Foster Families Work Together to Build A Lego Village

Creating strong support systems for children in foster care requires more than a single family or organization. It takes an entire community working together.

Arts on Main partnered with Every Child Arkansas to host a community event that brought together foster families, child welfare professionals, community organizations, and individuals interested in learning more about foster care. Led by Lacey Hendrix, Director of Development at Arts on Main, and Andrew Ramsey of Every Child Arkansas, the event was supported by a network of partners including DCFS, Connected Families, The CALL, and Family Ministries Foster Care, all working together to create a space for connection, learning, and action.

"In our area," says Hendrix, "a child in foster care is one of the most vulnerable displaced persons in our community."

For Hendrix, the event was an opportunity to bring attention to the unique challenges facing children in foster care and to create space for meaningful conversations about how the community can support them.

Those conversations were at the heart of the evening's design. Rather than a formal presentation, participants gathered around tables to work together on collaborative Lego projects while discussing foster care experiences, challenges, and opportunities.

"The idea is just to create a fun, relaxed environment to be able to have those conversations," Ramsey said.

The evening itself was a reflection of community collaboration. Walmart donated gift cards to help cover the cost of the Legos used during the event, while DCFS provided free childcare for attendees. To further support participating families, the nearby King Opera House offered a free showing of The Lego Movie for children whose parents were attending, creating an opportunity for adults to engage fully in the discussion while their children enjoyed a safe and fun activity.

The Lego activity served as a visual representation of the foster care ecosystem. Each piece represented a different person, organization, or resource that contributes to supporting children and families. Just as no single Lego piece can create a structure on its own, no single organization can meet every need within foster care.

Ramsey noted that the symbolism was intentional.

"Foster care takes much more than just individuals. It takes the whole village and it takes everyone coming together."

Throughout the evening, participants shared experiences, asked questions, and explored what it means to support children and families experiencing foster care. Current foster parents had the opportunity to offer insight and encouragement to those considering becoming foster families, while community members learned practical ways they can support foster families even if they never become foster parents themselves.

The goal, Hendrix explained, was to bring together people with different experiences and perspectives so they could learn from one another.

"Having all those people at the same table able to have that conversation and to learn from one another."

By the end of the evening, the completed Lego village stood as a reminder of the collective effort required to care for vulnerable children. Through partnerships, shared resources, and a willingness to work together, the community demonstrated that supporting foster families is not the responsibility of a few, but a calling shared by many.