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Johnathan LeGrande spent 11 years in pennsylvania's fosterclub. Growing up in the inner city of Pittsburgh; Johnathan entered the Pennsylvania foster care system during his fifth grade year of school. His abduction into the foster care system was due to unfit parents and unstable living conditions. Johnathan and his younger siblings were fortunate enough to be able to live with his older siblings instead of being separated. Nevertheless, he experienced both pros and cons living with his older brother. Johnathan soon grew unhappy with his living situation, so he started spending less time at home and more time in the gym, and volunteering with church events. He actively participated in the church choir, piano lessons, basketball, football,... Read more

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Edie Hammett spent 4 years in Missouri's foster care system. Edie entered the Missouri State Foster Care system at the age of two, later returning home around the age of five. She eventually re-entered care at the age of fifteen due to abuse and neglect within her home. After entering care, Edie moved homes several times within a year and lived in both Kinship and traditional foster home settings. She finally found stability in school attending and graduating from Fox Senior High School. After high school, she stayed in extended foster care where she moved to an Another Planned Living Arrangement (APLA) placement setting. Through this, Edie was able to attend college at the University of Missouri St.Louis; currently, she is working on... Read more

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Biography

Edie Hammett spent 4 years in Missouri's foster care system. Edie entered the Missouri State Foster Care system at the age of two, later returning home around the age of five. She eventually re-entered care at the age of fifteen due to abuse and neglect within her home. After entering care, Edie moved homes several times within a year and lived in both Kinship and traditional foster home settings. She finally found stability in school attending and graduating from Fox Senior High School. After high school, she stayed in extended foster care where she moved to an Another Planned Living Arrangement (APLA) placement setting. Through this, Edie was able to attend college at the University of Missouri St.Louis; currently, she is working on... Read more

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Biography

Domi Skinner- Johnson spent 9 years in foster care. At the age of nine, Dominique (Domi) was brought into the system because of domestic violence. Domi felt alone and angry. Letting anger consume her, Domi became a ‘trouble student’ and decided to shut everyone out. In the beginning of her foster care journey, she was exposed to many challenges, but through the struggle Domi found her calling through youth summer camps, also finding her inner healing through mentoring youth and relating her story to others. Currently, Domi has a full-time job and is planning to attend the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in the fall. Since being adopted at the age of seventeen, Domi has moved into a transitional housing program called St. Jude's The... Read more

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Biography

Domi Skinner- Johnson spent 9 years in foster care. At the age of nine, Dominique (Domi) was brought into the system because of domestic violence. Domi felt alone and angry. Letting anger consume her, Domi became a ‘trouble student’ and decided to shut everyone out. In the beginning of her foster care journey, she was exposed to many challenges, but through the struggle Domi found her calling through youth summer camps, also finding her inner healing through mentoring youth and relating her story to others. Currently, Domi has a full-time job and is planning to attend the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in the fall. Since being adopted at the age of seventeen, Domi has moved into a transitional housing program called St. Jude's The... Read more

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Cristal Ramirez, age 23 Spent 11 years in California’s Foster Care System Cristal entered the Kern County foster care system at the age of one; she spent a total of eleven years in care. She exited care at the age seventeen when she was able to leave Bakersfield to attend her dream school, San Diego State University. After turning eighteen, she was able to participate in Extended Foster Care, where she experienced some challenges, but she was able to look to extra resources like the Guardian Scholars Program. Although Cristal experienced instability and multiple moves in care, she remained motivated to do well in the classroom, not only for herself but also so that she could remain a positive role model for her eight brothers and sisters... Read more

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Biography

Cristal Ramirez, age 23 Spent 11 years in California’s Foster Care System Cristal entered the Kern County foster care system at the age of one; she spent a total of eleven years in care. She exited care at the age seventeen when she was able to leave Bakersfield to attend her dream school, San Diego State University. After turning eighteen, she was able to participate in Extended Foster Care, where she experienced some challenges, but she was able to look to extra resources like the Guardian Scholars Program. Although Cristal experienced instability and multiple moves in care, she remained motivated to do well in the classroom, not only for herself but also so that she could remain a positive role model for her eight brothers and sisters... Read more

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Biography

Brandi spent 2 years in Nevada's foster care system. How would you feel if you became a ward of the state two weeks before your seventeenth birthday? That is exactly what happened to Brandi. As a high school student, Brandi had already been providing for herself since the summer after eighth grade. However, after being placed in foster care, she encountered some issues with living in a group home, including not being able to take care of herself. So she found herself a foster home, and lived there until after her high school graduation, where she earned an honors diploma. She now attends the University of Nevada, Reno, with many scholarships from the foster care extended care program and the university’s marching band. Brandi is currently... Read more

Term description:
Biography

Brandi spent 2 years in Nevada's foster care system. How would you feel if you became a ward of the state two weeks before your seventeenth birthday? That is exactly what happened to Brandi. As a high school student, Brandi had already been providing for herself since the summer after eighth grade. However, after being placed in foster care, she encountered some issues with living in a group home, including not being able to take care of herself. So she found herself a foster home, and lived there until after her high school graduation, where she earned an honors diploma. She now attends the University of Nevada, Reno, with many scholarships from the foster care extended care program and the university’s marching band. Brandi is currently... Read more