Annie Marek-Barta is a former foster youth who spent 5 years in the system before aging out. At the age of 26, she was adopted as an adult in Washington, displaying the truth that we never outgrow the need to belong. She now volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and works as a freelance photographer and graphic designer in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Her heart is to advocate for the foster care and adoption realms and to see seats added to tables as the lonely are invited into belonging. You can find her on Instagram using the handle @anniemarekbarta.
Abby Olson is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Riverside Community Outreach and the Director of the Every Child movement in Columbia County, Oregon. She is an Oregon mama, Called to Love attendee, and friend to many of you. After over a decade of being a foster and adoptive mom, Abby was at a crossroad. She had a deep desire to continue to provide care and support to children in foster care, but with a family of 12 their household was too large by State standards to foster any more children. Along with her husband, Abby began to look for other ways to help children in need. As they delved more into the needs of their community and deeper into what was happening with children who were in foster care, they began to see the foster care crisis was complex. Foster parents needed encouragement, children needed safety, and biological families needed support. It became clear to them a holistic approach would be paramount to truly make a difference in the community. They wanted to care for vulnerable children and support families both in and out of foster care. With those ideals in their hearts, Riverside Community Outreach was born. Abby writes about her adventures in motherhood and life on her blog crazyville12.com. She loves going on dates with her husband, snuggling up with a good book, and drinking Dutch Bros coffee. Abby's desire is to encourage, inspire, and challenge people to open their hearts and homes. @RiversideCommunityOutreach @crazyville12 @everychild #riseup #calledtolove2021 #fostermom #fosterandadopt #adoptivemom
Kyle Raney is dedicated to reminding people of their value in Christ, help them discover their purpose, and live out the unique story God has given them. Kyle and his wife Cassie are authors, speakers, and coach leaders in biblical personal growth. They live with their 9 children in beautiful Central Oregon. The Raney’s spent 15 years in pastoral ministry and now focus on personal growth development and helping others reach their full God-given potential. Through humor, experiences, and biblical truth, Kyle speaks to audiences from various backgrounds encouraging them to live a life to the glory of God and good of others. As adoptive parents, the Raney’s are very involved in orphan care and special needs ministries, as well as other movements that aim to help the most vulnerable in our community. Their hope is to do good, for the most amount of people, in the time God has granted them. You can find them on Instagram @them.raneys
Carrie Blaske founded Real Life Wholeness so that parents and caregivers could find acceptance, encouragement, a balance of information partnered with hands-on supportive tools and community. She shares a vulnerable and practical approach on how parents and caregivers can best care for themselves so that they can continue to care for those around them.
The C.A.R.E Method was forged out of the complex life experiences that surround her life as a parent/caregiver of 7 children. Her Real Life has allowed her to provide education/training since 2006. The path to obtaining Empowered to Connect “Train the Trainer,” Back To Back ministry’s “Trauma Competent Caregivers,” and R-HYI 220 hour (Registered Holy Yoga Instructor) certifications has empowered and enabled her to connect to people in meaningful ways. Carrie, her husband Dave, all 7 kids, Daughters in-laws and grandkids, currently call the Pacific Northwest home. @reallifecarrieb @reallifewholeness
The C.A.R.E Method was forged out of the complex life experiences that surround her life as a parent/caregiver of 7 children. Her Real Life has allowed her to provide education/training since 2006. The path to obtaining Empowered to Connect “Train the Trainer,” Back To Back ministry’s “Trauma Competent Caregivers,” and R-HYI 220 hour (Registered Holy Yoga Instructor) certifications has empowered and enabled her to connect to people in meaningful ways. Carrie, her husband Dave, all 7 kids, Daughters in-laws and grandkids, currently call the Pacific Northwest home. @reallifecarrieb @reallifewholeness
