A Reflection on SJN
The Solutions Journalism Team shares how their experience with SJN has impacted them for the…
A Reflection on SJN
The Solutions Journalism Team shares how their experience with SJN has impacted them for the better. Produced by: Rachel Cabral, Kayley Dias, Meghan Harvey, Macayla McDonald, Emma O’Neill, Kate Tortolini Rachel Cabral: For the past semester, every Friday, Communities of Hope has brought to you a segment from the Solutions Journalism team. The team changed…
Cake4Kids is Serving Up Joy
How a California-based organization is providing celebratory cakes for youth in the foster care system. Produced by: Kate Tortolini, Macayla M. McDonald, and Rachel Fortuna Cabral BRISTOL, RI | Many youth in the foster care system lack consistent support and are often moved around from home to home. Their birthdays can often be overlooked entirely,…
4/10 SJN Curated News
Produced by: Kayley Dias, Emma O’Neill, Abigail Stark, Rachel Cabral, Fatima Rasuly Increasing rates of youths entering foster care after a parent or guardian is detained by immigration agents On February 10th, 2026, reporter Jackie Llanos covered a story on the increasing rates of children whose families have been detained by Immigration Services entering foster…
Garden Time: Cultivating Mental Health and Community
Garden Time, a Rhode Island non-profit, provides incarcerated individuals with stress release and job opportunities through gardening. Produced by: Abigail Stark, Macayla M. McDonald, Rachel Fortuna Cabral, Aliyah Goulette-Brown, Emma O’Neill, Meghan Harvey, Kayley Dias, Kate Tortolini, Haylee Silva Garden Time: Cultivating Mental Health & Community March 6, 2026 | Communities of Hope Civic Media, Solutions…
SJN Rise Above
Creating Normalcy: How Rise Above Supports Foster Youth Through Extracurricular Opportunities Produced by: Rachel Cabral, Emma O’Neill, Kayley Dias, Meghan Harvey, Macayla McDonald BRISTOL, RI | “Raven has never had the opportunity to participate in any sports or after school activities due to financial constraints,” said her foster parents. “Being placed in a foster home…
3/18 Curated News
Produced by: Kayley Dias, Emma O’Neill, Abigail Stark, Meghan Harvey This curated news involved three stories. The first one talks about the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that municipalities are not required to pay for the general education costs of students in state custody placed in residential facilities unless special education services are provided. The…
Foster Forward Empowers Youth Through Mentorship
The Real Connections program pairs foster youth with dedicated mentors, building lasting relationships that inspire confidence, stability, and brighter futures Produced by: Abigail Stark, Macayla M. McDonald, Rachel Fortuna Cabral, Aliyah Goulette-Brown, Emma O’Neill, Meghan Harvey, Kayley Dias, Kate Tortolini, Molly Stinchfield BRISTOL, RI | In 2019, Sam Fasso signed up to be a mentor…
2/13 Curated News
On January 15, 2026, Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill eliminating the possibility of life without parole for youth offenders under the age of 21 Produced by: Rachel Cabral, Kayley Dias, Emma O’Neill On January 15th, 2026, Democratic Lawmakers led by Representative Julie Casimiro introduced a bill, eliminating the possibility of life without parole for youth…
Mental Health and Lifelong Impacts on Foster Care Youth
Are the Mental Health Needs being Met for Youth in The System? Produced by: Kate Tortolini, Gabrielle Iocca, Abigail Stark Children in the foster care system face high rates of mental health challenges, often stemming from early trauma and instability. Despite available services, many foster youth go without adequate support, leading to long-term impacts on…
Maryland Faces Lawsuits Over Juvenile Sexual Abuse
A report by Amanda Hernandez revealed that Maryland is facing thousands of lawsuits related to sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers, under a 2023 law called the Child Victims Act Produced by: Communities of Hope We will be discussing a recent story our Solutions Journalism Network team did research on over the past week. We…
