Welcome & Resource Fair

9:00 – 10:00am

Kick off your day at the Resource Fair—designed just for you!

Connect with a powerful network of support and discover a wide range of opportunities focused on education, career readiness, and personal growth. You’ll have the chance to engage with organizations and professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and plan for the future.

Featured participants include:

• Kean University EOF & Admissions Office
• Rutgers University – IFF Fellows Program
• Ocean County College
• Age Out Angels
• Care Plus -Enlightenment Peer2Peer Program
• Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
• Office of Adolescent Services
• HiTops

This is a great opportunity to explore schools and programs, ask questions, and build meaningful connections to support your journey.

Keynote

Konscious Education – Embodiment, Transformation, and Awakening

10:00 – 10:30am

In this engaging keynote activity, Mychal Mills will invite youth, caregivers, and community members to step into the spirit of a block party for the soul—a gathering where every voice matters and every heart belongs. Through the pillars of embodiment, transformation, and awakening, participants will explore practical tools to stay grounded in life’s challenges, transform struggle into growth, and awaken to their inner strength and potential.

Designed especially with youth in care and their supporters in mind, this session will uplift and energize the room, reminding us that building community begins with how we show up for one another—with presence, compassion, and love. By the end, participants will feel more connected to themselves, to each other, and to the vision of creating stronger families and communities across New Jersey.

Mychal Mills

Mychal Mills is the co-founder of Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS), a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of young people through holistic education, mindfulness, and community healing. As a Transformative Education Leadership (TEL) Fellow, Mychal brings national recognition to his work, blending visionary leadership with a heart for service.

Over the past decade, he has impacted more than 45,000 youth and 10,000 educators, helping to create safe, supportive spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. Guided by the principles of Beloved Community and Nonviolent Communication, Mychal is committed to building bridges of love and understanding across families, schools, and communities—one block at a time.

Workshop Session 1

10:45 – 11:45am

 

Navigating College Admissions: Finding the Right Fit

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is the only New Jersey state agency with the sole mission of providing students and families with financial and informational resources for students to pursue their education beyond high school. This session is designed to support students and resource families as they navigate the college admissions process. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how to search for schools, approach the application process, and make informed decisions about financial aid. The session also highlights the value of starting at a 2-year college and what the transition to a 4-year college can look like. Participants will also learn how financial aid can vary depending on the type of school whether it’s a safety school, a match school, or a reach school and how those choices impact overall affordability. The goal is to ease the stress of college planning by providing practical guidance and helpful information that empowers students to make confident, informed decisions about their educational journey.

Presenter: Kimber Decker, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority

 

Balance & Bounce Back: Building Your Mental Wellness Toolkit

College students are among the most vulnerable when it comes to mental health challenges. This transitional stage of life often brings stress, pressure, and emotional turbulence, making emotional wellness more important than ever. Emotional wellness means understanding and managing your emotions, building resilience, and developing healthy coping strategies to handle life’s ups and downs. By staying in tune with your emotions, you can better manage stress, support your mental health, and bounce back from difficult situations with strength and clarity. When you feel better, you perform better, not just academically, but socially, physically, and personally. In this workshop, participants will receive an introduction to mental health and practical tools to create their own personalized wellness plan. You will learn how to recognize your emotional needs, practice self-care, and build habits that support lifelong wellbeing.

Presenter: Juanita Henry, LCSW, MSW, Healthcare Professional at Greater New Jersey Therapy Partners

 

Gender Roles and Stereotypes Through the Lifespan

This interactive workshop explores how gender roles and stereotypes are shaped and reinforced throughout the human lifespan. By examining five key agents of influence, family, peers, school, religion, and media, we’ll uncover how our early experiences in childhood contribute to the development of gender norms and expectations. Through discussion and reflection, participants will gain insight into how these influences continue to impact identity, behavior, and societal roles across different stages of life.

Presenter: Alex Aikens, Sr. Director of Programs and Services at HiTOPS

Workshop Session 2

12:00 – 1:00pm

 

Envisioning Your Future: What’s on the Board Dream It. See It. Achieve It.

Everyone has goals but turning them into reality starts with vision. Join us for an uplifting Vision Board Workshop designed to help you tap into your creativity, clarify your goals, and visually map out the future you want. Vision boards are more than just art; they are powerful tools for focus and motivation. Research shows that visualizing your goals increases your chances of achieving them. This hands-on session is all about self-care, self-discovery, and creative goal setting. You will walk away with more than just a board, you’ll gain clarity, purpose, and a personalized reminder of what you’re working toward. Let’s dream big and start building your future today. We can’t wait to see you there!

Presenter: Angela Fox, embrella PACES Coach & Muneeza Chaudhry, embrella Scholarship Coordinator

 

Money Moves: Budgeting Basics for Everyday Life

Want to make your money work for you? Financial literacy is essential, it gives you the power to make smart, confident decisions about how you earn, spend, and save. Understanding the basics of budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt can set you up for long-term success. This interactive workshop focuses on the fundamentals of budgeting and everyday money management. You will gain essential tools, skills, and simple strategies to help you take control of your finances. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to manage your income, track your expenses, and set realistic financial goals so you can feel more confident about your financial future. 

Presenter: Kylie Kunz, embrella PACES Coach

 

Secure the Bag: A Practical Guide to Earning Up to $100k 

Did you know there are numerous careers that require only a high school diploma or minimal post-secondary training, and pay between $50,000 and $100,000 per year? These high-demand professions are often overlooked, yet they are urgently seeking skilled workers. However, navigating these career paths can be tricky. Some programs have limited application windows, while others require a sponsor or insider guidance. That is where this interactive workshop comes in. Participants will learn a step-by-step process to move from state dependency to financial independence, opening doors to rewarding, sustainable careers.

Presenter: Greg Rapport, Age-Out Angels