Our Goals

Outreach

Reach middle school and high school students in foster care and in need and their families and connect them with resources to encourage graduating from high school, pursuing higher education and good health using cinema as a fun, holiday attraction.

Engagement

Engage prospective foster parents, give them an opportunity to connect with current foster families and children, provide information about becoming a foster parent and connect with a community of support services available to them should they decide to foster.

Connection

Connect students as well as current and prospective foster families using cinema as a fun, holiday attraction and community among current and prospective foster families and resource providers.

Who We Are

🧑🏾‍🧑🏻‍🧒🏽‍🧒🏼 Our Purpose

At Essex Community Outreach Corporation (ECOC), our mission is to eradicate educational and healthcare disparities for foster and underserved youth and their families.

Through impactful events and partnerships, we strive to empower communities by providing access to vital resources and fostering meaningful connections.

🎥Cinematique - Fostering Community and Connection

Cinematique is ECOC’s flagship event—a free, annual community gathering designed to support foster families by connecting them with educational opportunities and essential resources. Our goal is to scale up the event to host 2,000+ attendees, providing access to:

  • Resource providers offering support in education, healthcare, and family services.

  • Interactive and engaging activities that make the event fun and memorable for the entire family.

  • Community education sessions to empower families with knowledge and tools for success.

🤝Our Commitment

At ECOC, we are dedicated to:

Scaling impactful events that connect families with valuable resources.

Collaborating with nonprofits to create sustainable, community-driven solutions.

Creating memorable experiences that inspire, educate, and uplift underserved communities.

🎉Our Events

ECOC hosts two annual events for families:

  • Cinematique: Fostering Community and Connection:

    • Our flagship resource fair, serving over 1500 people annually. See how you can get involved here.

  • Cinematique Day at Woodland Park Zoo:

    • Our summer event, in partnership with Woodland Park Zoo.
      Learn More here.

🫂Extending Our Mission with other Organizations

In partnership with Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, ECOC sponsors Urban Games, a free community health and play event. This initiative promotes:

  1. Health education and wellness through fun, interactive activities.

  2. Inclusive family engagement, making it accessible and enjoyable for all ages.

Since sponsoring Urban Games in 2015, ECOC helped launch it as a separate, independent 501(c)(3) organization, enabling it to expand its reach and serve marginalized youth and underserved communities nationwide.