April 2021 News
 Program UpdatesNew Website Launch This month, Project LIFE will be launching our new website. The improved site layout makes it easier to find what you are looking for, along with other improved usability aspects and a fresh new look. We are excited for its debut! Keep your eyes out for the launch. March Workshop Re-Caps In March, the Eastern region partnered with Great Expectations, Centura College, and VDSS to host a workshop about educational options. The presenters provided youth with information regarding the ETV funding and how to access that funding. A Great Expectations Coach, along with a program participant, discussed the program and the support that is provided to youth. Centura College also provided the youth with an overview of their program. Also in March, Project LIFE partnered with accounting firm Mitchell Wiggins to provide 2020 tax information to youth attendees. Attendees learned the basics about filing taxes, possible credits and deductions available. Everyone left having learned more! Did you miss this workshop but need some pointers on how to get started? Check out their presentation housed on our website. Upcoming Statewide Events |
| Virtual Real World Simulation Date: April 6, 2021 | Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Join us for a simulation of the Real World that concretely addresses education and employment decisions youth make in combination with lifestyle choices. The challenge will be to develop a budget on everyday needs and wants while responding to real life situational crises. There will be opportunities for discussions, re-evaluating decisions and processing information learned. Click the button below to register. Contact Melissa if you have questions. Registration closes on 4/6/21 at noon.  Talk it Out Tuesdays Dates: April 6 + 20, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Feeling isolated due to COVID? Need someone to connect with? Miss talking with peers? Talk it Out Tuesdays is an open platform for youth to talk with other youth and trusted adults about anything on their minds. Hosted by Jamesia and Melissa, you can join in this social session by registering.  Foster Care Bill of Rights Focus Group Date: April 8, 2021 | Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Voices for Virginia’s Children and Project LIFE are collaborating to host a focus group to engage youth in the creation of a Foster Care Bill of Rights for the state of Virginia. Youth are encouraged to give input on items they would like to see represented. Space is limited! If there any questions, please contact Courtney or Sophia. Conference Focus Group Date: April 8, 2021 | Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Use your voice to share your ideas for the Spring Conference. Provide input about what you want to see happen. Please register below. Contact Sophia with questions.  Parenting Together with the Basics Date: April 21, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Are you a parent to a young child? The baby stage is hard, and some say the toddler stage is even harder. As parents, we want to help our child grow and learn, but sometimes we don’t know where to start. Band together with other parents to connect with one another, and to learn basic ways to improve your child’s brain growth. We’ll cover 5 different topics over 5 months, and you can attend as many sessions as you want. This second group will be facilitated by a peer and an adult expert. Register once using the button below. Contact Kelly with questions.  Annual Spring 2021 Conference! Dates: May 18, 19, and 20, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Virtual events via Ring Central Application Project LIFE presents, “The LIFE Network.” This will be a virtual conference in the evenings of May 18-20. Eligible youth are encouraged to join us for fun filled days with workshops and activities around advocacy, life skills development, budgeting and credit, culinary arts, and more! Participants will show off their creative skills in our talent showcase! Youth will have the opportunity to win raffle prizes throughout the conference. We cannot wait to see you there! Register below and contact Kelly if you have any questions.Register Here  Upcoming Regional Events Eastern Region ILCC Conference Date: April 7, 2021 | Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Virtual Events via the Ring Central Application Eastern region youth are invited to a conference hosted by the Eastern ILCC and Project LIFE. Sharpen your life skills with some interactive workshops. Register here or contact Melissa if you have any questions.  Piedmont Region IL Sessions for Youth Dates: April 15 + 22 + 29, 2021 | Time: 5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Virtual Events via the Ring Central Application Did you say Chick-fil-A???? That’s right, the first 5 youth to register for and attend a session with Jamesia will receive a gift card for a Chick-fil-A meal. All Piedmont region youth are invited to participate. Contact Jamesia if you need more information. Click here to register for “All in My Emojis.” Click here to register for “Budgeting Basics.” Click here to register for “Apps for Life.”  Piedmont Region Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) Meeting Date: April 22, 2021 | Time: 11:00 a.m. Virtual Video Conference with the Ring Central Application All Piedmont region DSS agencies and private providers are invited to attend to discuss independent living needs for youth in this region. Contact Jamesia if you plan on attending or if you need more information. Northern Region Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) Meeting Date: April 27, 2021 | Time: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Virtual Video Conference with the Ring Central Application All Northern region DSS agencies and private providers are invited to attend to discuss independent living needs for youth transitioning out of foster care. This meeting will cover topics related to transitioning youth into adulthood, TLPs, NYTD support, Youth-Adult Partnerships, virtual workshops and opportunities for youth and working professionals, and any other youth opportunities. Contact George Mack or 804.239.1044 if you plan on attending to get the invite link for this meeting or if you need more information. (Note the date change.) Central Region Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) Meeting and CRILAY Meeting Date: April 27, 2021 | ILCC Time: 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | CRILAY Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. All Central region DSS agencies and private providers are invited to attend to discuss independent living needs for youth in this region at the ILCC. The CRILAY meeting will follow after a short break. Contact Pierre if you plan on attending or if you need more information. Eastern Region Employment Workshop Date: April 27, 2021 | Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Virtual events via the Ring Central Application Calling all Eastern region youth: are you interested in finding a job or even planning your future career? Come to this workshop to find out how to explore your interests, skills and strengths and see how that can provide you with the insight needed to snag the job. Let Extract Attract give you some valuable steps for your employment and career planning needs. Contact Melissa if you plan on attending or if you need more information. Eastern Region Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) Meeting Date: May 12, 2021 | Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Virtual Video Conference with the Ring Central Application All Eastern region DSS agencies and private providers are invited to attend to discuss independent living needs for youth in this region. Contact Melissa if you plan on attending or if you need more information. Additional Events and Resources Youth Advisors Needed Deadline to Apply: April 23, 2021 The Well Being Trust, Active Minds, and Young Invincibles collaboration is creating a youth advisory board for this new mental health advocacy project. If you are between 16-24 and are interested in creating tools and resources for young adults for mental health policy change, please consider applying for the board. The time commitment, stipend, application, and other information can be found here. Contact Iesha with questions. Black Girl 44 Scholarship Deadline to Apply: May 1, 2021 Funded by over 102 Black Women who worked across the Obama Administration, the Black Girl 44 Scholarship has returned! This year, they’ll be giving away TEN scholarships of $1,000 each to Black women in college with Summer 2021 internships in politics and public service. Click here to apply now. Reach out here with questions. UMFS Scholarship Program Deadline to Apply: May 31, 2021 The UMFS Scholarship Program is open to all students who have been part of any UMFS program, including Project LIFE, for at least 6 months. The scholarships provide financial aid for qualified applicants towards vocational education training, colleges and universities, and UMFS Courage to Succeed program expenses. Recipients are selected by the scholarship committee annually. Learn more about the scholarship and how to apply here. Email umfsscholarship@umfs.org to receive an application. Virginia Highlands Community College COVID Relief Scholarship Deadline to Enroll: August 1, 2021 For the 2021-22 academic year, VHCC is extending a COVID Relief scholarship for you to fully pay up to 12 credit hours of tuition and fees for Fall and Spring. The College will combine a portion of its institutional COVID relief funding with other sources of aid to assemble a complete financial aid package for you for the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters, regardless of income. You can be full-time or part-time – and a current, new or former student. You can also be a VHCC student who lives in Tennessee within a 30-mile radius.This is an amazing opportunity, and there are some important things you need do to be eligible. For the Fall 2021 semester, you must enroll in eligible classes and have a complete FAFSA on file by August 1, 2021. For the Spring 2022 semester, the deadline for enrollment and FAFSA completion is December 17, 2021. If you are enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester you must complete your fall classes to be eligible for this special funding for the spring 2022 semester. For more details on eligibility and guidelines, please visit here for FAQs www.vhcc.edu/gotyoucovered or talk to your advisor. |
