I Will Be Your Voice – Stories of Homelessness and Hope Center for Schools and Communities

Maryama's story is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Born and raised in Niger, she embarked on a journey to America with her family at the age of 15 to join her father. However, life took an unexpected turn when she found herself homeless at 18 years old, during her senior year at Central Dauphin East High School. Despite the challenges she faced, Maryama refused to let her circumstances define her future. She sought refuge at the YWCA Harrisburg and later di...

Our morning chat with the Pennsylvania Department of Education State Coordinator for Homeless Education, Mr. Storm Camara, isn't just about the challenges of providing educational stability for children and youth experiencing homelessness; it's a celebration of successes and a glimpse into the future of educational support systems. Mr. Camara gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the growth of the Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (PA ECYEH) program under ...

Since we are still early in 2024, “I Will Be Your Voice” shares a special bonus episode with the staff behind the scenes at the Center for Schools and Communities. In this bonus episode, we chat with our Center for Schools and Communities team who are working on statewide projects for the Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness program. Join us as we preview upcoming projects for 2024, areas of focus, what we are excited about, and what you can look forward to in the coming...

Eden Village is a new, planned tiny home community in Harrisburg, PA, to provide the chronically homeless a permanent place to live and rebuild. Hear from husband and wife Jon and Raquel Bomberger, who serve on the board of Eden Village Harrisburg, how the vision for this community began among friends interested in making a difference is becoming a reality. Learn more about the inspiration, planning and steps it takes to build such a community. Recently, Eden Village was featured on The...

Recorded at 2023 Paving the Way for Educational Success Conference, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaHear Rene Denfeld's inspiring journey as a teen experiencing homelessness, longtime foster and adoptive parent, author, speaker, justice worker, and keynote presenter at 2023 Paving the Way to Educational Success Conference. Her book, “The Butterfly Girl”, draws upon her own experiences as a young girl living on the streets and offers valuable insights on how to nurture healing and trauma in children. ...

What does it take to support and uplift homeless students in a school district? Would you be able to adapt your services to a global pandemic, and come up with innovative ways to offer food security and mental health support? This episode introduces two remarkable figures from the State College Area School District: Cindy Sergeon-Smith and Morgan Bechdel. Cindy serves as a home and school visitor and the foster care point of contact, while Morgan is a certified school social worker. Together,...