Igniting HOPE, Building CommUNITY Family & Friends Festival

Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT) will host the “Igniting Hope, Building CommUNITY Family & Friends Festival" on Saturday, May 2, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Liberty Station Central Promenade (2641 Truxtun Rd, San Diego, CA 92106). In recognition of Foster Care Awareness Month, the free, community-centered event will bring together nonprofit organizations, community leaders, volunteers, and young people looking for a path to success for an afternoon of connection, celebration, and collaboration.

Moving beyond a traditional resource fair, the festival is designed as an immersive experience that strengthens connections across people and services. It focuses on building a more coordinated and accessible support system for transition-age foster youth and other underserved populations. The event will bring together hundreds of young people seeking pathways to stability, alongside community leaders, families, and friends working to build meaningful relationships and advance a more connected, solutions-based model of support. Attendees from the broader community will also have the opportunity to connect with organizations, explore volunteer opportunities, and learn how to get involved in supporting local youth.

The event will feature approximately 40 participating organizations offering resources across a wide range of services, including housing, education, job training, mental health support, financial literacy, and health services. Participating organizations will engage directly with attendees, showcase their impact, and connect with other peer organizations to identify gaps they can address together, helping to build stronger, more collaborative partnerships.

Attendees can expect a lively, family-friendly atmosphere with live entertainment, interactive experiences, and local food. The event will feature a performance by San Diego-based artist Divina Jasso, along with entertainment from magician The Amazing Dana. Guests can also participate in yoga sessions, enjoy an open-air glam booth, and hear directly from two JIT youth speakers sharing their personal stories. A lineup of local food trucks, including Dirty Birds, Born in Brooklyn, Dilly’s Ice Cream, and Juicy Shawarma, will be on-site throughout the event.

More than just a one-day event, “Igniting Hope, Building CommUNITY” represents a broader shift toward collaboration in the nonprofit sector, bringing organizations together to better serve individuals who need a reliable, connected network of support.

Participating organizations include:

Promises2Kids

Youth Assistance Coalition

Urban Street Angels

YMCA

Doors of Change

Home Start

California Youth Connection

Our Arts

Community Resource Center

Kitchens for Good

United 4 Youth

And more!

The festival is made possible through the support of key sponsors including San Diego Foundation, SDG&E, U.S. Bank, Kiwanis Club of San Diego, and the Foster Youth Transitions Collaborative.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register please visit https://jitfosteryouth.org/hope-festival/.

About Just in Time for Foster Youth

Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT) is a nonprofit that serves young people out of the foster care system after age 18 who leave without a safety net or a family to assist with their transition to adulthood. JIT provides a community of support to help these young adults stay on the path to self-sufficiency. Serving nearly 3,000 youth annually, JIT is focused on Leading Change in the areas of stable housing, essential education, meaningful employment, financial security, reliable transportation, positive connections, confidence, and well-being. For more information, visit www.jitfosteryouth.org.

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