How Diana Liberto Grove Lifts Teens Aging Out Of Care

High-school teacher and nonprofit founder Diana Liberto Grove shares how she and her husband began fostering teens—and why she launched Shifting Gears to support youth ages 16–25 as they transition out of care. From Sunday dinners and tutoring to driver’s ed partnerships and a vision for tiny-home communities and an emergency shelter, Diana lays out practical, community-powered solutions anyone can help with. It’s a hopeful, action-oriented conversation about turning compassion into infrastructure. Sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union Guest Bio:  Diana Liberto Grove is the co-founder of Shifting Gears, a Maryland-based nonprofit focused on helping foster youth (16–25) build independence through life skills, education, employment, housing support, and community. A longtime Harford County high-school teacher and foster/adoptive mom, Diana creates safe spaces and trusted relationships that carry teens into adulthood—with programs like tutoring, Sunday dinners, creative outlets, and career readiness.  Main Topics: ·         Diana’s path into fostering teens and adopting (why teens need homes, trust, and consistency) ·         The birth of Shifting Gears and its focus on ages 16–25 (in-care to independence) ·         Current programs: Sunday dinners, book club, tutoring, driver’s ed partnership, creative/skills shop plans ·         The big vision: tiny-home community, adult “boys & girls club” space, and an emergency shelter ·         Fundraising and volunteers: board needs, background checks, care closet, and in-kind skills (plumbing, design, tutoring, etc.) ·         Hard realities & hope: outcomes after aging out, mental health, trafficking risk, and how community changes the story  Resources mentioned: ·         Shifting Gears website: shiftinggearsmd.org (donate button on site)·         Email: [email protected] ·         Social: Facebook “Shifting Gears, Inc”; Instagram “shifting_gears_md” (spoken as “shifting underscore gears underscore MD”)·         Local partners & orgs referenced: Arrow girls group home; CASA (court-appointed special advocates); Premier Driving School (Bel Air); St. Francis de Sales (Abingdon) youth group (back-to-school packing)·         Episode Sponsor: Freedom Federal Credit Union·         Supporter: Full Circle Boards·         Supporter: Sincerely Sawyer Photography Send us Fan MailRide For Life Healing Arts & Music FestivalFreedom Federal Credit UnionHELPING YOU REACH YOUR FINANCIAL DREAMSDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email