Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. To register, please email: info@ConnecticutCASA.org
Tawanna Brown is a 22-year-old powerhouse advocate, mentor, coach, and motivational speaker with lived experience in the child welfare system. She is a proud graduate of Seton Hall University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies and Political Science in just three years. Tawanna is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her advocacy journey began at just 15 years old, when she started writing and speaking about her experiences both as a source of healing and as a way to inspire others. Since then, Tawanna has become a nationally recognized voice for youth in foster care, championing advocacy through webinars, panel discussions, radio appearances, and speaking engagements across the country. She takes immense pride in uplifting and mentoring young people who share experiences similar to her own. Tawanna spent two years serving on the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) Youth Council before transitioning into a coaching role to guide and support other youth leaders. She has also partnered with DCF on key initiatives, including consulting on the development of the Siblings’ Bill of Rights and contributing to policy recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for children in care. In January 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Siblings’ Bill of Rights into law—a landmark step in child welfare policy that protects sibling bonds during foster care placements. Tawanna’s advocacy, alongside other advocates, was instrumental in this achievement, underscoring her commitment to driving systemic change and creating lasting impact in the lives of children and families. Most recently, Tawanna served as the Advocacy and Policy Fellow for the Arthur Gochman Fellowship at Children’s Rights, a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of children. Her personal mantra is: “If your dreams don’t scare you, you aren’t dreaming big enough.” Outside of her professional work, Tawanna enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and shopping—but most importantly, she finds joy in empowering the next generation of youth leaders.
Christopher Scott is the Executive Director and founder of SUN Scholars Inc., a nationally recognized nonprofit established in 2019 that is committed to improving the college and career outcomes of foster and adopted youth. SUN is unique in its model, as the community agency directly hires alumni of the foster care system to provide mentorship and academic coaching services to foster and adopted youth. Additionally, SUN is home to the Robert & Anthony Dudchik SUN Memorial Fund Program, which honors the lives of Robert & Anthony Dudchik by providing community service and travel opportunities to young adults with lived experience in the child welfare system. Scott was awarded the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award by Congressman John Larson in 2025, was a “40 under 40” honoree in Connecticut Magazine in 2022 and serves on the advisory council for the United States Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Scott is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice (EdD) at the University of Hartford, holds a Master of Liberal Arts in Government Extension Studies from Harvard University, an MBA from University of Hartford, and a bachelor’s in journalism from Central Connecticut State University. Scott is a former foster youth and has committed his professional career to improving the child welfare system. He currently lives in Manchester CT alongside his wife, Carolyn, and their three rescue pets: Fig (cat), Kuma (dog), and Puchakaya (house rabbit).
