2025 MICHIGAN HEART GALLERY PHOTO EXHIBIT TO HIGHLIGHT 60 YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE WHO ARE SEEKING PERMANENT HOMES
Ann Arbor, MI — The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), a program administered by human services agency Judson Center and funded by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), will debut its 2025 Michigan Heart Gallery on Saturday, September 13th from 10:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Emagine Theatre, 200 North Main Street in Royal Oak.
The Michigan Heart Gallery is an annual traveling exhibit featuring photos of older youth in the foster care system who are awaiting adoption. This year’s display features pictures of 60 young people — some of whom will attend the premiere.
The event includes a red-carpet arrival for the youth and guests, a film presentation, formal program, and lunch. An adoption information session will be held featuring MARE’s Adoption Navigators. They are experienced adoptive parents who can offer guidance and personal knowledge about the process, challenges and joys of adopting.
“Anyone who is thinking about adopting a young person from foster care should attend the Michigan Heart Gallery event,” said Judson Center President & CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster. “They can get all their questions answered and view the photos and stories of the older children and teenagers looking for forever homes. Everyone deserves to belong to a loving, nurturing family, and these kids are hopeful their dreams will come true.”
Sixteen professional photographers from across the state volunteered their time to take the photos for the Michigan Heart Gallery project. The exhibit will travel across the state following the Royal Oak premiere.
“The first showing of the Michigan Heart Gallery is always such an exciting and inspirational event,” said MARE Director Michelle Parra. “It’s a time when we celebrate our older youth in foster care and give them hope for the future. They truly are the stars on this day. It’s the biggest event of the year for MARE.”
Admission to the 2025 Michigan Heart Gallery event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register on the MARE website at www.mare.org. Complimentary parking vouchers will be available for attendees.
About MARE
The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), a program of Judson Center, is a statewide information and referral service for families interested in adopting youth from foster care and for adoption workers looking for homes for these children. The MARE website provides a list of children in Michigan who are waiting for permanent homes and information on families who are interested in adopting children with special needs. MARE is funded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, visit www.mare.org.
About Judson Center
Judson Center, trusted by Michigan families for more than 100 years, is a non-profit human service agency providing expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, and developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being, and maximum potential. Since opening its doors in 1924, Judson Center has grown to change the lives of more than 13,000 children, adults, and families each year. Judson Center has offices in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, Genesee, and Jackson counties. Judson Center’s headquarters are located at 30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3277. Learn more at www.judsoncenter.org.