>>> GROWING UP IN FOSTER CARE NO ONE ASKS YOU ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> WE ENDED UP GOING TO SEVEN DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

>> DURING THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF FOSTER CARE, I WENT TO 12 FOSTER HOMES.

>> MY FOSTER FAMILY NEGLECTED ME.

I DIDN'T GET THE JUSTICE I DESERVE WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

/\M/\M /\M/\M >> SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE WITH EACH OF YOU.

I THINK IT IS SPECIAL TO TELL OUR STORIES AND THE JOURNEY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ON AND TO BE HERE AND TO BE VULNERABLE IN THIS SPACE IS COMMENDABLE AND BRAVE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THIS EXPERIENCE IS, I THINK, AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VULNERABLE MOMENT WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SOME OF THE BRAVEST PEOPLE I HAVE MET.

IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE.

TO WALK ALONGSIDE OF THEM TO TELL MULTIPLE STORIES OF EXPERIENCES THAT HAPPENS TO HUNDREDS AND MILLIONS OF KIDS.

/\M/\M /\M/\M >> I'VE OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS WORKED IN ALL KINDS OF NON-PROFIT SECTORS, FOSTER CARE, I NOW RUN MY OWN SMALL BUSINESS HERE LOCALLY IN DENVER.

>> I'M A NURSE AS A PROFESSIONAL.

I'M AN ARTIST.

I LOVE TO PAINT, CRAFT, YOU KNOW, DO ANYTHING THAT REALLY COMES ORGANICALLY FROM INSIDE OF ME AND IN THE MOMENT.

>> I'M MAJORING IN PUBLIC POLICIES AND MINORING IN LEGAL STUDIES.

I DO MOCK TRIAL AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE ME TO LAW SCHOOL.

>> I CURRENTLY WORK AT THE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE.

>> I WORK WITH EARLY STAGE AND HIGH GROSS TECH COMPANIES.

I WORK IN VENTURE CAPITAL STRATEGIES.

/\M/\M /\M/\M >> A LOT OF OUR STORIES STARTED WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

AND IN OUR CHILDHOOD WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU THAT HAS BEEN INFLECTION POINTS IN THIS JOURNEY FOR YOU AND YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> I WAS PUT INTO FOSTER CARE AT 8 YEARS OLD.

AT THE TIME MY PARENTS WITH R ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

OUR LIVES SITUATION WASN'T THE BEST.

>> MY BIOLOGICAL MOTHER HAS A NUMBER OF TRAUMAS SHE WAS DEALING WITH.

SHE WAS KILLED WHEN I WAS FOUR.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PICTURE.

NO RELATIONSHIP.

>> WHEN I ENTERED THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, I WAS TEN GOING ON 11.

MY FATHER HAD GOTTEN HIMSELF INCARCERATED.

>> MY SIBLINGS AND I SLEPT ON THE FLOOR.

WE SLEPT ON COTS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR US TO GO.

I REMEMBER VIVIDLY I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE MY SIBLINGS AGAIN.

>> MY MOM PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS SIX AND I ENTERED THE SYSTEM A FEW DAYS AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY.

WE STARTED LIVING WITH A BUNCH OF STRANGERS.

BECAME OBVIOUS THINGS WEREN'T THE SAME AS THEY WERE.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TAKEN INTO THE SYSTEM FROM THE GET GO YOU ARE REMOVED FROM A SITUATION YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, THAT YOU KNOW.

THE ISOLATION STARTS RIGHT AWAY EVEN WHEN YOU ARE SURROUNDED CASEWORKERS, JUDGES, GALs, FOSTER CARE.

YOU FEEL ALIENATED AND LOST.

>> THE LOSS STIMS FROM AS YOU LIVED MULTIPLE LIVES.

YOU MOVE FROM ONE GROUP HOME TO THE NEXT FOSTER HOME TO THE NEXT RESIDENTIAL AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

>> I LEARNED, I THINK, VERY EARLY ON TO PLAY THE ROLE THAT I NEEDED TO PLAY TO PARTICIPATE INTO FILL A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THAT SPACE.

IT IS ALMOST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

>> A LOT OF FOSTER PARENTS ARE CHALLENGED BY MY MATERNAL INSTINCT OVER MY SIBLINGS.

IT WAS A BATTLE LIKE YOU AND ME, I'M THE PARENT.

AT THE SAME TIME THIS MY SIBLING, THIS IS MY FAMILY.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO COME TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE CRYING, YOU ARE TRULY NOT A COMFORTING AND SECURE PERSON.

>> WE WERE IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM FOR TWO YEARS.

THE LIVING SITUATION WITH MY FATHER DETERIORATED OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS TO WHERE I WENT BACK INTO THE SYSTEM AT 16 BECAUSE I WAS MAKING REPORTS TO THE PEOPLE AT MY SCHOOL AND ANYONE THAT COULD LISTEN ABOUT THE SITUATION.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE US IN OUR SITUATION CHANGE WAS BAD.

ESPECIALLY YOU AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT MULTIPLE PLACEMENTS.

EACH GOT WORSE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FALLING IN FOSTER CARE, SAY YOU DID SOMETHING BAD IN ONE OF YOUR HOMES.

THAT RESULTED IN YOU ARE OUT OF HERE.

>> INCARCERATION.

>> OR SOMETHING EXTREME.

>> GROWING UP IN MY LAST FOSTER HOME WAS THE WORSE PART ABOUT FOSTER CARE FOR ME.

A GIRL ASKED ME TO GO TO HOMECOMING WITH HER.

IT WAS EXCITED TO GO.

I ASKED MY FOSTER DAD IF I COULD GO.

HE TOLD ME I HAD TO BE HOME BY 11:00 P.M. 10 MINUTES TO 11 CAME.

THE GIRL ASKED ME ARE YOU GOING HOME?

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE WITH YOU.

SHE AND HER YOUNG WISDOM, IF YOU DON'T GO, THAT IS PROBABLY IT FOR US.

I RAN HOME AS FAST AS I COULD.

I GOT THERE 11 MINUTES LATE.

MY FOSTER DAD WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE MY CASEWORKER THAT I WAS BEING MANIPULATIVE.

I WAS INCARCERATED FOR 11 DAYS.

ONE DAY FOR EVERY MINUTE THAT I WAS LATE.

JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE HOW THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED VERSUS PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

>> NOT EVEN CONSEQUENCES.

IT TOOK ME SIX MONTHS TO GET MY LICENSE AFTER I PASSED MY DRIVER'S TEST.

I COULDN'T DRIVE BECAUSE THE COURTS DIDN'T APPROVE IT.

I HAD TO PROVE WHY I HAD GOOD GRADES.

>> EVERYBODY ELSE IS GETTING IT.

>> THEY CRASH THEIR CARS AND THEIR PARENTS BUY THEM NEW ONES.

THOSE THINGS ARE HELD OVER TO YOUR HEAD.

YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO SEE YOUR SIBLINGS.

>> YOU DO THIS WE WILL GIVE YOU THIS.

>> DOING TYPICAL TEENAGE STUFF LED ME INTO HAVING TO SWITCH MY FOSTER HOME.

>> YOU ARE OVERCONTROLLING.

>> THIEF, RUN AWAY, LIAR.

>> YOU CAN GET LABELED QUICKLY.

THOSE HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY SPECIALLY COMING FROM THE CASEWORKERS AND THE ACTORS.

>> BEFORE ENTERING INTO THE FOSTER CARE I WAS SEXUALLY MOLL LESTED BY MEN WHO WALKED IN THE HOUSE.

THROUGH THOSE EXPERIENCES THE CASEWORKER CALLED ME A CHILD PROSTITUTE.

IT TOOK AWAY AND NEGATED THE FACT I WAS RAPED AS A YOUNG CHILD.

I REALIZED HOW HORRIBLE SHE TREATED ME.

SHE LIED ON-COURT REPORTS.

SHE INSPIRED ME TO BE A SOCIAL WORKER THAT I NEVER GOT TO HAVE AS A CHILD.

I THANK HER FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.

I COULD BE JUST NEGATIVE AND THINK THAT CASEWORKER TRAUMATIZED ME WHICH SHE DID, SHE ALSO INSPIRED ME TO GO INTO THE CAREER OF SOCIAL WORK SO I CAN COME WITH A MORE SYMPATHETIC LENS.

FOSTER CARE ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE ANY TIME SOON.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE THAT LIGHT FOR OTHER KIDS TO INSPIRE THEM TO HAVE HOPE, LIVE THEIR DREAMS AND NO THAT THE HEALING LAST FOREVER.

ALTHOUGH THE TRAUMA EVENTUALLY ENDS WHICH IS GREAT.

THE HEALING IS GOING TO BE A LIFELONG JOURNEY.

>> I WAS CONSTANTLY FIGHTING FOR CHANGE.

I WAS FIGHTING FOR THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT.

THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN I WAS 16.

I WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE DECISION TELL PEOPLE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

FIGHTING THAT AND FIGHTING FOR THAT CHANGE THAT I KNEW ME AND ME SIBLINGS NEEDED I THINK WAS DIFFICULT.

>> LOOKING FOR CHANGE BUT NOT GETTING IT.

>> HOW WE REVIEW THE STORIES NOW IS NOT THE SAME HOW WE VIEWED IT WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

IT CONTINUES TO BECOME FULL CIRCLE AS WE GROW INTO LIFE, WISDOM, AND EXPERIENCE.

>> I DON'T THINK I HAD ONE WAKE UP MOMENT.

I HAVE HAD MANY.

THEY COME WITH NEW SEASONS OF MY LIFE AND IN EXPERIENCES.

I REALIZED I HAD TO DO THE WORK MYSELF.

>> AT ONE POINT I THROUGH A CHAIR AT A JUDGE.

THEY CUFFED ME AND PUT ME INTO A HOLDING CELL.

THE JUDGE CAME IN AND SAT DOWN AND LOOKED AT ME AND SAID THIS IS UNFAIR.

YOU AND I KNOW THIS IS UNFAIR.

THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

BUT THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT MAN.

THE DAY I WAS LEAVING MY CELL, MY CELL MATE LOOKED AT ME, I'M OUT OF HERE.

NEVER COMING BACK TO THIS PLACE.

HE GOES, YOU WILL BE BACK.

THAT WAS THE JUDGE GIVING ME THAT AND HE MAKING THAT COMMENT.

I COULD VERY EASILY BE THAT OR I CAN GET IN CHARGE OF MY OWN STORY.

>> I'M A VICTIM.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO BE LABELED AS, NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY OR HAPPENED IN THE PAST YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE CHOICE TO BE ANGRY OR TRY TO COME FROM A PLACE OF COMPASSION AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES.

>> WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVE SIDE AS MUCH.

I THINK THAT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN OUR JOURNEYS.

>> I COULD FIND IT IN POSITIVE WAYS.

I COULD TRY TO MAKE THE LIFE I WANTED TO MAKE.

IT CAME OUT A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS AND BREAKING POINTS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY I GET TO MAKE THE LIFE I WANT TO HAVE.

I GET TO MAKE THESE CHOICES.

THERE WILL BE THIS CHOICES I MADE WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

IT HAS TO BE THAT SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE.

>> I WASN'T THE BEST CHILD IN EVERY FOSTER HOME.

I LANDED CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR DESTROYING ONE OF MY FOSTER HOMES.

I FOUND OUT I WAS GOING TO REMOVED THAT DAY.

I WAS ABUSER IN A PAST RELATIONSHIP.

I WASN'T ALWAYS PERFECT.

ONE THING I RECOGNIZED EXPERIENCING ABUSE MYSELF AND EXPERIENCING HAVING TO MOVE FROM FOSTER HOME TO FOSTER HOME.

I WAS IN SURVIVAL MODE.

I HAVE TO FORGIVE MYSELF FOR BEING IN SURVIVAL MODE AND BURNING THOSE BRIDGES.

LET'S BE HONEST SOME BRIDGES HAVE TO BE BURNED.

BEING ABLE TO FEEL THAT PAIN AND BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING OF PAIN IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN MY HEALING.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW MYSELF TO GROW WITHIN THOSE PAINS AND HEAL WITHIN THOSE PAINS.

>> IT IS WHAT WE MAKE IT.

WE KNOW IT IS COMPLICATED.

IT IS MESSY.

AT TIMES IT IS REALLY UGLY.

THERE IS THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT THAT HAS TO PARALLEL.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO EMBRACE WHAT IS OUT THERE AND SORT OF MAKE A DECISION, A COHARNT DECISION IN THIS MOMENT I CHOOSE ME.

>> NOT EVERYONE HANDLES IT WELL AND MOVES ON.

SOME PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES AND FALL DOWN.

REMEMBERING WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE TAUGHT US TO GET BACK UP.

>> I HAVEN'T ALWAYS LOVED MYSELF.

I STRUGGLED WITH AN EATING DISORDER.

I STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION.

I STRUGGLED WITH BODY IMAGE ISSUES.

HEALING COMES WITH A LOT OF PAIN.

I STILL GET THE LUMPS IN MY THROAT.

I STILL GET THE TEARS IN MY EYES.

BUT THE FORGIVENESS OF THE PEOPLE THAT TRAUMATIZED ME.

THE INNER WORK KNOWING IT WASN'T MY FAULT.

THE CAPACITY OF BUILDING MY OWN HOPES AND DREAMS IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.

>> MY CAPACITY TO TRUST PEOPLE TOOK A LONG TIME TO EARN BACK.

BECAUSE FOR YEARS AND YEARS, I DID NOT TRUST PEOPLE.

I ONLY LET PEOPLE IN TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

BUT THEN I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT WAS DOING NOTHING BUT HURTING ME AS A PERSON.

IT WAS, IN FACT, LEADING TO MY SELF-ISOLATION MORE.

>> I HAVE BEEN DOING THERAPY SURROUNDING IT EVERY SINCE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME TIME HEALS EVERYTHING.

IT IS NOT THAT TIME HEALS EVERYTHING.

IT IS YOUR OWN INNER HEALING THAT CAN GET YOU STARTED.

FOR ME IT HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THERAPY.

ADMITTING MY WRONGS.

ADMITTING MY EXSIGNIFICANT OTHER WRONGS.

JUST OWNING UP TO WHAT ACTUALLY REALLY HAPPENED.

JUST ALLOWING MYSELF TO GRIEVE AND FEEL THAT PAIN OF WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED.

>> MY FRIENDS PEOPLE IN GRAD SCHOOL TOLD ME IT IS SO IMPRESSIVE.

LOOK EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH.

YOU ARE SO INTELLIGENT, HARD WORKING, YOU HAVE YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE.

IT IS SO GREAT IT NEVER DRAGGED YOU DOWN.

I REALLY THRIVED ON THAT FOR YEARS.

IT BECAME A CRUTCH.

I WANTED TO HEAR THAT FROM PEOPLE.

LOOK HOW GREAT YOU ARE DOING.

I REALIZED WHAT?

I'M NOT DOING THAT GREAT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M DOING PRETTY TERRIBLE.

IT EXPLODED AND CAME OUT IN THESE HORRIBLE WAYS.

IT TAUGHT ME THIS LESSON, IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.

YOUR STORY DOESN'T HAVE TO DEFINE YOU IN ANY WAY.

>> YOU DON'T ACCOMPLISH ONE TASK AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.

YOU WILL HAVE SET BACKS.

>> WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SAY TO MY MOM.

SHE WROTE IT TWO DAYS BEFORE SHE DIED.

WHICH WAS INTENSE.

I READ IT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

I DIDN'T FULLY GRASP THE THINGS THAT WERE IN IT.

I THINK I WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO KNOW WHO I AM.

HOW FAR I HAVE COME.

>> ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT PAIN, IT DEMANDS TO BE FELT.

IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM KIDS FEEL THE PAIN THERE IS NOWHERE FOR IT TO BE RELEASED.

THEY HOLD IT IN.

AS WE ARE SEEING, IT TRICKLES INTO OTHER AREAS OF THEIR LIFE.

>> THE BIGGER LESSON I HAVE TAKEN WITH ME IN LIFE.

REALLY TO FIND THE GRACE AND ALLOW THE GRACE AND GIVE MYSELF THE GRAVE.

WE GOT TO FIND IT.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST -- >> GIVING IT TO YOURSELF IS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT.

>> IT IS.

>> GIVE IT TO YOURSELF AND ALLOW IT.

>> I HAVE WANTED TO DO BETTER.

BE MORE COMPASSIONATE AND UNDERSTANDING.

SITTING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T GIVEN MY SPACE OR THE CAPACITY TO FILL DOING THAT NOW.

I WILL SAY IT GET EASIER AS TIME GOES ON TO EVALUATE AND TO ADJUST.

TO BECOME THE THING THAT SEASON REQUIRES OF ME IN THAT MOMENT.

>> HOW DO YOU WANT TO SHOW IT TO NOW THAT YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO SHOW UP TODAY.

>> I'M CONSTANTLY REBECOMING ME.

THE PERSON I WAS 20 YEARS AGO, I CERTAINLY HOPE THE PERSON -- BECOMING ME AS A CONSTANT REEVALUATION OF WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY GROWING AND CHANGING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THAT IS FOSTER CARE OR A NEW JOB OR GETTING MARRIED WHATEVER IT IS.

EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE IS REBECOMING YOURSELF.

REBECOMING ME HAS BECOME AN ACCEPTANCE.

THAT IS ACCEPTING WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO.

ACCEPTING WHERE IT IS NOW.

THAT GRACE AND LOVE FOR MYSELF.

ACCEPTING THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE NOT PERFECT AT THE SAME TIME.

JUST LIVING IN JUST MYSELF.

>> I THINK FOR EVERY ONE OF US THERE WAS ONE OR TWO OR THREE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO DID CARE.

I THINK THAT THE NEGATIVE ACTIVE OF FOSTER CARE IS REFLECTIVE OF EVERYONE IN THE SYSTEM.

>> I HAD TWO ANGELS.

THEY WORKED WITH CASA.

THEY HAD EXPERIENCE.

THEY ASKED ME QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR.

THINGS THAT WERE PERSONAL.

LIKE WHERE I WAS A PERSON.

I WAS A KID.

THEY WERE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN GETTING TO KNOW ME.

>> WHEN I WAS IN ONE OF MY FINAL GROUP HOMES.

I WAS TOLD IF I RAN ONE MORE TIME, JAIL WAS GOING TO BE WHERE I WAS UNTIL I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

I DID.

I GOT MAD.

I RAN.

HE FOLLOWED ME DOWN THE STREET FOR 12 MILES.

STANDING 50 FEET BEHIND ME LETTING ME RAGE AND YELL AND THROW STUFF AND CALL HIM NAMES.

NEVER ONCE GAVE UP ON ME.

WHEN WE GOT BACK.

HE TOLD HIS SUPERVISOR WE TOOK HIM FOR A WALK.

HE NEEDED TO COOL DOWN.

HE COULD HAVE EASILY RUINED THINGS FOR ME.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME SPENDING THE REST OF MY YOUTH BEHIND BARS.

IT IS PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THOSE PEOPLE DO EXIST.

IT IS THE PEOPLE LIKE THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO SUPPORT.

>> THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS CONVERSATION IS TO SIT AND ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT CHANGE REQUIRES ACTION.

IT IS ACKNOWLEDGING OUR STORIES FIRST AND THEN DECIDING WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THEM AND IMPLEMENTING THOSE THINGS SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO LIVE THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCES MORE PREPARED, MORE INFORMED, MORE EDUCATED, TO KNOW THEY ARE LOVED AND WELCOMED AND ACCEPTED AND THAT THEY ARE ENOUGH IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> TRAUMA AND TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS.

WOULD YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHILD GO THROUGH THAT?

>> I DIDN'T START LIVING AN ADULT LIFE UNTIL I WAS 27.

IT TOOK ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OUT OF THE STREETS.

NOT TO BE HOMELESS ANYMORE.

HOW TO BUILD A RESUME.

HOW TO APPLY FOR COLLEAGUE.

THINGS THAT MY FRIENDS THAT I HAVE NOW THEY WERE DONE AND GRADUATED BY 21.

/\M/\M /\M/\M >> ON MY 18th BIRTHDAY, MY FOSTER DAD CAME INTO MY ROOM WITH A BIRTHDAY CARD.

AND IN THAT BIRTHDAY CARD WAS $2.50.

HE SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY PACK YOUR STUFF.

YOU GOT TO GO.

>> KIDS BEING TOLD YOU ARE THE FUTURE.

YOU WILL RULE THE WORLD NEXT.

GIVE US THE TOOLS THEN.

NO MATTER WHAT OUR BACKGROUND IS.

EVEN AS FOSTER KIDS.

GIVE US THE SAME TOOLS YOU WOULD GIVE ANYONE ELSE.

>> CREATING AN EQUITABLE EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY.

NOT JUST TO HAVE A SAYING BUT TO BE SEEN.

>> ONE PERSON SEES THIS AND IT CREATES EQUITABLE CHANGE.

IT INSPIRES IN THEM THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE THAT HORRIBLE STATISTIC THAT I HATE.

80% OF US END UP HOMELESS.

IF ONE PERSON SEES THIS THEY DON'T BECOME THAT STEREO TYPE.

>> ONLY 3% OF PEOPLE THAT COME FROM FOSTER CARE GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

I WANT THAT 3% TO GO UP TO 97%.

THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSING MY WHOLE CAREER ON MAKING SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET THE EQUITABLE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PURSUE A HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> IT IS LESS THAN 1% GET A POST SECONDARY DEGREE AND GET THAT MASTER'S DEGREE OR LAW DEGREE.

THERE IS A HEAVY EMPHASIS.

MINORITIES ARE ONE OF THE ONES NO RESPECTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT STASICES.

I KNOW THE ODDS WERE AGAINST ME.

NOT ENDING UP HOMELESS OR, YOU KNOW, ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL ON THE STREETS, PREGNANT.

THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS RUNNER UP.

I KNOW THE ODDS WERE NOT IN MY FAVOR.

AND THE FACT THAT I BEAT THOSE ODDS.

THE FACT I HAPPENED TO OVERCOME AND DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT I WAS SET UP FOR.

I WOULD SAY, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE THE GENERAL PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW.

>> HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THE GAP OF EARLIER ACCESS TO EQUITABLE RESOURCES THAT WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE OUTCOME FOR YOUR FUTURE.

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIMITING BELIEF AND A LIMITED SYSTEM.

THOSE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> I THINK THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM NEEDS TO GO FROM A TRANSACTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND CARE TO A TRANSFORMATIONAL RELATIONSHIP.

>> IN MY OPINION THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT.

SO FOSTER PARENTS, CASEWORKERS.

MORE THAN ANYTHING MENTAL HEALTH.

CONTINUED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

IT IS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.

>> ALL OF IT IS.

HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE OTHER RESOURCES OF SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE JOURNEY SO IT IS NOT SEGMENTED, IT IS NOT JUST EDUCATION, IT IS NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IS A HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE FROM START TO FINISH THAT SAYS IT IS NOT TRANSACTIONAL, IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE.

WE RESOURCED ALL OF THIS DATA OR EXPERIENCE TO SAY WE KNOW THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL BEST CHANCE AT BEING -- AT A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE IS TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE EXPECT CON KNEWTY FROM THE FOSTER KID.

>> EVERY STATE HAS DIFFERENT STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS AND SUPPORTS AVAILABLE.

>> THERE IS EMPHASIS ON INVESTING THE CHILDREN.

FOSTER CARE KIDS ARE KIDS TOO.

THEY NEED TO BE INVESTED IN TOO.

>> WE ARE NOW GETTING TO THE POINT PEOPLE ARE TAKING AN INTEREST IN KIDS IN THE SYSTEM AND TAKING AN INTEREST IN LEARNING ABOUT WHAT THE SYSTEM IS AND WHAT THE SYSTEM MEANS AND WHAT THESE KIDS LIVES LOOK LIKE.

>> I GET TO SHARE THE VOICE OF THOSE THAT DON'T GET A VOICE IN THESE SPACES.

>> ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A VOICE AND CONTROL AND SHOW PEOPLE THE REALITIES OF HOW BRUTAL THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM CAN BE.

>> WHAT I'M MOST GRATEFUL FOR HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN.

BEING ABLE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SYSTEM WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO GROW UP IN FOSTER, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOSTER KID.

I'M GRATEFUL I HAVE MET ALL OF YOU.

SO KIND OF JUST MAKE THAT STORY REAL.

>> I THINK IT IS REALLY SPECIAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS JUST PART OF THE STORY.

IT IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

WE HOLD THE CAPACITY TO ET RATE AND CHANGE.

TO SIT WITH PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER AND LEAD I THINK IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> EVERYONE SHARED SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE.

I WANT TO BE SEEN.

THE COMMON THING IS COURAGE AND BRAVERY TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES IN A SPACE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN FOR THEM FOR SO LONG.

/\M/\M /\M/\M [ CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY VZP DIGITAL ]