On Saturday, June 13, Massasoit Community College, in partnership with the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), hosted the Foster and Adoption Symposium, bringing together youth, caregivers, advocates, service providers, educators, and community leaders for a day of learning, reflection, and action.
Centered on the theme "Building Belonging Together: Commit, Connect, Act," the symposium provided an opportunity for participants to hear directly from individuals with lived experience, including youth in foster care, transracial adoptive and foster parents, and professionals working across child welfare and support systems. Panelists shared personal stories and insights on the challenges and opportunities within the foster care and adoption systems, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and stable, supportive relationships for young people.
Throughout the day, leaders from MARE, foster and adoptive families, and youth with lived experience highlighted the critical role that communities play in ensuring that every child has access to safe, nurturing, and permanent connections. Youth speakers courageously shared their experiences navigating the system and offered valuable perspectives on what is needed to help all young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Dr. Carine Sauvignon (left) with Brockton Representative Rita Mendes and Mary Liz Nogueras, Outreach and Support Coordinator for Adoptive Families of Color for MARE – the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange.
The symposium concluded with a powerful call to action, encouraging attendees to move beyond awareness and toward meaningful engagement in support of children and families. State Representative Mendes underscored the collective responsibility of communities to care for and advocate for youth in foster care. She challenged participants to strengthen supports for families, increase opportunities for community involvement, and work together to build bridges that expand the number of safe, loving homes available to youth in need of care.
The event reinforced a shared commitment to creating systems of belonging where every child and young person has the opportunity to thrive, supported by caring adults, strong families, and engaged communities.