2011 Outstanding Young Leaders

David Forquer spent 5 years in Oregon's Foster Care System. David Forquer was abandoned as an infant. Over the last five years, he’s been in 13 placements, including foster care, therapeutic foster care, hands-on facilities, behavioral group homes, sub-acute care, the psychiatric ward at the local mental health hospital and... Read more

Darya Mikhailova spent 2 years in Virginia's Foster Care System. Cultural connections come in many forms, as Darya Mikhailova’s life proves. Since arriving in the United States at the age of 10, she has endured several years of instability with her mother that led to three years of foster care—and... Read more

Crystal Lovelady spent 1 1/2 years in Alabama's Foster Care System. Columbia University is one of the finest schools in the country, if not the world. So when former foster youth Crystal Lovelady encountered the question “Can anyone actually identify with foster care? Does it really represent something Columbia should... Read more

Cory Boldon spent 3 years in Minnesota's Foster Care System. When Cory was placed with the Boldon family at age 11, it was her seventh placement—this included two failed adoptions and the threat that if she “failed” in her adoption with the Boldons, she would be sent to a home... Read more

Ashley Gallardo spent 7 years in Texas's Foster Care System Ashley was in foster care from the age of eleven until she aged out at eighteen. Now that she is older, she is completely and wholly dedicated to using her experiences and advocating on behalf of foster youth. “I believe... Read more

Cassandra Cook spent 6 years in California's Foster Care System Cassandra entered the foster care system at the age of thirteen. Over a total of 6 years in foster care, Cassandra experienced over eight different placements. She is currently living on her own, financially stable and attending college. Cassandra says,... Read more

Bianca Ruthven spent several years in Virginia's Foster Care System Bianca is interested in making the art world more accessible for everyone. She uses her foster care experiences to raise consciousness and create change regarding the representation of underprivileged groups in fine art. As a graduate student at Carnegie Melon... Read more

Meet Desiree Deville. Her classmates crowned her the campus’ official Ms. Social Work, and her college professor describes her as “the face of foster care at Johnson C. Smith University.” How exactly did Desiree earn her reputation? Oh, just a few exceptional ways… As a student at Johnson C. Smith... Read more

Crystal Owney spent 13 years in Wisconsin's Foster Care System Crystal’s success is a testimony to what hard work and persistence can do. Crystal has already received a college diploma, a milestone that a very small fraction of foster youth attain, but her long-term goals are just beginning. Crystal plans... Read more

Crystal Teschner spent 4 years in New Jersey's Foster Care System Crystal Techner spent four years in foster care before she was adopted along with her three younger sisters. Because she was the oldest, Crystal made it her job to be there for her sisters every step of their journey... Read more