Minnesota

Manilan Houle

Manilan Houle entered care, in 2005 until he “aged out” eight years later, in the state of Minnesota. Manilan was the first of his family to graduate high school and was offered a full scholarship to the University of Minnesota. Manilan aided Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota build the Center... Read more

2018 Outstanding Young Leaders

Kyra Harris

Minnesota

Kyra Harris was in the foster care system in Minnesota. Kyra went through many placements which caused struggles during her time in care. Her experience of troubles motivated her to persevere to become a strong and successful young woman. Currently, Kyra, is employed as a school teacher at a recording... Read more

2018 Outstanding Young Leaders

Devon Jenkins

Minnesota

5 Years in Minnesota’s Foster Care System Devon Jenkins is a 20-year-old foster youth from Minnesota. Devon encountered his first out of home placement at the age of 13. Since then he has been in five out of home placements and three congregate care facilities. Although his experience in congregate... Read more

2018 All-Stars

Jessica Determan

Minnesota

Years in care: 4 At the age of 14, Jessica was placed into foster care, going through several traditional foster homes and one kinship placement, she finally found her family at the age of 17. With the support of her family, she started out college at Minnesota West Community and... Read more

2017 All-Stars

Kayla VanDyke

Minnesota

Age 18, 9 years in Minnesota’s foster care system. Kayla entered into foster care when she was four years old. She went back to live with her birth family three years later before reentering care at age thirteen. Kayla has lived in seven different foster homes and attended ten different... Read more

2010 All-Stars

Chaquanna Lattimore

Minnesota

Chaquanna is 20 years old. She is from Chicago, Illinois but has spent 8 years in the Minnesota Foster Care System. Chaquanna's experience in the system has been long and challenging. Being moved around and switched from placement to placement has added onto the already stressful and difficult environment of... Read more

2014 All-Stars

Jessica Edgar

Minnesota

Council Term: 2014-2016 Jessica entered Minnesota's foster care system where she was separated from her siblings at the age of 9. Jessica was adopted at the age of 15 with her younger brother. After high school graduation, she has been working on achieving her dream of changing the world by... Read more

2014 All-Stars

Council Member - Past

Russell Barnes

Minnesota

Russell went through multiple placements that spread between Kinship & foster homes. Russell had to search for a foster home on his own to stay in the same school district while in high school. He is currently attending the university of Minnesota-Twin Cities, majoring in Journalism & Social justice. Russell... Read more

2014 All-Stars

Sophie Sandin

Minnesota

Sophie spent 7 years in Minnesota's foster care system. Permanently removed from her biological mother's care at 10 years of age and removed from her father's care at age 11, Sophie Sandin experienced over 23 different placements including kinship care, treatment centers, group homes, emergency, temporary and long-term foster care... Read more

2017 Outstanding Young Leaders

Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi

Minnesota

Oluwatobi spent 1 years in Minnesota's foster care system. Born in Nigeria, Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi spent one year in foster care before she was adopted. Even though her past was filled with pain, trauma and bullying, she chooses to focus on the future by setting goals. Oluwatobi does not let the... Read more

2017 Outstanding Young Leaders

Minnesota

Manilan Houle

Kyra Harris

Devon Jenkins

Jessica Determan

Kayla VanDyke

Chaquanna Lattimore

Jessica Edgar

Russell Barnes

Sophie Sandin

Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi

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