Connecting Youth to
A Brighter Future
Equipping former foster youth & young adults with the skills an knowledge they need to achieve financial stability and independence!
About Us
My Next Chapter – Connecting Youth to A Brighter Future
A partnership between Shelter 37 and Thematic Learning Organization has designed My Next Chapter – Connecting Youth to a Brighter Future. My Next Chapter is an educational and motivational program that provides former foster youth that age out of the system and youth from the community with real life skill sets to help them in their transition into adulthood and give them an opportunity to secure employment and/or start their own business. Shelter 37 is a non-profit that was founded by 2X Super Bowl Champion, James Washington. James was born and raised in Watts and is committed to giving back to the youth in the community by providing effective life skills, job training, and educational programs. He’s currently the president of the NFL Alumni Association Southern California. is a non-profit who partners with corporations, state and local government, schools, churches, and non-profit organizations to offer educational workshops. Thematic Learning Organization was formed in 2014 by Sharon Griffin who saw a need to bridge the gap between the underemployed and business owners who lacked skilled professional staff.
Our Mission
According to childwelfare.gov, there are over 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States. The Children’s Law Center of California reports that nearly one hundred times a day, a child in California is placed in foster care and Los Angeles county alone has over 33,000 foster youth in care who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment. As a result, youth in foster care often transition into adulthood without the tools and support they need to thrive. Only 1 out of 2 who age out of the system will have some form of gainful employment by the age of 24, and only 3% will earn a college degree.
A partnership between Thematic Learning Organization and Shelter 37 has designed an educational and motivational program, My Next Chapter – Connecting Youth to a Brighter Future. My Next Chapter provides former foster youth & young adults with real life skill sets to help them in their transition into adulthood and give them an opportunity to secure employment and/or start their own business. The trainings are delivered by industry professionals and educators through in-person, virtual and online classroom settings.
Join Your Hand With Us For Former Foster Youth’s Better Life & Future
Join your hand with ours and help foster youth achieve their dreams. Your dollar can make a difference in their lives, and that’s something worth celebrating.
OUR PROGRAM
Scholarships for Former Foster Youth & Young Adults from our Community
Equipping Foster Youth with the Skills and Knowledge they need to achieve Financial Stability and Independence!
My Next Chapter offers scholarships to former foster youth & young adults, ages 18 – 32.
Participants learn how to set goals, stay focused, and the principles for building a solid financial foundation. They also learn key principles of being an entrepreneur, including creating business plans, legal structures, business finances, and risk management. Participants have the option of learning a skill, receive the required licensing or certification and job placement. They may also choose to receive college counseling to attend college.
Want to Extend A Helping Hand?
We welcome non-profits and community organizations who provide support services to former foster youth and young adults. If your organization is interested in partnering with My Next Chapter to help change the lives of former foster youth and young adults, please get in touch with us.
“It’s someone finally seeing your worth, after feeling like the biggest failure, it’s like someone saying it’s ok. Let’s get back to the drawing broad, after you’re tired of being tired. This program as truly changed alot of the toxic thought patterns I created by thinking that I can’t do it. My Next Chapter has given me my inspiration back!Thank you to all the My Next Chapter mentors for seeing us and to the motivational speakers that took time out of their busy day, to come and inspire us. Please don’t stop what you’re doing with this program it will help so many people that think this is it. They just don’t see how they can make it. This will give them the confidence to step right back in the ring and fight for a brighter tomorrow.”
“I appreciate everything you all have done for us. You all have spent countless hours and countless resources bringing many different people in to share experiences and share knowledge. You all spent countless hours preparing lessons and assignments for us during this class as well and it is all much appreciated. I love that you all do this to give people a second, third, or how many chances they have had in their entire lives. I can not express how much this opportunity not only means to me but to all the other people you all have assisted with building better lives or at least opportunities. I understand not everyone will take this seriously or even care about all the work you all have put into it.. But I have and I will!”
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