Foster Youth Museum

Originally created in 2006 by current and former foster youth as an adjunct to the Y.O.U.T.H. Training Project’s (YTP) youth-led training for child welfare supervisors, Foster Youth Museum utilizes artifacts, art, photography, and digital media donated or created by youth to provide an intimate look into the experiences of foster youth.

Originally titled the Museum of Lost Childhoods, the museum contains items chosen or informed by youth, including a wide range of representations— for example, a pair of shoes worn by a youth in juvenile hall, and letters handwritten by a youth and an incarcerated parent. Organized in dramatic contiguous displays, FYM guides the viewer on a journey from “Lost Childhoods” to “Foster Youth Empowerment.” Each display is contextualized through an informational display card that, in some cases, includes a narrative about the experience of the youth who contributed it.

“Lost Childhoods” was on display at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, this exhibition was a culmination of a six-month collaborative process between Foster Youth Museum and more than 100 current and former foster youth, artists, and advocates.

Read about an FYM exhibit at the CSUMB Center for Arts and Culture.

A financial donation of any amount would help the Foster Youth Museum achieve our goal of supporting foster youth to share their stories and inspire communities to create a better world with them. Check out their blog by visiting their website, where you can also inquire about bringing Foster Youth Museum to you!