Teena Dare talks with Lauren Clark, co-founder of Tamarisk Community, as she shares her journey in creating belonging for young adults aging out of the foster care system in her community. Lauren always knew she wanted to work with kids in vulnerable situations, but it wasn't until she was faced with the realities of kiddos in social services in her own backyard that she found clarity for her next steps. And then the ones after that.

This Spring Series is about the radical nature of belonging within the family of God. Lauren leads the way into the next few months by introducing some of the devastating realities that young people face when they enter adulthood without having a family to belong to. But she offers hope- the hope of a shared table, the hope that can show through the cracks of trauma as employers and communities become more informed and saturated in grace. Lauren also beautifully describes the way she has found Jesus in these low places and discovered an unmatched intimacy as she seeks to serve the very ones that Jesus came to love.

00:00 Introduction to Series and Episode

03:04 The Beginning of a Calling

04:03 Discovering a Passion for Foster Care

05:30 From Education to Social Work

07:06 Starting a Ministry for Foster Families

08:57 Launching Tamarisk

11:03 The Power of a Long Car Ride

14:24 Leaders Who Have Lived it

22:15 Closer to Suffering, Closer to Jesus

23:39 The Importance of Empathy and Trauma-Informed Care

31:58 Big Dreams for the Future

Link to Resources:

You can find Tamarisk Community on Instagram @tamarisk.community

Or online at tamarisk.community

Find out more about the Global Faith and Work Initiative: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

And the Surge Network: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

Watch our conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK1oXZyZLwg