Arts & Entertainment

Rochester Hills Library Exhibit Spotlights Foster Children

The exhibit aims to celebrate children while raising awareness for those still in need of a home.

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William Bornhoft, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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Rochester Hills, MI – In Michigan, there is a high demand for parents willing to adopt older youth currently living in state foster care.

A new exhibit called Art&Soul at the Rochester Hills Public Library aims to celebrate children while raising awareness for those still in need of a home, the Oakland Press reported. The exhibit lasts through July 23.

Art&Soul is a traveling photo exhibit that's partnered with Orchards Children’s Services. It features the work of award-winning photographers who capture photos of children who currently live in state foster care and are hoping to find a permanent family.

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Melissa Parks, who founded Art&Soul, said "We believe that once our community sees these children and learns their stories, the art will capture the soul, and the viewers, you, will not be able to un-see them, and in that moment, a new awareness will open up and new possibilities will begin to unfold, as people consider adoption, or tell friends and family how they were touched, refer friends and colleagues, and more and more people are invited into this new conversation for ‘forever families’."

According to Orchards Children’s Services, there are 806 children in need of adoption in Michigan.

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Art&Soul is asking for the community’s help in locating additional exhibit venues, adopting or fostering a child, donating, or just spreading the word about the exhibit.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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