Building strong men builds strong communities: Faith and Fostering

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL.KMSS) – Since March of 2020, Faith and Fostering has provided a bridge for young people who have aged out of foster care, but don’t have the skills to live on their own.

“They come in to donated homes. They’re entry homes where we’re able to form a structured environment for them,” explained Christi Robinson, Executive Director of Faith and Fostering. “Then we form a case plan and through that case plan they know how to work from the point where they are to the point to where they need to be.”

“I work with our young men,” said Solomon Waddles, Housing Manager and Mentor for Faith and Fostering. “So, I kind of oversee the cases for our young men, help develop them, guide them, teach them, train them.”

Waddles is a mentor and manages the homes where the young people live. He came to Faith and Fostering after being a youth pastor and seeing the need to be an example for young men.

“Faith and Fostering offers something great because they give the young men an opportunity to connect,” said Waddles. “They have great mentors. They have great men around them to help develop them and sow seeds into them. We can see a change in young men and hopefully change the trajectory of our community.”

He’s seen first-hand how mentoring can change lives.

“One of the young men that we serve, he aged out of foster care,” Waddles recalled. “At 18, he was living in a group home. He literally got a knock on the door, and they said, ‘you have anywhere to go?'”

After spending time in a shelter, and then on the streets, the young man was referred to Faith and Fostering. Now he has enlisted in the Army and will soon leave for basic training.

“To see him be able to endure and persevere and go through all these things and to now, not only be on his way to serve his country but to potentially have an amazing career, it’s one of the greatest stories that I’ve experienced while being a part of faith and fostering,” shared Waddles.

He explained how people in the community can continue to help make a difference in more young lives.

“Whether it’s finances, whether it’s your time or whether it’s your vehicle for transportation, there’s so many ways that you can make a difference.”