We recently connected with Alexandria Ware and have shared our conversation below.
Alexandria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
At Culture Creations Inc., our mission is deeply personal and transformative. Founded by Alexandria Ware, a former foster youth, our organization is dedicated to making a profound impact on the lives of young people in foster care, particularly those from BIPOC backgrounds. Alexandria’s experiences within the foster care system have inspired her commitment to creating a nurturing environment that addresses the unique needs of these youth and celebrates their potential.
Our mission is guided by three core pillars: Empowerment, Community, and Joy.
Empowerment: We are dedicated to uplifting foster and adopted youth, helping them build self-worth and achieve their full potential. Programs like the We Survived Community Graduation Hair Harmony Roots and Radiance Retreat support and enhance self-esteem, empowering these young individuals to envision and pursue a brighter future.
Community: Fostering a sense of belonging is central to our work. Through events such as the Hair Harmony Roots and Radiance Retreat and the Grinchy Heart Holiday Party Program, we create spaces where foster youth, caregivers, and supporters can connect, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. This sense of community helps to cultivate resilience and offers essential support.
Joy: We aim to turn challenges into opportunities for celebration and happiness. Our Grinchy Heart Holiday Party Program exemplifies this goal by transforming the holiday season into a time of joy and celebration. Creating uplifting experiences fosters a positive environment that inspires and motivates.
Our mission reflects a commitment to transforming the challenges of the foster care system into opportunities for growth and celebration. By embracing cultural reclamation and community-driven support, we provide a nurturing space where every foster youth can thrive, find joy in their journey, and contribute positively to their communities.
Looking ahead, Culture Creations Inc. envisions a future where every foster youth, especially those from BIPOC backgrounds, flourishes in an environment that honors their cultural heritage and personal journey. We strive to create a world where these young individuals are empowered to overcome the challenges of the foster care system, celebrate their achievements, and embrace their potential with confidence and joy.
Our vision is to build a vibrant, inclusive community where healing, growth, and cultural reclamation are at the heart of every initiative. We aim to transform obstacles into opportunities, fostering a sense of belonging, purpose, and pride among foster youth. Through continuous enhancement of our programs and expansion of our support network, we are committed to ensuring that every young person we serve can build a fulfilling life and make meaningful contributions to society.
Culture Creations Inc. is a dynamic nonprofit organization focused on fostering healing, empowerment, and joy among foster youth, with a particular emphasis on those from BIPOC backgrounds. Our mission is to create a vibrant, inclusive community where young individuals in foster care can celebrate their achievements and grow through culturally enriching experiences.
We achieve this through a range of supportive initiatives designed to turn the challenges of the foster care system into opportunities for personal development and celebration. Our core programs include:
Hair Care Event: This transformative event provides foster and adopted children of color and their caregivers with culturally specific hair and skin care resources, fostering a supportive community and promoting a positive self-image.
Graduation Celebration Ceremonies: These ceremonies acknowledge the achievements of current and former foster youth, addressing educational challenges and celebrating their successes.
Christmas Party: This festive event spreads joy among foster youth during the holiday season, turning moments of cynicism into happiness.
Our programs are crafted to meet the unique needs of foster youth, offering educational resources, emotional support, and opportunities to connect with others who share their experiences. By embracing cultural reclamation and community-driven support, we provide a nurturing environment where every foster youth can thrive, find joy in their journey, and contribute positively to their communities.
Alexandria, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Alexandria Ware is a passionate child advocate, keynote speaker, and visionary Founder and CEO of Culture Creations Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Black and Brown youth from foster care backgrounds. Raised in Wichita, Kansas, Alexandria’s personal experiences within the foster care system have profoundly shaped her commitment to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families. Her advocacy work emphasizes holistic support, cultural reclamation, and creating opportunities for these young adults to thrive.
Significant achievements in both grassroots and national advocacy mark Alexandria’s career. As the inaugural Arthur Gochman Child and Family Advocacy Fellow, she leveraged her extensive experience in community-based services, state systems, and national policy to champion the well-being of children and families. Her influence extends to national policy changes, most notably her pivotal role in the passage of the groundbreaking SOUL Family Bill as a Lived Experience Expert on the Kansas SOUL Implementation Team under the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This legislation is a milestone in providing permanent, supportive families for foster youth.
Alexandria has held leadership roles in her professional journey at prominent organizations such as Think of Us, where she managed the Virtual Support Services Department and co-authored the impactful “Away from Home Report.” As a national federal consultant and trainer for JBS International, she contributed to the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) initiatives to improve outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care. Her work has consistently focused on advocating for systemic changes in child welfare, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to youth empowerment.
Beyond her professional achievements, Alexandria is deeply committed to amplifying the voices of foster youth and addressing their unique challenges. She co-founded the podcast Diaries of a Black Girl in Foster Care, which sheds light on the specific struggles experienced by Black girls in the foster care system. Her efforts have earned her recognition as a dynamic leader and a relentless advocate for change.
Through Culture Creations Inc., Alexandria continues to lead initiatives that promote healing, stability, and opportunity for youth in foster care. Her belief in the power of community and cultural reclamation is evident in the programs her nonprofit offers, which are designed to foster personal and professional growth among the young adults they serve. In addition to her advocacy work, Alexandria is developing an inspirational journal series to empower foster youth to navigate their journeys with resilience and self-discovery.
Alexandria’s multifaceted career reflects her deep commitment to improving the child welfare system and creating a brighter future for the youth she serves. Her story, rooted in her experiences as a former foster youth, is a powerful testament to resilience and the potential for systemic transformation.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Unlearning the reluctance to ask for help has been a transformative journey for me, and I owe in part to the invaluable support of a potential sponsor.
For much of my life, I struggled with the belief that asking for help was a sign of weakness. Growing up in the foster care system, I learned to rely on my strength and resilience to navigate the challenges I faced. While helping me survive, this mindset also meant that I often shouldered burdens alone, missing out on the collective support and wisdom that others could offer.
It wasn’t until I encountered a potential sponsor who demonstrated genuine empathy and support that I began to see the value in asking for help. This individual, recognizing my hesitation, reached out not just with offers of assistance but with an understanding of the more profound emotional barriers that were at play. They patiently encouraged me to open up about my needs. They showed me that seeking help is not a weakness but a strength—a way to build connections and leverage collective expertise for a more significant impact.
Through their support, I learned that asking for help can be a powerful tool for growth and collaboration. This shift in perspective has not only enriched my personal and professional life. Still, it has reinforced the importance of community and mutual support in our mission at Culture Creations Inc. I now embrace the idea that reaching out for assistance is essential to creating meaningful change and achieving our goals.
This lesson in unlearning the reluctance to ask for help has shaped how I lead and advocate for foster youth. It reminds me that even those who are dedicated to helping others need to support themselves and that true strength lies in the ability to ask for and accept help when needed.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
A story from my journey that illustrates my resilience involves a pivotal moment early in my career that profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and advocacy.
Raised in Wichita, Kansas, my experiences in the foster care system were both challenging and formative. They instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and a tendency to shoulder burdens alone. I believed asking for help was a sign of weakness, a misconception that stemmed from my early experiences of navigating the system mainly independently.
One turning point came when I advocated for the SOUL Family Bill—a piece of legislation to provide permanent, supportive families for foster youth. The complex process required coordination with multiple stakeholders and a deep understanding of systemic issues. Despite my passion and commitment, I found myself overwhelmed by the scale of the task.
During this time, a potential sponsor recognized my hesitation and offered support. This sponsor didn’t just provide financial resources; they extended a compassionate hand and encouraged me to ask for the help I needed. Their willingness to listen and support helped me unlearn the belief that asking for assistance was a weakness. Instead, I began to see it as a strength—a way to build connections and leverage collective expertise for a more significant impact.
With their guidance and support, I could navigate the complexities of the legislative process more effectively. The success of the SOUL Family Bill, coupled with the sponsor’s encouragement, was a turning point for me. It reinforced my belief in the power of community and mutual support. This experience helped me advance the cause I was passionate about and reshaped my approach to leadership and advocacy.
Through my work at Culture Creations Inc., I now emphasize the importance of community and collaboration in everything we do. Our programs, from the Hair Harmony Roots and Radiance Retreat to the Grinchy Heart Holiday Party Program, are designed to foster a supportive environment where foster youth can thrive and celebrate their achievements.
This journey of unlearning and embracing the strength to ask for help has been central to my personal and professional growth. It exemplifies how resilience is about enduring challenges and being open to support and using it to drive meaningful change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.culturecreationsinc.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturecreationsinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CultureCreationsInc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/culture-creations-inc
