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March 2023 Newsletter

COBBLED STREETS

Let’s help make childhood what it ought to be…

David Ambroz's

A Place Called Home

A Place Called Home by David Ambroz describes his years in foster care and his struggles with homelessness. This story, with its raw and gritty details of his life, illuminates the ways the system overlooks and fails to protect so many young people. Cobbled Streets founder, Shari Shink remarked, “in my 40 years of helping kids, I have never read a more compelling book. It should be read by every person who cares about kids.”

Book excerpt: “I’m about to be hungry again. And yet summer camp stays with me, not in the form of souvenir crafts, and not as a fun, nostalgic memory, but as a guiding light.”

David Ambroz will be the keynote presenter at Advocates for Children CASA's April 14 event - Rally for Kids in Denver. The event will raise awareness and funds during Child Abuse Prevention Month. Registration is free, but seating is limited. Find out more at -https://www.classy.org/event/rally-for-kids-2023/e467183

Saturday Event With Foster Source

More than 25 families attended the Cobbled Streets Ambassador Event on Saturday, February 11. As the adults learned about the Ambassador Project and attended a training which explored the traumatized brain, the kids were involved in playing and learning. The Denver Children’s Museum provided an exciting activity about kinetic energy and teamwork. Volunteers helped build tracks, ramps, and structures with the kids in teams and soon the room was filled with laughter, shouts of excitement, and applause! Crafty Chassis joined and provided even more creative happiness. The kids made colorful window hangings and displayed them with great pride. There were door prizes for 5 lucky families and the Cottonwood Institute promoted our upcoming summer camp. It was a morning filled with fun, exploration, and joy for everyone!

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Tributes

A Prayer Answered...Cobbled Streets Provides a Tutor

Lindsey from Club Z tutoring shared this message from a foster parent we helped. "As a foster parent, education is one of the most important ways we can support and guide our foster children, but also one of the biggest challenges. Homework, attendance, and grades have become a nonstop battle as we try to both teach the importance of education and encourage our daughter to actually do the hard work of learning. The reality is that many days as a foster parent are about survival - did my daughter get a bath today, did we eat 3 meals, are we getting to bed on time. Then we spend all of our spare energy creating an emotionally safe space. Frequently that means not fighting the school battle every night. Having a tutor come in and spend the time, build the relationship, and do the heavy-duty work of education and support that foster kids desperately need is like a load being lifted off our shoulders. We spend every single day fighting for our daughter's future. A tutor means one less battle to fight and that we know our kiddo is getting some of the support she needs. For us, this was an answered prayer."

Fun with Siblings

Cobbled Streets recently received a request for assistance from a foster mom who has 3 siblings in her care.

The kids love going to the trampoline park called Urban Air, but they hadn't been able to go quite as often as they would like.

While there, they love to practice tricks, jump on all the different trampolines, and have a fun day together as siblings!

Cobbled Streets provided the trio with day passes to visit Urban Air. When they visited they were able to do acrobatic tricks, play games, and just be kids having fun!

One of the children said that they had the “best day ever!” while at the trampoline park. And their foster mom was very grateful for the opportunity to give the siblings a fun time together.

Cobbled Streets

Writing Contest Winner

Congratulations to Riley!

My story. A life story.

We start at age 7, my first real memories! My great-grandma took care of me and my

three siblings. My dad was in the hospital and he had 8 different back surgeries and my

mom coped by hoarding. My dad was laid off after being out of work for his surgeries and

my mom started working while he recovered at home. We were forced to move out of our

house suddenly and we had to give away our two dogs. Most memorable of all, I was

sexually assaulted by my teenage cousin and my trauma was shrugged off and

overlooked.

Riley’s story is a complicated one…but one shared by others. Abuse and desperation, sadness

and depression, struggles and obstacles. A life Riley describes as “a revolving door of chaos.”

Click here to read the rest of Riley's incredible story of self-awareness and survival against all odds

News & Events

Upcoming Summer Events

Distinguished Centurion Award 2023

Shari Shink, our Founder and Executive Director, recently received the Distinguished Centurion Award from her Alma Mater, Greensburg Central Catholic High School. In receiving the award, Shari acknowledged the values she and fellow students were taught... "to pursue our ambitions, but not at the expense of others; to strive for success, but not without compassion for those less fortunate; to be strong in our convictions, but humble in their expression."

These are the values Shari continues to uphold in her life and in her work. Congratulations!