BACKGROUND
When Adam was a small child his father abandoned his family, leaving his mother, who had a severe brain injury from an accident, unable to care for her four children.

Adam’s siblings were all adopted, but Adam was placed in foster care. Throughout childhood and adolescence, Adam experienced many interrupted foster care placements and broken adoptions. At age 14, Adam thought he had found permanency when he was adopted again, but four years later his adoptive father committed suicide right before Adam graduated from high school.

Amid this chaos and heartache, Adam was doing things that led to his eventual decision to go to law school and to make a difference in the lives of young people. Adam spent a lot of time at a Boys and Girls club where he was active and involved and even mentored younger kids. In 1990, he was named the National Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year. Adam got good grades and was involved in athletics. His senior year he was student-body president.

When it came time to plan for his future, Adam wanted to go to college but didn’t have enough money to complete his degree. Adam worked hard and took out loans, eventually graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Hearing of his story, a couple, the Jenkins, assisted Adam in paying for law shool. Adam’s benefactors, with whom Adam became close, became family to him, even adopting him.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Knowing firsthand how hard it is to pay for college, Adam decided while in law school—after serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guyana, South America—to do something about it.

Adam authored the Foster Child Scholarship Bill in Oregon. It became law in July 2001. The law provides college tuition scholarships to former foster children in Oregon. Adam planned, organized, and worked very hard to get the bill passed, including helping organize a group of young people who were or had been in foster care to speak to the Oregon legislature.

Adam also recently graduated from law school, passed the bar exam, and is now an attorney. He most recently was a judicial clerk for the Washington State Superior Court in the Juvenile Division.

CURRENT WORK
Adam, now an attorney, is working for Casey Family Programs in Seattle, WA, as an Interim Senior Policy Analyst. He assists the organization with advocacy issues and provides updates and technical assistance regarding current and proposed state legislation. He also assists in developing Casey’s national public policy positions.

Adam’s work with Casey Family Programs is only temporary. He is currently looking for employment as a lawyer.

Adam serves on the National Advisory Committee on Standards of Excellence for Independent Living Services for the Child Welfare League of America. He also serves on Families for Kids Partnership’s oversight committee and on the Educational Advocacy Task Force for Treehouse for Kids. Adam also serves on the Board of Directors for CWLA and the Children’s Campaign Fund.

PLANS FOR FUTURE
Adam is getting married in September 2002, and he is hoping to practice law for awhile. Adam says he will continue to work as an advocate for children on a more limited basis.

INSPIRATION
Adam’s inspiration has always been the people in his life who have helped him, "people who have taken their time to show me the way," Adam says. Adam also found significant inspiration in books, finding solace in reading. Some of his heroes are people like Theodore Roosevelt and other political leaders. Adam is inspired by poetry also, especially Mary Oliver.

ADVICE FOR YOU!
Adam thinks the most important thing to remember is to allow those people who are trying to help to help! "A lot of youth who are transitioning want nothing more to do with the system. But there are a lot of people who want to help you, and there are a lot of people you can ask for help," Adam says.

Adam also thinks it’s important to cultivate and maintain positive friendships. His three best friends from the seventh grade are still his best friends. These three buddies were the only positive male figures in his life as an adolescent, Adam says, and he believes they still are.