Silver Lining Mentoring

This Pride Month, we are focusing on action and education.

Our partners at FosterClub are offering their course on Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Youth in Foster Care completely free for the rest of June.

This is a vital resource for mentors, advocates, and anyone looking to better understand the unique experiences of LGBTQ2S+ youth navigating the system.

We highly recommend taking advantage of this before the month ends. Link below to enroll.

Celebrate Pride Month with action. 🏳️‍🌈✨

For the entire month of June, FosterClub is offering our Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Youth in Foster Care course completely FREE.

Learn how to support, advocate for, and understand the unique experiences of LGBTQ2S+ youth navigating the foster care system.

🔗 Claim your free course, https://fosterclub.thinkific.com/courses/supporting-lgbtq2s-youth-in-foster-care.

What does support sound like? On May 28th, it sounded like the quiet, focused hum of a room full of people creating side-by-side.

Our CLIMB program hosted a Craft Crawl at Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain, bringing together mentors, mentees, and five incredible local artists. Together, our community explored everything from therapeutic beadwork and watercolor to upcycled patch making, stamp relief printing, and creature sculpting.

We wanted to highlight how crafting can be a functional skill, a therapeutic outlet, and a tool for self-expression. But the real magic happened in the unstructured moments - sharing a meal, trading stories, and watching our young people step outside their comfort zones to make these projects entirely their own.

Our mentors and mentees left the space with custom stamped bandanas, handmade bracelets, clothing patches, and watercolor paintings to take home as reminders of what we can build together. Every young person left with a goodie bag of supplies to keep that creative spark alive at home.

A massive thank you to our phenomenal artist partners - Zangar Freeman (ZMakesBeads LLC), Alex DiMauro (Mayfly), Jennifer Chan, Marieke Rosenbaum, and Sonya - for sharing your time, your artistry, and your heart with our community.

100% of our mentors shared that they felt closer to their mentee after the event, proving that connection grows whenever we slow down and make space to create together.

We want to give a massive thank you to Steve Isoken Osemwenkhae, Robin Liebowitz (Interlocks Salon), Mackenzie Noyes, and Noah Wilson-Rich for speaking at our recent Learn & Earn panel.

In our Learn & Earn program, young people in foster care develop essential career and life skills alongside a volunteer mentor while earning an incentive at the same time. Our guest speakers brought so much career guidance to the table, but the inspiration went both ways.

Panelist Robin Liebowitz shared that the experience was deeply moving for her as well: "The enthusiasm from the youth made it especially rewarding for me. I would tell someone who’s considering getting involved that it’s a very rewarding and meaningful experience. Not only do you enrich a young adult's life, but you enrich your own as well!"

Thank you to all of our speakers for showing up, sharing your wisdom, and being a vital part of our community.

Interested in getting involved? Tell us how by filling out this short form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScM-mlejWFy4LE7pnmRcL1M6y3nykY3NFxJV6scJiRDcZNmPw/viewform

We are still feeling the incredible energy and inspiration from the powerful speakers at the 2026 Match Gala.

Hearing directly from our SLM staff, dedicated mentors, and inspiring mentees reminded us exactly why this mission matters so much.

Swipe through to read some of the most impactful quotes from their time on stage, and thank you to everyone who listened with open hearts as we celebrated the power of showing up for one another.

At the 2026 Match Gala, Janaya reminded us that what young people in foster care need most is someone who genuinely chooses them.

Thank you to our incredible mentors, volunteers, and supporters for being the people who show up just because you care.

Chris Anderson’s TED Talk on "Infectious Generosity" perfectly captures what we see every day at Silver Lining Mentoring.

True generosity isn't always about grand gestures or massive resources.

As Anderson points out, some of the most profound gifts we can offer are simply our time, our attention, and a willingness to truly listen.

For a young person navigating the foster care system, that consistent, reliable presence changes everything.

When we show up as dedicated allies, we spark a kind of hope and trust that ripples out into the entire community.

Watch the full talk for a beautiful reminder of how powerful showing up can be!

It's time for infectious generosity. Here's how What would happen to humanity if generosity went viral? Sharing transformative stories from around the world, head of TED Chris Anderson outlines why the time has come for the internet to realize its power to supercharge small acts of kindness, changing lives at a scale never experienced before. Lea...

At Silver Lining Mentoring, we know that supporting young people means understanding the complex systems that impact their lives.

Housing instability is one of the leading systemic barriers that bring youth into the child welfare system.

But when communities and leaders collaborate on real, policy-driven solutions, families can stay together and build the futures they deserve.

On June 15th, our colleagues at Chapin Hall and Casey Family Programs are hosting a powerful conversation about keeping families stably housed and supported.

If you are interested in systemic advocacy and community well-being, this webinar is a must-attend!

instability is a leading reason why families get reported to child welfare. Leaders are finding ways to change this by collaborating across agency and state lines.

On June 15, Chapin Hall, Casey Family Programs, CSH, and state leads from Colorado, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Oregon will share takeaways from the Housing as a Foundational Element of Family Well-Being Cohort. Over 6 months, cross-sector teams in this cohort met to identify policy and practice changes to keep families stably housed and out of the system.

Guest speakers:

- Evan Caster - Deputy Director for the Division of Housing, Colorado Department of Local Affairs

- Janel Winter - Assistant Commissioner and Director, Division of Housing and Community Resources at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs

- Mary Carpenter - Executive Advisor at the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services

- Stacey Mahler - Child Welfare Housing Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Human Services' Child Welfare Program

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1uNUdbrZRfaMG3Nc8omt7Q #/registration

The joy in this room was unmatched!

We are still smiling looking through all the photo booth captures from the 2026 Match Gala.

Thank you to everyone who brought their energy and showed up to celebrate our incredible youth.

A huge shoutout to 360 DJs & Photo Booth Rental for helping us capture these amazing memories. Swipe to see the fun.

For young adults navigating life after foster care, having a consistent, supportive relationship in their corner can change everything.

Could you be that person?

We know your time is valuable, which is why our e-Mentoring program is designed to fit seamlessly into your life while making a profound impact.

Next week, our team is hosting virtual Drop-In Information Hours. Whether you have 10 minutes between meetings or want to stay for the full hour, we invite you to pull up a virtual chair and say hello.

Come ask questions, meet our staff, and learn how dedicating just four hours a month from your device can help a young adult build essential life skills and reach their goals.

Next Week’s Drop-In Schedule:
📅 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
⏰ 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

💻 Join us via Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9833726335?omn=83833697568&jst=3

When Youth Leadership and Advocacy Council (YLAC) member Tamara took the stage at the 2026 Match Gala, she spoke about the life-changing power of connection.

She reminded us that Silver Lining Mentoring is more than just a program; it is a community where young people belong.

To our entire network of mentors, volunteers, and donors - whether you attended the Gala or support us from afar - thank you for being a vital part of that community.