Due to COVID-19, Thanksgiving Together 2020 took place virtually. The theme was Recipes for Success, and we gathered together in four separate Zooms to share:

• Cooking Tips on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 am
• What No One Ever Told Me About Relationships on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 pm
• College Survival Strategies on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11 am
• What No One Ever Told Me About the Workplace on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 pm
  

Cooking Tips were shared on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020 at 11 am:  Foster care alumni Antonio Sledge of Le Sledge Catering did a wonderful job as lead facilitator of the Thanksgiving Together Cooking Zoom, and we are looking forward to future partnerships between Chef Kibby and CSCC, OSU and Scholar House 3.

Cooking videos: 

• How to cook a turkey ~ Antonio Sledge
• How to make deviled eggs ~ Cloe Cooper
• How to make mashed potatoes ~ Cloe Cooper
• How to make green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole ~ Aliyah Tucker
  

Relationship Tips were shared on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 pm: Olena Sowers shared awesome insights, Donte Woods-Spikes offered ally support, and insights were shared by all participants, including authors Ruth-Ann Jones Thompson and Deanna Jones. Here is a summary of the Top Five Relationship Tips that were shared. 

Higher Education was the focus on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 am. Participants discussed resources, partnerships and strategies to continue to work together to help improve post-secondary outcomes for young adults with a foster care history. Here’s a link to the Top 10 College Survival Strategies and Top 5 High School Tips that were shared.

Workplace Tips were shared on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 pm: Amber Dudsak did an excellent job of facilitating the conversation. Cloe Cooper of FAN and Jaye Turner of El’lesun shared about Project PASSION. Here are links to Workplace Tips that were shared, Living Wage per Ohio County and how current/former Ohio foster youth can apply for workforce attire through Project PASSION.

Participants were also invited to share:

• their insights regarding the topic we are discussing
• their goals for the future
• their proudest accomplishments during this complicated year
• someone or something they are thankful for
• if they want to do a “virtual show and tell” of their dorm or first apartment

The 2020 Thanksgiving Together gatherings were made possible thanks to Rita Soronen, the National Council of Jewish Women: Columbus Section, Jenny Stotts, Andi Atwood, Randi Lewis, Ruth-Ann Jones Thompson, Jenny Pokempner, and Val Bairnsfather of Safe Pastures.

We are also deeply grateful for individual youth sponsorships that were made available, thanks to Kristin Gilbert, Crystal Ward Allen, Dora Sterling, Robin and Ashley Williams.