Porchlight Pathways was born on a front porch, the place where hard stories get told in soft light, where teens test trust, and where steady adults choose to stay. I, Hunter Marshall, grew up in foster care, was adopted at age 12, and found my way forward because people offered more than sympathy—they offered skills, consistency, and hope. Now, as a husband, dad, IT professional, and educator, I’m building the thing I needed back then: a simple, practical pathway families and youth can actually walk.
My mom, Brenda Marshall, sat across from me like she has for decades. She’s spent 40+ years walking alongside youth, training foster and adoptive parents, and showing families what steady love looks like when life is anything but steady. Porchlight Pathways is our shared work—born from lived experience and proven practice.
We equip parents, teens, and young adults to thrive—financially, emotionally, and relationally—through short, plain-English lessons, ready-to-use tools, and conversations that respect people’s dignity. Our approach is trauma-aware and dignity-first: no shame, no jargon, no sensational stories—just real help you can put to work this week.
What’s live now
● Podcast & short-form videos: Encouraging, practical conversations on hard topics (anxiety, boundaries, trust, money basics, safer tech) with a tone that’s calm, direct, and hopeful.
● Starter life-skills guides (in progress and releasing): First paycheck → budget, first apartment basics, digital safety, healthy relationship habits.
● Free access for youth in foster care: As we publish new guides, we’re making them free for youth in care.
Building next
● Mentor Q&A: Guided “ask us anything” sessions so youth never have to figure it out alone.
● Parent courses & workshops: Turn conflict into connection with calm-down/repair scripts, boundary language that sticks, money talks that don’t end in tears, and routines that build trust over time.
● Partner packages for agencies, schools, and churches: Facilitator guides, slide decks, certificates, and simple outcome reporting you can hand to supervisors or grantors.
How we operate
We grow at the speed of integrity: paid trainings and sponsorships will fund free access for youth and families who need it most. We measure impact, publish what we learn, and keep our language open-handed and values-aligned—welcoming every background while holding to compassion, stewardship, and accountability.
Our three promises:
Tell the truth kindly.
Teach the next step clearly.
Stay long enough for trust to take root.
When a family finds its footing and a young adult takes their next brave step—that’s the light we’re here to turn on.
