What happens to foster care children in New York City when they age-out of the system? The truth is that many are largely forgotten by the government, destined to end up in homeless shelters with nowhere to go and lacking the education or skills to provide for themselves.
“I thought my life was over. I couldn’t believe this was what my life had become.”
The NYC branch of SalaamGarage, a team of photographers, videographers and journalists dedicated to bringing forth positive social change, has spent the better part of a year documenting the lives of those who have graduated the foster care system at 21 ill-prepared for what lies ahead. Headed by SG founder Amanda Koster, and led by SG Local NYC Maggie Soladay and team, the group aims to raise public awareness for their cause, and has launched a Kickstarter campaign to complete funding for a book an exhibition for the project “Aging-Out of Foster Care.”
The book, titled “Everybody Needs Somebody” is a compilation of 15 stories and photographs of those who have aged out of the system. The exhibition will take place at The Long Island Children’s Museum from June 16th, 2012 – September 2nd, 2012.
For more information on the Kickstarter project, or to make a donation, click here.
To read more on SalaamGarage Local NYC and the beginnings of the “Aging-Out of Foster Care” project, click here.
