Why do you Care? - Message from our Founder

Fenix Youth Project empowers youth to use their voices and provides a safe space for them to ask questions. As adults, we tell youth to ask first before taking action but we never consider if we truly are ready for the question they have. Have you ever been asked, “Why do you care?” Have you ever been able to give an answer without stumbling over emotion? Did you spew the easiest and quickest response or did you digest the question and sit with your own inner child?

Young people are facing crises left and right. Youth often struggle in silence for long periods before figuring out how to tell someone about their experiences. Their experience matters. Their experience is why they choose to decline a shelter bed and rather sleep in a vehicle. Their experience is why they may respond to gestures intended to be nice, with anger. Their experience is why they ask, us adults, “Why are you tripping?” or my personal favorite, “Why do you even care?”

Do you know the answer? Why are you tripping? Why do you care? Those answers will reveal more than what you, the person answering, are bargaining for. Once you answer, your actions moving forward matter. I welcome those questions because call me a Leo, I love seeing my reflection. I want young people to hold a mirror to my face and see me being proud of what I see. I love being an example for them.

Adults get upset with young people because they tend to expose the adult’s inner child. Young people hold up a mirror and Adults don’t like what they see and now they have to make a choice to address their issues. I’m here to tell you, a lot of adults make the choice to not address their issues. They blame the young person and as all young people do, they follow in our steps whether they see it or not. Anyone under the age of 25 is impressionable because they are still mentally developing.

I ask you this question this holiday season and want you to truly sit with your inner child and be real. Why do you care? Listen to those answers. Check yourself - before you wreck someone else’s life.

Happy Holidays,

Amber Green

Founder/Executive Director

How does your state stack up on ending youth homelessness?

The State Index on Youth Homelessness evaluates all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness. Today, True Colors United and the National Homelessness Law Center have released their annual update to the State Index, including:

• 2021 data on state efforts to end youth homelessness

• State-specific policy recommendations for improvement

• Resources for state advocates on the ground

• A new easy-to-use report website

The State Index provides a snapshot of some of the legal, systemic, and environmental barriers that youth experiencing homelessness face. The State Index assigns all 50 states and the District of Columbia a score of up to 100 and provides concrete steps that states can take to protect the safety, development, health, and dignity of youth experiencing homelessness.

See how your state scored at: youthstateindex.com 

Message from our Youth Ambassador

Hi, my name is Tatiana Jean Baptiste, I’m 16 years old and a sophomore at Wicomico High school. I enjoy designing and creating new projects, I also love to take care of children and help the ones in need to the best of my abilities. Before I joined the Fenix youth Project, I found different ways to help people even if it's just a small deed it could just change someone’s life for the better. Ever since I was a kid, I would do fundraisers to help people in need no matter what the need. Joining the Fenix youth is the best thing I could’ve done. Everyone in the group is very positive and it’s a great safe place it's also a great way to meet new people. I believe that when you have an opportunity you should take it because in doing so you might just be able to help someone else. 

Interested in volunteering for the youth count? There is still time. Just call 443-736-8028

The Youth Count acts as an opportunity to connect with these youth to better learn about what we can do to help and connect them to initial supports and services.

What’s Youth Homelessness like on da shore?

It’s a growing issue and quite frankly we are behind in providing these services. Thanks to Wicomico Partnerships for Families and Children, Fenix Youth Project Inc. operates the only Youth Drop-In Center that provides resources to unaccompanied youth. Currently, right now we are serving 64 unaccompanied youth clients and their ages range from 16 to 24. Learn more about Fenix Youth Project Inc. www.fenixyouthproject.org