May 1, 2025 • 6 mins
Amy talkis with Dr. Charity Chandler Cole about the Reimagine Gala at CASA of Los Angeles.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now, let's say good morning to kasa's doctor, Charity
Chandler Cole.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning, doctor Chandler Cole.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Good morning Amy. Thank you for having me on this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
We wanted to talk to you about this because this
one caught my eye because my parents have been CASA
donors for years and when my dad passed away, our
family requested in lieu of flowers that Dad's friends donate
to CASA, and that's when I kind of really found
out what it was. It means court appointed special advocates
and what they do is so important for children. So
(00:31):
let's start with the big party Friday night that you're
holding to raise money for this organization.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Canton. Forgive me, I'm a little under the weather, so
if I sound a little aware, that's why. But we
are having our thirteenth Reimagine Gala this Friday at the
Billboard Hotel to raise much needed funding to support the
children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. It's
our largest fundraiser that we count on independent on every
year to continue our advocacy efforts here in Los Angeles County, Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Are their tickets still available?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
There are tickets still available, so you can go to
KASA la dot org. You know, we are tightening the ship.
It's our event is tomorrow, but we still have seats available,
so folks want to join us. It's a night to
remember with entertainment, fun or derves, drinks, great networking opportunities,
and it's when the who's who in the advocacy space
and the social justice space comes out to have a
(01:22):
good time and support of our community. So we definitely
would love to see more people there and we do
not offer tickets at the door, but if you purchase
your tickets today, we can make sure you have a seat.
It's a glamorous night, dress up formal attire and have
a good time and support of children.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Okay, So now doctor Chandler Cole, I want to talk
about KASA. Dig into that a little bit and why
the money are raising at the gallop on Friday night
and through the year is so so important. Tell us
about the court appointed Special Advocates and what they specifically
do for children and what children they serve.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Absolutely so, KASA Court Point is special Advocates. We essentially
organize the community to show up in life and in
court for children impacted by the child welfare and juvenile
justice systems. COSTA stands beside hundreds of children in the
foster care and juvenile justice systems who have already faced
unimaginable hardships, have been separated from their families and their communities,
(02:18):
and our advocates are often the only consistent adult support
in their lives. In addition, we fill an overwhelming gap
and relieve a huge burden on our core partners such
as dcfs, our children's attorneys. Our system is just over
innundated with children, most of which don't need to be
in the system, have many complex needs, and we come
(02:39):
in and really show up to support them and make
sure that they're not just in a system, not being supported,
not being heard, not having good voice, but that they're
supported while in the system and that when they leave,
they don't fall, you know, to the dire outcomes that
await them of being incarcerated, experiencing poverty, homelessness, and helplessness.
(02:59):
We really show up for youth and we serve children
from zero all the way up to twenty one years
old to make sure that they were not their voice,
for we're a vehicle for their voice. I personally experienced
the foster care system. And I remember firsthand how no
one saw me, No one asked me what I needed
or you know, how I was feeling, or what type
of support I needed. All the adults in my life
(03:21):
had all the answers for what should happen to me,
And as a result, I experienced the extraordinary consequences of
just being a number in the system. Are a name
on a piece of paper. So we show up and
we show out by providing one on one specialized tailor
support to our young people, so they feel seen, they
feel hurt, they feel valued, and most importantly, they leave
the system as successful agents of society.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
And you know you mentioned that they go to court,
and I mean, can you can you imagine having to
do that as a child. I mean, I can't even
I went in to do a traffic ticket and I
was completely overwhelmed by the court system. And that's not
even That is not anything dealing with some of the
really horrific situations that some of these kids are facing.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Exactly, and they don't know what's going on, they don't
know the lingo or you know, how to articulate what
they feel, what they want, and what they need. In
and I can imagine it because I've been there, and
we're literally told not to say anything, and we have
to rely one hundred percent on the attorney assigned to
us or the person that's supposed to speak up for
us folks. So we've never probably met before that moment.
(04:28):
And there's hard working people in the system, from social
workers to attorneys, even the judges, but our system is
so overwhelmed with young people that there is not enough
time or effort to really put into doing a full
comprehensive understanding of what that child's life was like and
what they need. We're always focused on the moment. So
that's where Kasta comes in. We get to go in,
(04:50):
really dig into their history, understand the complexities of why
they're there, and write trauma inform and culturally responsive court
reports that our judges rely on to make very serious
decisions about their child's life.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Right, So the cost of volunteers are not lawyers. They're
literally they are advocates for the children to go and
make sure that they've got the kids backs exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
They're average people like you like me. They could be teachers,
they could be gardeners, they could be anyone in the world,
and we train folks. We trained folks that have zero
experience on the system about who our kids are and
how to show up and advocate for them. So you
need zero experience, but you do need to have a heart.
You do need to be willing to show up could
advocate for our youth. And we are actively recruiting cost
(05:36):
of volunteers, So if you're interested in being a volunteer,
please go to our website at costla dot org and
we would love to sign you up.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
We always need an adult in the room to help
kids who you know, don't have somebody. It's such important
work and I can see you know why my parents
got so into it, Doctor Charity Chandler Cole, thank you
so much for your information and we're so happy to
hear your success story too that you know, that's like
talking to somebody who's been through it and has come
(06:06):
out the other side.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Always is so important. Tickets to the.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Gala are still available, and again, what are the website
address for tickets to the gala and also if you
want information on becoming a volunteer. Yes, thank you so much, Amy,
it's a C A S A l A dot org.
Thank you so much doctor Charity Chandler Cole, good luck
with the gala.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Thank you and thank you to your parents for being supporters.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
All right, take care,
Right now, let's say good morning to kasa's doctor, Charity
Chandler Cole.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning, doctor Chandler Cole.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Good morning Amy. Thank you for having me on this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
We wanted to talk to you about this because this
one caught my eye because my parents have been CASA
donors for years and when my dad passed away, our
family requested in lieu of flowers that Dad's friends donate
to CASA, and that's when I kind of really found
out what it was. It means court appointed special advocates
and what they do is so important for children. So
(00:31):
let's start with the big party Friday night that you're
holding to raise money for this organization.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Canton. Forgive me, I'm a little under the weather, so
if I sound a little aware, that's why. But we
are having our thirteenth Reimagine Gala this Friday at the
Billboard Hotel to raise much needed funding to support the
children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. It's
our largest fundraiser that we count on independent on every
year to continue our advocacy efforts here in Los Angeles County, Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Are their tickets still available?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
There are tickets still available, so you can go to
KASA la dot org. You know, we are tightening the ship.
It's our event is tomorrow, but we still have seats available,
so folks want to join us. It's a night to
remember with entertainment, fun or derves, drinks, great networking opportunities,
and it's when the who's who in the advocacy space
and the social justice space comes out to have a
(01:22):
good time and support of our community. So we definitely
would love to see more people there and we do
not offer tickets at the door, but if you purchase
your tickets today, we can make sure you have a seat.
It's a glamorous night, dress up formal attire and have
a good time and support of children.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Okay, So now doctor Chandler Cole, I want to talk
about KASA. Dig into that a little bit and why
the money are raising at the gallop on Friday night
and through the year is so so important. Tell us
about the court appointed Special Advocates and what they specifically
do for children and what children they serve.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Absolutely so, KASA Court Point is special Advocates. We essentially
organize the community to show up in life and in
court for children impacted by the child welfare and juvenile
justice systems. COSTA stands beside hundreds of children in the
foster care and juvenile justice systems who have already faced
unimaginable hardships, have been separated from their families and their communities,
(02:18):
and our advocates are often the only consistent adult support
in their lives. In addition, we fill an overwhelming gap
and relieve a huge burden on our core partners such
as dcfs, our children's attorneys. Our system is just over
innundated with children, most of which don't need to be
in the system, have many complex needs, and we come
(02:39):
in and really show up to support them and make
sure that they're not just in a system, not being supported,
not being heard, not having good voice, but that they're
supported while in the system and that when they leave,
they don't fall, you know, to the dire outcomes that
await them of being incarcerated, experiencing poverty, homelessness, and helplessness.
(02:59):
We really show up for youth and we serve children
from zero all the way up to twenty one years
old to make sure that they were not their voice,
for we're a vehicle for their voice. I personally experienced
the foster care system. And I remember firsthand how no
one saw me, No one asked me what I needed
or you know, how I was feeling, or what type
of support I needed. All the adults in my life
(03:21):
had all the answers for what should happen to me,
And as a result, I experienced the extraordinary consequences of
just being a number in the system. Are a name
on a piece of paper. So we show up and
we show out by providing one on one specialized tailor
support to our young people, so they feel seen, they
feel hurt, they feel valued, and most importantly, they leave
the system as successful agents of society.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
And you know you mentioned that they go to court,
and I mean, can you can you imagine having to
do that as a child. I mean, I can't even
I went in to do a traffic ticket and I
was completely overwhelmed by the court system. And that's not
even That is not anything dealing with some of the
really horrific situations that some of these kids are facing.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Exactly, and they don't know what's going on, they don't
know the lingo or you know, how to articulate what
they feel, what they want, and what they need. In
and I can imagine it because I've been there, and
we're literally told not to say anything, and we have
to rely one hundred percent on the attorney assigned to
us or the person that's supposed to speak up for
us folks. So we've never probably met before that moment.
(04:28):
And there's hard working people in the system, from social
workers to attorneys, even the judges, but our system is
so overwhelmed with young people that there is not enough
time or effort to really put into doing a full
comprehensive understanding of what that child's life was like and
what they need. We're always focused on the moment. So
that's where Kasta comes in. We get to go in,
(04:50):
really dig into their history, understand the complexities of why
they're there, and write trauma inform and culturally responsive court
reports that our judges rely on to make very serious
decisions about their child's life.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Right, So the cost of volunteers are not lawyers. They're
literally they are advocates for the children to go and
make sure that they've got the kids backs exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
They're average people like you like me. They could be teachers,
they could be gardeners, they could be anyone in the world,
and we train folks. We trained folks that have zero
experience on the system about who our kids are and
how to show up and advocate for them. So you
need zero experience, but you do need to have a heart.
You do need to be willing to show up could
advocate for our youth. And we are actively recruiting cost
(05:36):
of volunteers, So if you're interested in being a volunteer,
please go to our website at costla dot org and
we would love to sign you up.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
We always need an adult in the room to help
kids who you know, don't have somebody. It's such important
work and I can see you know why my parents
got so into it, Doctor Charity Chandler Cole, thank you
so much for your information and we're so happy to
hear your success story too that you know, that's like
talking to somebody who's been through it and has come
(06:06):
out the other side.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Always is so important. Tickets to the.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Gala are still available, and again, what are the website
address for tickets to the gala and also if you
want information on becoming a volunteer. Yes, thank you so much, Amy,
it's a C A S A l A dot org.
Thank you so much doctor Charity Chandler Cole, good luck
with the gala.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Thank you and thank you to your parents for being supporters.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
All right, take care,
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