In Oct/Nov/Dec of 2010, I completed the 2010 50 States in 50 Days tour to bring light to the plight of teens aging out of foster care in America. This is a serious problem. 70% of our nation’s prisoners report having spent some time in the foster care system. 80% of teens that age out of foster care go homeless within the first six months of aging out.
The main thing I learned on this tour is ONE person can make a difference in these young people’s lives. You will see in the interviews…….almost every single person I interviewed had one person that changed their lives…..either directly, or sometimes even unknowingly.
Secondarily, the problems that surround teens aging out cannot be fixed by just government programs, or interventing, a solitary person, or a well-meaning foundation. It takes a combination of all three to really attack the problem in a community, or state. You can’t throw money at the problem without having a helping hand, or a person putting their heart and soul into fixing the problem as well.
Ok, so, I’m activated. What next? Well, I would like to do another 50 States in 50 Days tour in 2012. I would like to have an Orange Duffel Bag Summit with all of the people that I interviewed along the way participating…….putting their heads together…..thinking, working towards solutions. Group think. Group action.
That is how change can happen.
The Orange Duffel Bag Foundation was formed to help teens by Echo Garrett and Sam Bracken, co-authors of the book My Orange Duffel Bag-A Journey to Radical Change.
Excerpt from the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation website:
Here is Sam Bracken’s story.
I went searching the 50 States for kids who had aged out of foster care, homeless teens, or individuals that have devoted their time to work with foster kids. Here are some of the stories that I found in those 50 States in 50 Days.
Michelle’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Wasilla, Alaska-Oct. 29th, 2010:
Becky’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Gig Harbor, Washington-Oct. 30th, 2010:
Samantha’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Portland, Oregon-Oct. 31st, 2010:
Senator Les Bock’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Boise, Idaho-Nov. 1st, 2010:
Shawn’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Missoula, Montana-Nov. 2nd, 2010:
Sarah’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Laramie, Wyoming-Nov. 3rd, 2010:
Deborah and Maureen’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Dickinson, North Dakota-Nov. 4th, 2010:
Joy’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Pierre, South Dakota-Nov. 5th, 2010:
Martha’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Hutchinson, Kansas-Nov. 6th, 2010
Jessica’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Lincoln, Nebraska-Nov. 7th, 2010:
Linda’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Mason CIty, Iowa-Nov. 8th, 2010:
Deana’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Columbia, Missouri-Nov. 9th, 2010:
Marilyn and Pam’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Terre Haute, Indiana-Nov. 10th, 2010:
Judy’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Minneapolis, MN-Nov. 11th, 2010:
Mary and Dick’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-De Pere, Wisconsin-Nov. 12th, 2010:
Dan’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Berwyn, Illinois-Nov. 13th, 2010:
Bob’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Jackson, Michigan-Nov. 14th, 2010:
Laquita’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Cincinnati, Ohio-Nov. 15th, 2010:
Emily’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Aliquippa, Pennsylvania-Nov. 16th, 2010:
New York’s Orange Duffel Bag Story is coming soon-Nov. 17th, 2010
Frank’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Hartford, Connecticut-Nov. 18th, 2010
Deborah’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts-Nov. 19th, 2010:
Jane’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Norway, Maine-Nov. 20th, 2010:
Kathy’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-New Boston, New Hampshire-Nov. 21st. 2010:
Victoria’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Barre, Vermont-Nov. 22nd, 2010:
Brittany’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Saunderstown, Rhode Island-Nov. 23rd, 2010:
Usufu’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Somers Point, New Jersey-Nov. 24th, 2010:
Lynae’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Greenville, Delaware-Nov. 25th, 2010:
Annapolis, Maryland-Nov. 26th, 2010-Interview coming soon.
Burke, Virginia-Nov. 27th,2010-Interview coming soon.
Steven’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Charlotte, North Carolina-Nov. 28th, 2010:
Steve’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Parkersburg, West Virginia-Nov. 29th, 2010:
Ian’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Owensboro, Kentucky-Nov. 30th, 2010:
Robyn’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Nashville, Tennessee-Dec. 1st, 2010:
Shaquana’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Atlanta, Georgia-Dec. 2nd, 2010:
South Carolina-Dec. 3rd, 2010-Interview being edited
Florida-Dec. 4th-Interview being edited
Fran’s Orange Duffel Bag Story-Dothan, Alabama-Dec. 5th:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana-Dec. 6th-Interview being edited
Tupelo, Mississippi-Dec. 7th-Interview being edited
North Little Rock, Arkansas-Dec. 8th-Interview being edited
Texas, Oklahoma, NM, CO, UT, NV, AZ, CA, Hawaii are all in the editing process. It is a bear to drive 10 hours a day, find someone to interview, play a concert, and then move onto the next state. As you can see…..the back half of the tour took its’ toll. Look for the edited videos in the coming days.
Buy your copy of My Orange Duffel Bag-A Journey to Radical Change on Amazon. I personally saw this book transforming lives while on the 50 States in 50 Days tour. Buy now!
