I Belong Project™ Spotlight – Middle Tennessee
Every child deserves a loving, supportive home. Recently, a group of remarkable kids were filmed at Trevecca Nazarene University as part of the I Belong Project™. The I Belong Project™ uplifts the stories and voices of kids in foster care who are legally free for adoption. The pop-up photo and video shoots take place monthly as part of an entire day designed for youth to have fun, play and just be kids. Each child has the opportunity to share their story through a quick interview… and the videos you see above are compiled from the day. Each story is powerful and poignant. Today, we introduce you to Araya, Bradley, Sheleyia, Steven, and Summer.
Meet, Sheleyia! (17)
Sheleyia is a very creative child! She likes to draw and is very talented. She also likes to play with dolls and read books. She enjoys listening to music. Although her preference is Christian Rap, Sheleyia is happy to listen to all types of music. Sheleyia has very good problem solving skills and is great at completing puzzles and mind challenging activities.
Sheleyia wants to feel loved and cared about and has the ability to create meaningful relationships. She loves to be active and would like to have a family who is active.
Meet, Summer! (16)
Summer is very creative and has a vivid imagination. She likes to paint, draw, and craft. Summer also has a beautiful singing voice. She would like to go to cosmetology school, but don’t call her a “girlie girl”.
She is fiercely loyal and cares that those she knows and loves are happy and healthy. She has a big heart, and processes her emotions through journaling. She also likes screen time and enjoys watching television and YouTube Shorts. Summer has started to learn how to cook and enjoys spending time in the kitchen. She also does very well interacting with younger children.
Meet, Steven! (15)
Steven is very creative and does well with any type of art project! Steven is super smart and prides himself on his good grades. When he is given a task in the classroom, he is going to get it done! Steven loves digging in the dirt and he loves animals, too.
His favorite animal is the Beluga Whale. Steven especially loves playing basketball and watching or playing any type of sport really, as long as he can run around and be active. Steven is very kind and tries his best to be a gentleman as well. He always makes sure to hold the door for people and help out with chores whenever he can.
Meet Mathis, Jacob & Amelia! (13, 12 & 9)
Amelia is a kind person who enjoys being active. Some of her interests include roller skating, gymnastics, and drawing. Amelia wants a family that is very nice and likes to spend time with her.
Jacob enjoys playing games by himself and with others. Jacob is very social and makes friends easily. He enjoys spending time with friends at school. Jacob says that family and friends are most important to him.
Mathis enjoys making art. He likes to paint, draw, and color. He enjoys playing video games with his brothers. He wants a family that will spend time together and have fun.
Meet, Araya! (10)
Araya loves to have her hair styled and wear dresses. Araya enjoys being outdoors, playing in water, watching videos on her tablet, looking at books, and playing with her dolls. She very much enjoys sensory activities like spinning, bouncing, feeling different textures, etc. Araya does great with routine and is constantly learning, watching, and observing others. She needs a nurturing family that will provide love, support, and advocate for her so she can continue to reach her fullest potential by providing her with lots of opportunities to experience new and different activities. She is pleasant to be around and very loveable.
Meet, Bradley! (12)
Bradley is described as a calm spirit. He is not a big talker, but he is very observant. Bradley is a loving child who enjoys being outside and jumping on the trampoline. He also enjoys watching cartoons and playing video games.
Bradley loves going to the beach and going on rides at the amusement park. Bradley needs a loving forever family who will be patient, supportive, and consistent with routines.
Take the Next Step!
These amazing kids have so much to offer and are waiting for the chance to be part of a loving family. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about these children or the I Belong Project™, please start by making an inquiry on their pages.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these incredible children and help them connect with families.
Thank you!
We also have to say a huge thank you to our incredible partners from various sectors that come together to create incredible experiences for these kiddos. We encourage you to check out these great businesses and creatives and give them a follow!
💅🏽: Thank you to Paul Mitchell for providing our glam squad for the kids and social workers
☕️ Just Love Coffee for providing amazing coffee and kindness to our team
🕺🏼 Realtracs and Ramsey Solutions for allowing your team members to volunteer
📷 Music City Content Kings, Christin Suzanne Photography, Lillian Willis Photography and Drew Cox for capturing photos and videos of each brave kid who joined
We also have to give a big shout out to the many others who work hard and make generous donations of time and resources to make each child’s day just a little more special!
Thanks for all the information
Very good information
Learned things I didn’t know
Will use the information on our foster care journey