The Los Angeles Post

PBS SoCal Presents Finding Home: A Foster Youth Story Premiering November 1 For National Adoption Awareness Month

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Documentary Shares the Lives of Four Foster Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care 

LOS ANGELES, October 11, 2018 – PBS SoCal and New Moon Pictures present Finding Home: A Foster Youth Story, which chronicles the lives of four young adults as they navigate the transition from foster care to life on their own. A part of PBS SoCal’s social impact initiative To Foster Change, the film premieres November 1 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal 1 (KOCE), and across the country starting on Nov. 3 (check local listings).

The documentary follows the young people as they embrace the realities of adulthood and life without the foster care support system.

Summer is a 17-year old transgender girl who grew up in foster homes and whose primary goal is to be adopted by a family who accepts her.  Summer is an eternal optimist and although she has been dealt multiple blows she has not lost her inner strength or determination. With help from Sam, her Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Summer navigates her gender transition, bullying, school work and  dream of becoming a dancer. Sam, the most important person in her life, helps her gain a sense of self-respect and responsibility.

Glorianna is a 20-year old graphic novelist, artist, writer, YouTuber and budding animator. Glorianna  finds herself moving to a transitional living apartment following years of living in a residential care facility with hundreds of other girls. With her new independence comes the responsibilities and challenges of finding a job, paying the bills, going to school, feeding herself and finding more permanent housing.

Kalonji and Jaloni are 19-year-old twin brothers born into a large close-knit family living in extreme poverty. The boys were  placed in foster care at age 12 and after living in numerous foster homes, found a loving and supportive foster family. Through the guidance of their foster family, both boys learned to trust others, excel in school and athletics and, in August, began college on full scholarships. Jaloni, a state champion track and field athlete, is training to be in the Olympics while Kalonji is studying criminal justice. They remain close to their birth family, and view them and their foster family as one large extended family.

“We believe it’s important to tell stories that can change the way we view each other – stories that matter,” said Jamie Meyers, PBS SoCal COO & Vice President, Education & Community Engagement. “This film helps us begin to understand the lives of these young people and can help us all accept their realities and work to make a change for them.”

Finding Home: A Foster Youth Story is an original PBS SoCal co-production with Pamela Tom as  Writer, Director, and Producer; Brenda Brkusic, Executive Producer; Karen Hunte, Executive Producer; and Michelle Merker, Associate Producer.  The film is part of PBS SoCal’s social impact initiative To Foster Change, aimed at inspiring change in the realities and life outcomes of Southern California’s foster youth  through community discourse and powerful storytelling. Watch a preview at pbssocal.org/programs/finding-home-foster-youth-story/.