Taste of Reality: Life Skills Through Mentorship and Empowerment

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Foster and systems-impacted youth in Los Angeles County face persistent, systemic barriers that significantly hinder their transition to stable adulthood. Studies like CalYOUTH reveal alarming trends, nearly 50% experience homelessness by age 21, over 40% remain unemployed, and nearly one in four face food insecurity. According to Feeding America, 22% of young adults leaving foster care experience consistent hunger due to inadequate resources. Many youth lack access to financial literacy, job readiness, and supportive adult relationships. These challenges are compounded by racial and economic inequities, and public systems that often overlook the need for trauma-informed, culturally relevant support. At Twinspire, we tackle root causes with equity-driven programs focused on life skills, financial education, and mentorship. Our team, including leadership with lived foster care experience, ensures our work is empathetic, authentic, and community-informed.

Taste of Reality is a 12-month, cohort-based initiative designed to equip 150 foster and systems-impacted youth in Los Angeles County with critical life skills, financial literacy, and meaningful mentorship. Each month, a new cohort of 25 participants engages in intensive weekend workshops that integrate hands-on learning across three core areas: urban gardening (in partnership with Crop Swap LA and HACLA), culinary arts (facilitated by Heirloom LA), and financial literacy (led by Twinspire’s in-house experts with lived experience). This immersive programming model supports both personal development and real-world skill-building.
Participants receive stipends for each workshop through our “Earn and Learn” approach, directly addressing economic barriers while reinforcing their time and effort as valuable. Each youth is matched with a mentor from Twinspire’s team, many of whom have navigated the foster system themselves, offering trauma-informed, culturally responsive guidance. The program culminates in a community celebration to honor participant progress and resilience.
Taste of Reality is grounded in Twinspire’s proven success, including a $150,000 Department of Mental Health (DMH) grant supporting financial coaching for STRTP providers, and an $87,000 contract with LACOE for youth financial training. This initiative builds on those successful foundations to deliver holistic, equity-centered support that fosters long-term independence, stability, and opportunity.

If successful, Taste of Reality will contribute to a transformative shift in Los Angeles County by equipping foster and systems-impacted youth with the tools to lead stable, independent lives. Participants will gain critical life skills, including financial literacy, workforce readiness, and emotional resilience, laying the foundation for long-term success. As a result, we anticipate reductions in youth homelessness, unemployment, and involvement with the justice system. Beyond individual outcomes, the program’s focus on mentorship, community engagement, and intergenerational healing will strengthen social support systems and foster a culture of empowerment. Ultimately, Los Angeles County will benefit from a more inclusive, resilient, and self-sufficient generation of young leaders who are not only surviving, but thriving, and giving back to their communities.