The Future is Family: Conversations on Foster Care and Community

Season 1 Episode 2: The Bag Project is Entrusted to embrella

After working in various areas of child and family services, Anupa Wijaya saw the urgent need for children separated from their biological homes to have items that they could call their own. So, after a 3AM spark of inspiration, she spent seven years spearheading the operations of The Bag Project, a grassroots nonprofit that provides emergency bags to youth and adolescents. Eventually she knew it was time for The Bag Project to move to the next level with an organization that could give it even more time and effort. That’s where Laura Nicholls, the current mind behind The Bag Project, and embrella were able to come in and carry the project forward.

For more information, visit www.embrella.org or follow us on social media: on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram at @embrella.nj or on LinkedIn at @embrella

Season 1 

Welcome to the Future is Family: Conversations on Foster Care and Community, a podcast brought to you by embrella, a New Jersey foster care non-profit dedicated to promoting an enhanced understanding of foster and kinship care and serving as a catalyst for positive change in the child welfare community. For more information visit www.embrella.org or follow us on social media on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and @embrella.nj or on LinkedIn @embrella. Tune in next time on The Future is Family podcast Season 1 Episode 1: Rachel D’Agostino Meet Rachel, D’Agostino, LGPC, a trauma counselor with the desire to support others in their unique journeys. She brings authenticity and compassion to all of her sessions, with a focus on personal wellness. Growing up she was a biological child in family who fostered around 30 children over the years. We sat down to talk growing up, saying goodbye, and how her childhood played a role in her shaping her life. For more information visit www.embrella.org or follow us on social media on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and @embrella.nj or on LinkedIn @embrella. Tune in next time on The Future is Family podcast http://www.futureisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/fifpods1e1.mp3 Season 1 Episode 2: The Bag Project is Entrusted to embrella After working in various areas of child and family services, Anupa Wujaya saw the urgent need for children separated from their biological homes to have items that they could call their own. So, after a 3AM spark of inspiration, she spent seven years spearheading the operations of The Bag Project a grassroots nonprofit that provides emergency bags to youth and adolescents. Eventually she knew it was time for The Bag Project to move to the next level with an organization that could give it even more time and effort. Thats where Laura Nicholls, the current mind behind The Bag Project, and embrella was able to come in and carry the project forward.   http://www.futureisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/s4e2final.mp3

Meet Rachel D’Agostino, LGPC, a trauma counselor with the desire to support others in their unique journeys. She brings authenticity and compassion to all of her sessions, with a focus on personal wellness. Growing up, she was a biological child in a family who fostered around 30 children over the years. We sat down to talk growing up, saying goodbye, and how her childhood played a role in shaping her life.

For more information, visit www.embrella.org or follow us on social media: on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram at @embrella.nj or on LinkedIn at @embrella.

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