Pennsylvania

Levi Wentz spent 5 years in foster care in the state of Pennsylvania’s Child welfare system while taking care of his brother and sister. He is proud to have stayed on the honor roll throughout middle school, despite having to work extra hard to catch up after changes in placement... Read more

5 years in Pennsylvania's child welfare system 19 years old She/Her/Hers & They/Them/Theirs Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Ameris is a queer Black organizer who experienced 5 years of care in Pennsylvania. While in care, she experienced one foster home placement where her parents were two White lesbian women. Previously, Ameris attended Pittsburgh... Read more

Briana Granese was placed in the foster system at the age of twelve in Pennsylvania. Things for her seemed to have went from bad to worse until she turned seventeen. During the first five years in foster care, she went through a lot of struggles and it wasn’t until she... Read more

Phyllis Wood has spent 18 years in the Pennsylvania (PA) Foster care system. Phyllis experienced multiple foster placements during her time in care. At 18, Phyllis left foster care, ending up in a homeless shelter where she was introduced to the PA Youth Advisory Board (YAB). One of her favorite... Read more

Michael Teresa Mellifera is an undergraduate junior currently studying at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She is majoring in Philosophy and double minoring in Theology and Islamic World Studies. Ms. Mellifera’s studies so far have largely focused on the languages, literatures, philosophies, and intellectual histories of Christianity... Read more

7 years In Pennsylvania Foster care System Ramond A Nelson's Life story is the true definition of perseverance. Ramond was born and raised in the city of Pittsburgh to a single mother of three boys. Early on Ramond's Mother went through a series of mental health issues that became unsafe... Read more

Council term: 2016-2018 NicoLee spent several years in kinship and foster care, including group homes until she aged out. She remembers having several case workers, child advocates and CASA volunteers during her foster care experience. NicoLee was impacted by the lack of control she was allowed to have over her... Read more

Dalashay Whitehead was in the foster care system for 13 years in Pennsylvania. Dalashay worked as a camp counselor for Pine Valley Bible Camp where Dalashay attended at the age of 8. Dalashay loves to dance and always has. She works at a dance studio and served as the Drill... Read more

Olivia Burris spent a year in the Pennsylvania foster care system. During Olivia’s time at Valley Youth House Warminster Youth Shelter, she achieved resident of the week, month awards, house representative, as well as organized groups and outings for the fellow youth. Olivia was also apart of The Synergy Project... Read more

Years in care: 8 Shurontaya Festa is twenty years old. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been in foster care for about eight years now. Currently, she remains in the foster care system and she will be aging out once she's twenty-one. She was fortunate enough to stay... Read more