Oak Ridge Today

Hardin, former foster youth, to speak at CASA Lunch and Learn

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Genesis Hardin

Genesis Hardin

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland will host a free Lunch and Learn titled “Step Up. Speak Up.” featuring former foster youth Genesis Hardin.

The event will be held at the Clinton Community Center on October 23 from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. It is sponsored by Secret City BBQ and Pies, Shop Rite Foods, and Fox and Farley Attorneys at Law.

Hardin, the keynote speaker, spent 13 years in foster care before aging out without a permanent home, a press release said. She is now a student in the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, and she has made it her mission to advocate for children and youth in the local foster care system.

The press release said Hardin has a passion for duly-enrolled youth (youth in foster care with delinquent charges) and believes that all children deserve a voice. [Read more…]

Social worker discusses Healthy Start during Monday AAUW meeting

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Virginia Coleman

Virginia Coleman

A social worker will discuss Healthy Start, a program that helps children and parents, during a Monday evening meeting of the American Association of University Women’s Oak Ridge Branch.

The talk by Virginia Coleman, who has a master’s degree in social work, is open to the public and starts at 7 p.m. Monday at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A press release said Coleman worked for years to see the Healthy Start preventive program come to fruition. During Monday’s meeting, she will talk about the reasons for the program and its success. [Read more…]