At the age of 8 Eshawn-Fonta entered the foster care system, and was in three different placements during her time in care. By the age of 16 she was able to be financially self-sufficient. Eventually her last foster parents became her legal guardians.

Eshawn-Fonta has extensive leadership and volunteer experience. Some of these leadership roles are: the Arizona Southern Region Chair of Foster Care Alumni of America; as a peer mentor with In My Shoes, an organization that matches foster youth with mentors who are themselves alumni of the system; Foster Care Alumni of America Speakers and Writers Bureau; and as a trainer to new case workers.
Eshawn-Fonta has traveled throughout the country attending numerous conferences and events focusing on foster care advocacy and reform.

She has a passion for ensuring that sibling groups stay connected when in foster care, stemming from her personal experiences. "I know that larger sibling groups are hard to place together, but at least making sure these groups maintain contact, especially in a confusing and difficult period is imperative to the success of these youth."

Eshawn-Fonta is an advocate, a foster care alumnus, and also a scrap-booking black belt. She loves to compose scrap books in order to capture a "moment in life that's worth seeing again." She also had youthful aspirations of being a chef, and has never lost her love of creating in the kitchen. She is quoted as saying, "The Food Network is my best friend."

State(s)
Team(s) or Cohort(s)
2009 Outstanding Young Leaders
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