May 19, 2022
LAWT News Service
Just Who I Am Inc. presents their event, Birth Didn’t Confine Me on May 21, 2022. This Los Angeles event will be a fashion show dedicated to bringing awareness to the struggles that foster children face, hoping them overcome and become productive leaders of society.
“Blood is thicker than water, and friends are hard to come by, but I have discovered that blood, familial ties, or heavy words does not bind true family,” said Laura Williams, CEO of the Just Who I Am, Inc. “As an adopted child I have learned what family really means. It means love and commitment, loyalty, and unconditional love.”
Williams was born one of eight children, and the fifth born to a drug addict. “I often heard that I, too, would become an addict and that I wouldn’t amount to anything.”
However, Williams was able to take people’s mean words and make it gold. This will be her second time doing a fashion show to honor foster care awareness.
“Birth Didn’t Confine Me” will highlight foster care awareness while honoring the foster parents who have taken children in. Their goal is to create a safe environment, and fun place for both kids and parents to come and be their naturalist selves.
Through this event, people will “realize that birth does not confine them. Hair, make up and clothing will be provided. We will also be providing all youth with take away items, such as clothing and a gift,” shared the CEO.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foster care system, along with those in, have faced a number of issues.
“Imagine the issue the world as a whole is facing. When you look at the foster care system, they’re even more overwhelmed trying, not only to keep children safe but find loving homes to place them in.
There’s a shortage of foster families, and the pandemic only made it worse for people to feel content about closing their doors.”
Outside of this event, Just Who I am Inc. offers Easter egg hunts, mentoring, tutoring, and offers many services to foster care families in need.
“Statistics show that Black children account for eight of one-hundred Los Angeles County children, yet they makeup twenty-eight out of one-hundred foster children,” shared Williams. “There is a strong need for more families in the Black community to become educated and more receptive of becoming a foster parent and advocate of the desires for the children at hand.”
She continued with, “As a former foster youth, I can truly say adoption was the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I would like to bridge the gap so that no child is left behind.”
The Birth Didn’t Confine Me Fashion Show will commence on May 21, 2022, at 4863 Southridge Ave Los Angeles 90043. The opening reception will begin at 3:00 PM and the show will start at 5:30. Tickets, along with donations, can be bought at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birth-didnt-confine-me-fashion-show-tickets-332060922157