STEP is personal to me because I was once a foster youth who had to navigate adulthood on my own.
When I aged out of foster care, I didn’t know what resources were available to me. I didn’t know where to go for help, who to ask, or what support I was even eligible for. I was expected to figure it out while trying to figure out life itself.
That experience stayed with me.
STEP was created because I don’t want other young people to feel like they have to navigate life alone simply because they don’t know where to start.
The STEP Community Closet is one way we’re changing that. We provide clothing, shoes, meals, basic necessities, and connections to resources through pop-up events. But underneath the clothing and resources is something bigger: connection, dignity, and knowing that someone cares enough to help you take your next step.