“Most teens that come out of the [foster care] system don’t know what to do and don’t have information about the real world. What I want to happen out of all of this is for teens to understand that there is a place and there are people who care about what they have to say. It’s really up to them if they want the help,” Michael Louis, an intern at Volunteer Broward said wisely.

On July 27, Louis, a youth transitioning from foster care into independence, spearheaded a project for Volunteer Broward, an affiliate of HandsOn Network. Louis will begin leading the organization’s collection of supplies for the FLITE Center, a brand new facility that provides a “one stop shop” for foster youth to access a variety of resources including job skills training, educational and employment services and mentors.

On July 30, Michael will lead 12 other foster care youth in a project that will involve painting canvas banners for the FLITE Center’s new office. The project will be the culmination of the talents of local at-promise volunteer youth leaders in honor of the agencies dedicated to serving them.

To close a week of service dedicated to promoting education and literacy, the banners will be revealed at the grand opening of the Fort Lauderdale Independence Training and Education (FLITE) Center.