Georgia

Michael F He/Him/His 23 Years Old Georgia “One thing I’d really like to change about foster care is placement instability. It is very stressful for youth to have to move constantly, and it makes it difficult to build meaningful connections and a support system.” Michael knows first hand how life... Read more

Jared Oenick 23 years old He/him/his Jared Oenick is pursuing a degree in Biology with a minor in Neuroscience at the University of North Georgia. He is currently studying for the MCAT, and hopes to be accepted into an MD/PhD program so he can continue working on his goal of... Read more

Shimaine Quimbley spent time in Georgia foster care until she aged out at 21. Throughout Shimaine’s transition she has worked as a Regional Coordinator, an active member of Policy Council and Elevated Minds. Currently Shimaine is the Regional Impact Liaison for MAAC/GA EmpowerMEnt. Additionally, in 2017, she was given the... Read more

Emelie experienced 8 placements in the State of Georgia’s foster care system. While in care, Emelie experienced many challenges including physical altercations and running away. Despite these challenges, Emelie persevered and showed resilience. Now, she is living in a stable placement while working at a daycare center and maintaining her... Read more

Jordan Delutis, 18 years old, spent 10 years in the State of Georgia’s foster care system. Jordan has been in and out of care since 2008 and has experienced around 12 different placements. After experiencing depression while being in care, Jordan was placed back with his two brothers, which helped... Read more

Shimaine Quimbley spent time in 12 different placements during the years that she was in the foster care system in the state of Georgia. She knew her biological family, but received no support from them. Throughout Shimaine’s transition she has worked as a Regional Coordinator and active member of the... Read more

Jasmine Myrick was in care on multiple occasions during her youth and adolescence and was placed in several different group homes. Jasmine is currently a student at Georgia State University and is pursuing a BFA degree in printmaking, an interest which began with her fashion studies. Her volunteer commitments have... Read more

Antoinette Rucker serves as one of the Education Youth and Family Coordinators with the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children out of Atlanta. A proud graduate of Albany State University, Antoinette studied generalist Social Work and founded a comprehensive support program for foster youth called Fostering through College (FTC). In addition to... Read more

Council term: 2012-2014 Anthony is the Youth Engagement Coordinator with Georgia EmpowerMEnt, an initiative of MAAC(Multi-Agency Alliance for Children). The Georgia EmpowerMEnt Group, a component of the Metro Atlanta Youth Opportunities Initiative (M.A.Y.O.I.) which was now known as the Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative. EmpowerMEnt is an organization of current and... Read more

Sherena Johnson, 23, Georgia entered the system through kinship care at the age of 10. She has an Associates degree in social work from Gordon College and is now a senior at Clayton College majoring in Psychology and Human Services. Currently, she is interning at the Georgia Department of Family... Read more