Former foster kid overcame odds, with help from many friends, to earn law degree

By Donna St. George

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, May 7, 2010; B01

When Jelani Freeman came home after school one day, his mother was gone. Eight years old, he waited, realizing as the hours passed that she would not be back. She was mentally ill and in need of treatment. His father was in prison.

"I just knew that was it," he recalled.

By the next afternoon, social workers were involved. So began a way of life that he came to know as foster care, a world of in-betweens and stopgaps that brought six moves and inevitable questions about how to get beyond hurt and want and poverty.

On Saturday, against the odds, Freeman will graduate from Howard University Law School, where he has told few of his professors how far he came just to take a seat.......

To read the full article, click here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/06/AR2010050606345_pf.html

Orphan Sunday Campaign on a Roll!

With the 2011 Orphan Sunday campaign just underway, myriad events are already brewing. Across the U.S, plans are being laid for city-wide concerts and multi-church gatherings….church services and Sunday School classes…more. Individual families making plans, too, including the Orphan’s Table meal, along with prayer and discussion.

Like never before, the vision is starting to spread around the world, too. The new Russian language website recently launched for Ukraine and Russia.

Additional new-language sites are in the works, too. And local campaigns are starting up from the Philippines to Romania to Kenya.

Orphan Sunday is a chance for anyone to spread the vision of God’s love for the fatherless in a church, community or family! Harness the many RESOURCES and easy-to-use EVENT IDEAS on the Orphan Sunday website, and then post your plans on the EVENT MAP!

For more information visit http://www.orphansunday.org/. 

RUN, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T.

What if you couldn’t run, not even if your life depended on it?  Running from human trafficking is not as simple as it seems –

mental manipulation, physical bondage and threats keep Chicago victims from finding freedom.

Victims may not be able to run, but you can.  By joining Traffick Free in the Freedom Run 5k, you are telling Chicago that human trafficking is not acceptable in our city. You are contributing to efforts to help free the supply and end the demand. You can do something about human trafficking. Join the Freedom Run 5k on 9.10.11. A few hours of your day will make a citywide impact.

SIGN UP NOW AT WWW.TRAFFICKFREE.ORG/5K

Stop Traffick. Start Running.

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011

7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Diversey Harbor, Chicago, IL

$25 registration

$35 with t-shirt

Group discounts available

Adoption Basics for the Classroom: Expert advice on how to educate educators

You have been talking to your child about adoption since he came home. But what about the time he spends at school? What does his teacher know about adoption? About birth parents? Does she know how to help him answer why he doesn't look like his mom?

Join Debbie Riley, the Chief Executive Officer of The Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.), as she discusses how adoptive parents can educate the educators.

This webinar will help you:

* Talk to teachers about creating an adoption-sensitive environment

* Educate teachers on managing discussions about adoption in school

* Discover how much of your child's story to share

* Learn how to handle some standard school projects (family trees, baby pictures)

Your purchase confirmation email will include a link to submit questions to Ms. Riley.

This webinar will not be available for purchase after the event. You will only receive access to the recorded version if you register for the live event.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

7:00 - 8:00 PM Central Time

Q & A: 8:00 - 8:30 PM Central Time

(Start Time: 7:00PM Central, 8:00PM Eastern, 5:00PM Pacific)

Join the conversation on Twitter #abcwebinar

To register, go to http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/webinars/adoption-basics-classroom.cfm?utm_source=ABCJCICS1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ABCJCICSBLAST1

Debbie B. Riley is the Chief Executive Officer of The Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.), an independent pre and post-adoption organization in the Baltimore-Washington area and co-author of the book, Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens.

Since 1993, she has focused exclusively on the field of adoption, creating pre- and post-adoption programs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; offering specialized counseling services to adopted children, teens, adults and adoptive families; and promoting health education, child advocacy and public policy development. Most recently, Ms. Riley leads the national initiative to create training standards for an adoption-competent certification for mental health providers.

Adoption Music

Becky Wright is an award-winning Christian singer/songwriter and Nashville recording artist from Oklahoma. In May 2008 she was named "Female Songwriter of the Year" at the Agape Fest in Texas. A gifted worship leader and conference speaker as well, Becky performs across the USA at churches, festivals, homeless shelters, and for adoption events.  Singing and writing since childhood, her worldwide acclaim began with the writing of “Child of My Heart”, an adoption song which won her the title “Duo of the Year” and a Top 5 Female Horizon Award at the 2006 Agape Fest (TX).  The song was recorded in Nashville with Tommy Brandt, CCMA (Christian Country Music Association) Male Vocalist & Entertainer of the Year, and is now used by adoption and related organizations such as the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (Adoption Services), Arkansas Adoption Coalition, Gift for a Child, ATTACH.org, and others.  For more information about Becky's music, her orphan & adoption advocacy projects and conference/concert schedule, visit http://www.beckywrightsongs.com/. 

International Justice Mission Benefit in Chicago

CHICAGO BENEFIT DINNER

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Reception at 6:30 pm

Dinner and Program at 7 pm

Chicago Marriott Downtown

$100 per person

Business or Cocktail Attire

RSVP by October 11, 2011

www.ijm.org/benefits

BECOME A JUSTICE CHAMPION

* Host a table: Purchase 10 tickets
* Recruit a table: Fill 10 seats
* Sponsor the event: Multiple sponsorship levels available

For more information, contact IJM: events@ijm.org or 703.740.9923

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Featured Speaker: Gary A. Haugen, IJM President and CEO

Haugen, a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Chicago Law School, leads IJM’s global casework and groundbreaking structural transformation of public justice systems worldwide. Before founding IJM, he worked in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and served as Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations’ genocide investigation in Rwanda.

Mila's Story

At the age of 12, Mila+ was trafficked into prostitution in a Manila bar. Today, she is thriving in a safe and loving aftercare home. At the benefit, hear how IJM was able to rescue her, and other stories of freedom made possible by people like you.

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Host Committee

Chairpersons

Elizabeth and Eric Ha

Bonnie and Jay Knobloch

Mark Johnson

Teresa Nortillo

Cora Passis

Jennifer and Jim Quigley

Carole Wineman

Tiffany and Jason Wright

Webinar: Transracial Adoption: Becoming a Multicultural/Multiracial Family

Alliance Webinar Series

The Christian Alliance for Orphans Webinar Series is designed to help individuals like you create and grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry in local churches.

You're Invited....
Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Time: 1:00 PM Central
Topic: Transracial Adoption: Becoming a Multicultural/Multiracial Family

Host Church: Bethlehem Baptist Church


Presenters: Maridel Sandberg, Bethlehem Baptist Church & Jaclyn Skalnik, Bethany Christian Church

This webinar will highlight both joys and challenges of expanding a family through trans-racial adoption—including social understandings of race, ethnicity, nationality and culture. We will explore both positive and difficult issues related to the life-long consequences of adoption, and offer tangible suggestions to help a church community embrace and support multi-racial families.

Each 60-minute webinar in this series will give local advocates access to the knowledge and experience of top Alliance member churches and organizations nationwide, covering key topics on adoption, foster care and/or global orphan care. Every webinar will be hosted by a local church orphan ministry and co-presented by one or more national experts on the subject matter. This pairing will deliver a combination of specialist information and resources alongside a “here’s how it works in a real church” perspective.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/resources/webinars/

Run for Chicago Kids in the Chicago Half Marathon or 5K

September 11, 2011

When you join Team LYDIA, you can reach your personal fitness goals while standing up for children of Chicago who need your support through your pledges and donations to LYDIA. Join us by participating in the Chicago Half Marathon or 5K (official Team LYDIA race) or another area race of your choice.

Sign-up with a friend, family member or co-worker since it’s always easier to stay motivated when training with a buddy!

3 SIMPLE STEPS:

First, register for the Chicago Half Marathon & 5K (or another race of your choice) on the race website. Our Chicago Half Marathon & 5K coupon code for a $5 discount is: CHMLHA11 (case sensitive) please write this down and use when you register for the race.

Then, sign-up for Team LYDIA and create your own fundraising page (it's free).

Participate in the race to help change lives of kids in Chicago!

For more information, to register or to donate/sponsor a runner, visit http://www.lydiahome.org/Event.aspx?site_id=10086&event_id=225199

Illinois Town Hall Meeting to Combat Human Trafficking

Sponsored by International Justice Mission

Join IJM inChicago on September 19 to stand up for victims of modern-day slavery – and show your elected policymakers that Illinois is passionate about fighting trafficking at home and abroad.

Featured Speakers:

•U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam, Illinois District 6


•Holly Burkhalter, International Justice Mission


•Lynne Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church



Invited Speakers:

•Senator Dick Durbin, United States Senate


•Senator Mark Steven Kirk , United States Senate

Event Details

September 19, 2011

7:00 p.m.

Park Community Church

1001 N Crosby

Chicago, IL 60610

Event Co-Sponsors include: TraffickFree, PROMISE, STOP-IT, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), the Dreamcatcher Foundation.


If you have any questions about the event, feel free to visit http://www.ijm.org/illinois-town-hall.
If you would like to carpool together from Chicago's western suburbs, contact Dina at vcministry127@gmail.com.

Step Forward for Orphans March

Step Forward for Orphans March from Both Ends Burning on Vimeo.


In a powerful statement of solidarity, key leaders of international adoption and members of their organizations have joined forces to participate in the "Step Forward for Orphans March," a unified event designed to bring global awareness to the current dysfunctional adoption system.

Parents who have been waiting for their adopted children to come home, adoption experts and advocates, and families who wish to provide a permanent home for a child in need will convene on August 26 in Washington, D.C. for the "Step Forward for Orphans March."

Visit bothendsburning.org for more information.