Category: FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz

Heart Gallery: Helping Foster Children Find FOREVER FAMILIES; Part Four of Interview with Barbara Schechter

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, March 2011 (Luck v. Faith)Leave a comment

By AbbyA

As our final day of Luck v. Faith, we are sharing with you a wonderful organization that brings foster children to forever families through photography.  Barbara Schechter is the Executive Director of Heart Gallery.  In addition to sharing about Heart Gallery, Barbara gives her comments on luck, faith and ministering to foster kids.

“I don’t attribute finding a forever family to luck because I do believe that God has a plan for each of us and that the Heart Gallery helps to carry out His plan for these children.”    Barbara Schechter

What about Heart Gallery photographers?  Tell us about their role in the organization.  How do your photographers feel when they become aware that their photo drew a family to a child?  Any stories you’d like to share?

The photographers are so dedicated! They love to donate their time and they are a very talented group. The Heart Gallery wants to include any professional photographer who has the desire to participate. Our only rule is that they have to be a professional (although we do use some amateur photographers for event photos). When a local child’s adoption is finalized, we invite the photographer to attend the adoption. It’s a very emotional time and probably the most rewarding part of what we do. A number of the photographers have written about their experiences on their blogs. They tell it better than I do!

The Words of Sandy Levy: I would like to talk about a very touching moment as a result of photographing kids waiting for adoption for the Heart Gallery of Broward.  What happened was that a child named Cleveland was one of the kids that I photographed several months ago for the Heart Gallery. I shot Cleveland, just a week or two before he turned 18, he was adopted.

This is particularly special and critical because: Once a child turns 18, they are no longer in the program and are considered adults. Then they are more or less on their own. It is quite unusual for a child that old to get adopted. In some extreme cases, they end up in the streets.

Barbara Schechter Executive Director of The Heart Gallery of Broward County pulled me aside at an awards presentation event on Oct. 14, and told me that my photo was responsible for Cleveland’s new Mom becoming interested in adopting him. Obviously Barbara was very pleased and frankly, it really gave me a very warm feeling as well, as this was also very special for me.

Barbara contacted me a week or two later asking if I could be at the courthouse when the official adoption took place in the Judges chambers. She told me she would understand if I could not be there, but she hoped that I would be able to go. Of course I accepted and I did not mind taking a camera.

The reason that Cleveland’s adoption was rushed in the judge’s chambers before National Adoption Day was that by Nov. 15, Cleveland would be over 18 and therefore ineligible for this type of adoption.

Cleveland and his Mom also thanked me privately and that was very nice to hear. In addition, Cleveland would possibly like to become a photographer. I found out he is already an accomplished amateur photographer as he proudly showed me some of his photos.

I must say that the feeling of satisfaction knowing that an image that you make was in some way at least partly responsible for a difficult-to-adopt child to find a family, is quite amazing and wonderful.

I told NBC 6 that I cannot recall another photo assignment that was as personally satisfying to me in my 40 years as a professional photographer. Not monetarily satisfying of course, but personally satisfying!.

You can find more information about Sandy Levy and his photographic work at his main website  www.levyphoto.com or http://asmpflorida.blogspot.com/2009/12/asmp-south-florida-members-spot-light.html.

To hear another photographer ‘s personal experience, check out http://blog.brighthousephotography.com/search/label/personal   (Scroll down to August 2 for Ashlee’s Story).

If you are interested in getting involved with Heart Gallery, please visit www.heartgalleryofbroward.org or call or email Barbara Schechter directly.  Tel: 954-918-3008 or barbara@heartgalleryofbroward.org.

Heart Gallery: Helping Foster Children Find FOREVER FAMILIES; Part Three of Interview with Barbara Schechter

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, March 2011 (Luck v. Faith)Leave a comment

By AbbyA

As we move into our final week of Luck v. Faith, we are sharing with you a wonderful organization that brings foster children to forever families through photography.  Barbara Schechter is the Executive Director of Heart Gallery.  In addition to sharing about Heart Gallery, Barbara gives her comments on luck, faith and ministering to foster kids.

“I don’t attribute finding a forever family to luck because I do believe that God has a plan for each of us and that the Heart Gallery helps to carry out His plan for these children.”    Barbara Schechter

Describe that first phone call to Heart Gallery when a family reaches out to adopt a particular child.  Is it your experience that families feel that fate or God’s will is at work in bringing a new child into their family? 

There are two types of callers – those who are already licensed and looking to find a specific child and those who have just started thinking about adoption and know little or nothing about the process. People who are looking for a specific child have often fallen in love with a picture, but are confident in their desire to adopt. They have been through a long, thorough process so they know that adoption is what they want. The new people usually have some fear or uncertainty about adopting a child from foster care and need to better understand what to expect. Bringing a stranger into your family forever can be a scary thing to do and there’s always a fear that the match will not work out. It’s a journey that not everyone is prepared for. Christian families usually believe that it is God’s will for them to adopt and they prayerfully consider this big step vs. the alternative of going with one’s gut instinct.

You mentioned to me that some people don’t even realize that they are called to adopt.  Please elaborate on that.

This applies to both adoption and foster parenting. Christians consider it a calling and they are obedient to the call. They don’t give up on difficult children and they understand when the outcome is not what they would have wanted. The best example of this is people who do foster-to-adopt, which greatly increases one’s chances to adopt a younger child. Because foster parents are usually given the first opportunity to adopt when a child in their care becomes available, many people foster with the hope or expectation that they will be able to adopt that child. When it doesn’t work out, either the child is reunited with their birth parents or a relative comes forward to adopt, many people find this hard to accept because they have bonded with the child and their hopes are dashed. Christians generally understand that God is in control and that the outcome is His will. Many non-Christians find this ‘gamble’ too difficult to take.

If a family is not ready to adopt, but wants to get involved in the Heart Gallery, how can they help? 

Our mantra is that everyone can do something to help a foster child. If a family is not prepared to foster or adopt, they can donate gently used items to a foster care agency or volunteer to help at an event for foster children. There are a number of opportunities for people who want to have a closer relationship with a foster child, including tutoring or mentoring (Note- The agencies do not allow children under the age of 15 to volunteer directly with the foster children). Mentoring is a top priority right now, as children need a constant adult in their life who is not paid to supervise them. Mentors are a combination of trusted friend and parent surrogate. Moreover, as the child gets older, the mentor can be the safety net that the child needs when they are on their own – a trusted relationship. The Heart Gallery compiles a guide to volunteering with foster children that is available on the home page of our web site, www.heartgalleryofbroward.org.  Or if you’d like to volunteer to help with Heart Gallery events, please contact me. We’d love to get you involved!

If you are interested in getting involved with Heart Gallery, tune in for the rest of the week for more of Barbara Schechter’s interview.  You can also visit www.heartgalleryofbroward.org or call or email Barbara directly.  Tel: 954-918-3008 or barbara@heartgalleryofbroward.org.

Heart Gallery: Helping Foster Children Find FOREVER FAMILIES; Part Two of Interview with Barbara Schechter

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, March 2011 (Luck v. Faith)Leave a comment

By AbbyA

As we move into our final week of Luck v. Faith, we are sharing with you a wonderful organization that brings foster children to forever families through photography.  Barbara Schechter is the Executive Director of Heart Gallery.  In addition to sharing about Heart Gallery, Barbara gives her comments on luck, faith and ministering to foster kids.

“I don’t attribute finding a forever family to luck because I do believe that God has a plan for each of us and that the Heart Gallery helps to carry out His plan for these children.”    Barbara Schechter

Share a story of a child’s adoption that started with Heart Gallery.  Is it possible that pure luck changed this child’s life?  Do you see something deeper when you look at the whole picture of how the foster child and new family’s lives collided?

I’m attaching a story [below] that I wrote in a recent newsletter about the Scott family and how they came to adopt an 11-year-old girl named Kassandra. You can see God at work here, as each of these two parents were drawn separately to the same child’s photo. It also happened that Kassie had already been matched with another family when the Scotts first started considering adoption, but after their plans got postponed, Kassie’s original match did not work out and she was now available for the Scotts. When you see the three of them together, you get the sense that they were meant to be a family.

I don’t attribute finding a forever family to luck because I do believe that God has a plan for each of us and that the Heart Gallery helps to carry out His plan for these children. In Kassie’s case, the Scott’s would not have been able to adopt her when she was first available, but the ‘coincidence’ of her becoming available again made everything work out the way I think God intended. They are greatly blessed by becoming a family.

There are so many amazing success stories of children whose lives were transformed by finding the right ‘forever family’. But personally, I struggle with the reality that God’s plan for some includes subjection to often horrible parental abuse and then never finding their adoptive family. We do believe that the Heart Gallery is called to minister to the children who do not get adopted just as much as we facilitate transforming the lives of those children who do.

 An Adoption That Started with “Christmas Home” by Barbara Schechter

When the First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale hosted the Heart Gallery exhibit during their famous Christmas Pageant in 2008, they incorporated a stirring message about foster children right into the show. Pageant Director John Jones and his family performed a song called ‘Christmas Home’ and made an appeal for people to consider bringing a foster child into their home. Photos of Heart Gallery children flashed on the screen behind them. There was hardly a dry eye in the room. One of those photos was of then-nine-year-old Kassandra. Little did they know that one day she would become a member of their own congregation.

On June 22, Kassandra, known as Kassie, was adopted by a young couple named Tim and Heather as their only child. She told Judge Porter, in front of a large group of friends and relatives, that she had “perfect parents”. Clearly, there was a lot of love in the room. There was also a feeling that these three people were meant to be together.

It all started with the Christmas Pageant. Tim and Heather, each volunteering at different performances, noticed Kassie’s photo in the Heart Gallery exhibit and each took a copy of her bio card. They had taken the MAPP classes to become foster parents but had not completed their home study. They were starting to consider adopting. When they discovered that they had each pulled the card of the same child, it was on their hearts to pursue her adoption. But it was not quite so simple. The possibility of a career move to another state, followed by extensive plumbing damage to their home that held up their home study, caused enough delay that another family was selected for Kassie. Still they continued to pray for her. With a repaired home, a decision to stay in the area and an adoptive home study in hand, they contacted ChildNet only to find that Kassie’s match did not result in an adoption and she was available again. The rest is history.

Kassie left her adoption finalization with her Heart Gallery photo in hand. The photographer, Courtney Ortiz, was there to see her receive it, along with the Executive Director, President and two founders of the Heart Gallery. To quote Senior Pastor Larry Thompson, who was also there to witness the occasion, “This adoption makes everything worth it!”

Read more about this story in the Hollywood Gazette . . .

http://www.hollywoodgazette.com/2009/component/content/article/53-feature-stories/867-heart-gallery-local-photographers-find-foster-children-forever-families

If you are interested in getting involved with Heart Gallery, tune in for the rest of the week for more of Barbara Schechter’s interview.  You can also visit www.heartgalleryofbroward.org or call or email Barbara directly.  Tel: 954-918-3008 or barbara@heartgalleryofbroward.org.

Heart Gallery: Helping Foster Children Find FOREVER FAMILIES; Part One of Interview with Barbara Schechter

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, March 2011 (Luck v. Faith)Leave a comment

By AbbyA

As we move into our final week of Luck v. Faith, we are sharing with you a wonderful organization that brings foster children to forever families through photography.  Barbara Schechter is the Executive Director of Heart Gallery.  In addition to sharing about Heart Gallery, Barbara gives her comments on luck, faith and ministering to foster kids.

“I don’t attribute finding a forever family to luck because I do believe that God has a plan for each of us and that the Heart Gallery helps to carry out His plan for these children.”    Barbara Schechter

What is Heart Gallery and how did you get involved?

The Heart Gallery of Broward is a traveling exhibit and website of photos of foster children in Broward who are available for adoption. In nearly all cases, the children’s parental rights have been terminated by the courts, so they will remain in the foster care system until a family adopts them or until they turn 18. The photos are taken by professional photographers who donate their time. The exhibit travels every month or two to a new location in Broward. It goes to high-traffic places like malls, libraries and office buildings, as well as large churches. The objective is to raise awareness about foster care adoption and about other ways that people can help foster children, such as foster parenting, mentoring or Guardian ad Litem.

I originally got involved as a board member in the organization’s first year. I claimed that I was too busy to be involved, but I became more and more drawn to what the Heart Gallery was doing. I had recently retired from a marketing career, but felt called to go back and run the Heart Gallery when they needed their first full-time employee. It has been hugely rewarding to see it grow from a simple idea four years ago into to an organization that has found ‘forever families’ for over 60 children and raised awareness about foster care among so many people.

What does it mean to have a “forever family”? 

The term is synonymous with ‘adoptive family’. To the child, ‘forever’ means that they no longer live their lives with uncertainty about their future- not knowing where they will live next or for how long, and whether they will need to make a life on their own when they turn 18. Most of the children come from families that never gave them a lot of love, so their ‘forever family’ provides unconditional love and security that have never known.

If you are interested in getting involved with Heart Gallery, tune in for the rest of the week for more of Barbara Schechter’s interview.  You can also visit www.heartgalleryofbroward.org or call or email Barbara directly.  Tel: 954-918-3008 or barbara@heartgalleryofbroward.org.

Interview with Melissa Pierce of EpicBeauty.org: PART TWO

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, LoveLeave a comment

By AbbyA

Epic Beauty is a coalition of women committed to addressing the unique needs of women in crisis. Our goal is to inspire, educate and counsel women so they can reach their full potential in life.  There is no better organization to represent this month’s theme of LOVE.  For there is no greater love than He who laid down his life for His friends.  John 15:13

Melissa Pierce is the founder of Epic Beauty and a pastor at Generation Church in Jupiter, Florida.  Melissa studied at World Changers Bible Institute in Nashville, TN as well as Virginia Commonwealth Univ. in Richmond, VA.  God has used her very successful career in the corporate world to further train her and give her insight into the needs and culture of our society.

 

Click here if you missed Part One of our Interview with Melissa Pierce…

 

It is easy for most of us to have great sympathy for victims of domestic violence such as an abused pregnant woman.  What is the response of the greater community and local churches to your outreach to women involved in the adult entertainment industry?

Many people feel that these women are choosing a job in that industry, and because of their choices they deserve all of the negative repercussions that come with it. I believe that Jesus loves us on the absolute worst day of our lives and our job is to go for Him, and share the lavish gift of His love.

Describe the most pressing issues of worldwide sex industry.  How does Epic Beauty see itself in terms of impacting the world wide sex industry?

I think the most pressing issue is the growing number of children/teenagers being trafficked for sex in the US. This year we are launching a teen initiative to make teens aware of the dangers.

Sex for money is a great human tragedy and if one woman chooses to leave adult entertainment or prostitution because of our efforts, I will feel that we have made an impact.

How has the gospel of Jesus Christ impacted your founding of Epic Beauty?  How does Epic Beauty share the love of Christ to women in crisis?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the sole reason and purpose for why we do what we do.  His love is so extravagant toward us and it is our responsibility to take that rich Gift to every woman that will listen.

Anything else that is on your heart that you want to share about Epic Beauty, women in crisis or the sex industry?

The most important thing I would say to your readers, is “Do Something.” “Please.”  There is very likely, a woman, in everyone’s life that needs validation, love, a listening ear, resources, advice, guidance, comfort and, that woman, is a great place to start. If you don’t know anyone who may be in crisis, there is a myriad of organizations that need volunteers, such as the YWCA, FirstCare, Place of Hope.

Click here to read more about Epic Beauty in a recent news interview by CBS 12 News.

Anyone can get involved by simply visiting www.epicbeauty.org or calling 561-745-3035 x.24

Interview with Melissa Pierce of EpicBeauty.org: PART ONE

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, LoveLeave a comment

By AbbyA

Epic Beauty is a coalition of women committed to addressing the unique needs of women in crisis. Their goal is to inspire, educate and counsel women so they can reach their full potential in life.  There is no better organization to represent this month’s theme of LOVE.  For there is no greater love than He who laid down his life for His friends.  John 15:13

Melissa Pierce is the founder of Epic Beauty and a pastor at Generation Church in Jupiter, Florida.  Melissa studied at World Changers Bible Institute in Nashville, TN as well as Virginia Commonwealth Univ. in Richmond, VA.  God has used her very successful career in the corporate world to further train her and give her insight into the needs and culture of our society.

As the founder of Epic Beauty, describe the needs of your community that led you to create Epic Beauty. What is your mission?

I am from Richmond, VA, a very conservative town in the Mid-Atlantic. I moved to West Palm in 2007 and was astonished at the explicit adult entertainment advertisement in our area. I couldn’t imagine that there were enough women working to keep these places open, and if there were, I asked myself, what was driving them? Our mission is to reach out to women in adult entertainment and let them know that they are loved and regarded, in and by their community. We also reach out to women living on the streets and our goal in both cases is to bring resources to these women.  We have partnered with several organizations that provide sustainable assistance to women in crisis.

Tell us about your baskets of love ministry and give some specific examples of responses of women who receive them.

We create baskets full of things women love, such as perfumes, candles, stationary, bath products etc. We also create baskets/backpacks for children of single moms.  The reactions have been awesome, women are truly touched that other women have taken the time to put together something beautiful for them and want absolutely nothing in return.

At the beginning of the ’10 school year we gave away 200 backpacks full of school supplies to single moms, and many mothers told us they weren’t sure how they were going to provide school supplies for their children.

Tell us how to get involved with creating and delivering baskets of love.  Any memorable stories from baskets of love gatherings?

Getting involved with baskets of love can be super fun! Any women’s group can get together and donate the items mentioned above and spend time being creative, silly and compassionate. Anyone can get involved by simply visiting www.epicbeauty.org or calling 561-745-3035 x.24

The most memorable experience was our first outreach where we put together over 200 baskets, and there were women from 5 different churches represented! It was so amazing to see the Christian community coming together in unity!

Click here to read more about Epic Beauty in a recent news interview by CBS 12 News.

Woman of the Month…Tina Yeager! (PART 4 of the FemmeFuel Interview)

On By femmefuelIn FemmeInterviews by Sasha Katz, Transform YourselfLeave a comment

image

I met Tina Yeager through her leadership position in a local foster care organization.  As I got to know her, I was impressed by her warm, professional manner and passion for serving the community.  As it turns out, like most of FemmeFuel writers and followers, she does the balancing act—Business Owner, Committed Mom, Christian Leader and Writer.  She is absolutely qualified to be our very interesting woman for January 2011.  I hope you enjoy her candid thoughts on femininity, relationships and being a single mom.  Feel free to post your comments and ask questions—she will be with us all week!  – AbbyA

In case you missed it…click here to read Part 1 of Tina’s interview: What fuels the Godly woman?

Click here to read Part 2 of Tina’s interview: What is femininity?

Click here to read Part 3 of Tina’s interview: Words of wisdom for the single woman.

AbbyA: As a single working mom, describe how you balance your priorities.

 

Tina Yeager: Priorities…How does one begin? The laundry, homework, housework, social activities, the gym, time with the Lord, serving and yes, I have to work 40-60 hours per week to cover my expenses.  It can be a challenge and I won’t say that it isn’t a great struggle some days.  There are days I cry out to the Lord and say, “Lord, You said You wouldn’t give me more than I can handle, but I think You have me highly confused with somebody else! I feel so weak!!!” He quickly then reminds me that I can do all things with His strength.

I have been married my entire life and being a single mom was not in my life plan.  The lesson I learned very quickly is that I had to make a real effort to keep the week’s activities as balanced and routine as possible for my children.  When I first divorced, I busied myself with a ton of ministry and social activities and dragged my children around for most of it…I started to see them act out and hungry for my undivided attention.  I have now set a rule in my house: Mommy gets one night a week for me.  During the school week, we don’t plan a great deal.  It is enough with homework, sports activities and maintaining the house.  Friday nights are family night.  My kids look forward to Friday nights and the fun we have.  We don’t always do big things—sometimes it is just a bike ride and renting a $1.00 movie rental from the local rental box—but whatever we do, it is our time and they love it.  Time goes by so fast and I don’t want them to only remember me working and cleaning.

The other thing that has given us great balance at home has been our nightly devotional.  We lay in the bed, do our devotional (many times after tickle time and pillow fights) and we learn about Christ and how we can apply it to our lives.  We are doing the Children’s Bible in a year.  It has devotionals after each section.  The children enjoy this time and have really grown spiritually from it.  It has blessed our home tremendously.

The most important ministry I have is my children. My greatest desire is to be an example of a strong Godly woman, who uses God’s strength to get me through each day, has the wisdom to follow Him and the desire to help others grow in Him.  What greater value can I give my children?

I also recognize that like each of you, I fail my children at times. I still lose my temper or get frustrated when they have pushed my buttons one too many times.  I find that if I am consistent with consequences, they behave so much better and those times are less and less frequent. I also know the value of  forgiveness: it frees us up to let go of resentment and anger.  I have learned to ask my children to forgive me when I fail.  We are focusing on growing in Love, Forgiveness, Gratitude and Kindness in our home. With Christ’s love and strength, I believe my children will have amazing Godly lives and will pass it down for generations.

Jeremiah 29:11-14: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b]

I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Tina Yeager has been an RN for 18 years and the CEO/owner of Ocean to Ocean Healthcare since 1995. She has been nominated for “Business Woman Of The Year” by the South Florida Business Journal. Tina is currently chair of the development council for 4Kids of South Florida, an organization committed to meeting the needs of foster care children. She is also active in a community outreach endeavor that benefits The Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. This endeavor is called “Dunn’s Run”. Tina sits as the chairperson for this annual community event where proceeds go directly to The Boys and Girls Club, and is also a corporate board member and chair of the volunteer committee.