.ventola

TikTok: @readwaylonsworld

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Kate Trambitskaya, Chief Executive Officer, Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children. As Chief Executive Officer, Kate oversees the administration, programs, and strategic plan of Spence-Chapin. Kate began working at Spence-Chapin in 2012, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel for the organization. Before coming to Spence-Chapin, Kate was a Senior Team Leader/Attorney for the Family Court Legal Services, Administration for Children’s Services in Brooklyn for six years, representing the Commissioner of Social Services in court and various judicial proceedings. Kate is a Posse Foundation alumna, a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, a member of New York Attorneys for Adoption & Family Formation (NYAAFF), and board member of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA).

Kate received a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Adoption and Adoption Services

🖐️ Assistance to Children without Families Living in Institutions Overseas (Our Granny Program)

🖐️ The State of Child Welfare System Locally

You can find out more about Kate by visiting:

Facebook: /spencechapin

Instagram: @spencechapinsvc

Twitter: @SpenceChapinSVC

Tik Tok: spencechapinsvc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spence-chapin

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita is a national non-profit public charity executive with extensive national experience in fundraising, grantmaking, strategic planning and organizational management and program growth. Children's social justice issues are always a focus while providing a business environment of accountability and excellence in finance management, marketing, communications, governance and planning on their behalf.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Who does DTFA Serve?

🖐️ What does Scaled Mean?

🖐️ More than 11,000+ children have been Adopted from the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program

🖐️ Why are Youth Lingering in Foster Care?

🖐️ DTFA is Celebrating 30 Years as a Foundation

You can find out more about Rita by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption

Instagram: @dtfa

Twitter: @dtfa

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Kristina Lowenstein is the co-founder and executive director of The Honeycomb Project. She was 13- years-old when she landed her first job making dip cones at an ice cream shop. After many more years, and a few more jobs, she shifted her focus to the nonprofit sector where she worked for organizations such as The Field Museum and 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid. Kristina studied Political Science as an undergrad at NYU and attended Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Scholars program. She is a 2017 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.

The Honeycomb Project is one of few organizations in the county focused on family volunteering. Since 2011, more than 30,000 volunteers have participated in programs, making a difference in the lives of millions of residents in the Chicago area. And more recently, 2,000 kids and parents across the country participated in our Honeycomb at Home program, which provides educational resources and creative ideas to spark change from the kitchen table.

Volunteering as a family connects kids with complex issues through personal experience. We are opening their eyes to the realities of our society and helping them understand how to make a difference and why to take action.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️What is The Honeycomb Project and Why is it so Necessary?

🖐️What are the Benefits of Volunteering as a Family?

🖐️How Do You Appeal to Kids with Different Interests?

🖐️How Can People Participate in Honeycomb’s Volunteer Efforts Outside of Chicago?

🖐️How Does The Honeycomb Project Fund its Work?

You can find out more about Kristina by visiting:

Facebook: @HoneycombProject

Instagram: @Honeycombproject

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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