AFS Black History Month Celebration 2021
AFS Black History Month Celebration 2021
Black History Month is always a time for reflection at AFS. Diversity, equity and inclusion has been woven into our mission for over 40 years throughout all aspects of our work with foster youth, their families, resource parents and staff.
During Black History Month and throughout the year, we here at AFS strive to honor, support and raise up the voices of Black foster youth, families, staff and community members. As Dr. Jay Berlin, CEO and Founder of AFS, has said, “As a foster family agency, we are no strangers to the issues that communities of color face here in Northern California and across the nation. We are proud and honored to stand alongside our Black foster youth, families, communities and staff members and all who have been oppressed and treated unjustly. We must do the work to pay the debt we owe to them, to ourselves, and especially to the children.”
In February 2021, to commemorate Black History even while most of us still at home, the AFS Solano County office, led by Dr. Rita Washington, put together an inspiring virtual event. The hour-long event featured uplifting community speakers and the voices of Black youth in our community. For a glimpse of the event, be sure to check out these videos on our YouTube channel:
Pastor Dennis R. Johnson Sr.’s Message to Foster Youth
Foster Youth Dashawn Lloyd Talks About His Journey
Celeste Garcia talks about Amazon’s Alicia Boler Davis
Samantha Powers recites a poem she wrote and sings a song in honor of Black History Month
One of our core values is cultural humility. AFS values the variety of backgrounds and experiences of all people we work with-children, youth, biological, foster and adoptive families. AFS employs a culturally diverse staff sensitive to clients’ cultural cues and preferences. AFS celebrates the diversity of our clients and their families, integrating this appreciation in all of our work.
As a foster family agency, we are no strangers to the issues that communities of color face here in Northern California and across the nation. We are proud and honored to stand alongside our Black foster youth, families, communities and staff members, and all who have been oppressed and treated unjustly. We must do the work to pay the debt we owe to them, to ourselves and especially to the children. At AFS we say, “It’s All About the Kids!” We strive so the world our children inherit from us is a more just world.
