2017 Outstanding Young Leaders

Juliona Wease spent 7 years in Missouri's foster care system. Juliona first entered care when she was 13; before entering care, she would have to worry about things a normal 13 year-old shouldn't have to worry about like food and shelter. After graduating from Saint Louis Job Corps, she attended... Read more

Patricia spent 4 years in New Jersey's foster care system. Due to an unstable home environment, Patricia Sellers entered foster care. Her experience was unfortunate and it broke her as a human being. Patricia was depressed, stressed and had suicidal thoughts. During her time in care, she experienced one placement... Read more

Rae spent 9 years in New York's foster care system. Experiencing three placements including a group home and two foster homes, Rae Toussaint spent nine years in foster care before aging out. She describes her time in care as being forced to live two separate lives. In one life, Rae... Read more

Chelsea Clark spent 5 years in Tennessee's foster care system Chelsea Clark entered foster care at age fifteen due to abuse and neglect. She experienced eight placements before finding a kinship placement, and she is now in extended foster care. Chelsea is currently enrolled in American Baptist College, majoring in... Read more

Elijah Lucas spent 14 years in Arizona's foster care system Elijah entered care at the age of 6 and he experienced many placements. He struggled to maintain friendships because one thing that is consistent while being in the system is change. Elijah became active in advocacy and nonprofit organizations; this... Read more

Jordan Sosa spent 10 years in California's foster care system. Jordan entered foster care at 9 years old. He was separated from his siblings, but felt he had the responsibility to set an example. When he started college, he decided to advocate for foster youth through California Youth Connection (CYC)... Read more

Jahlika Hamilton spent 8 years in New York's foster care system Jahlika, a young woman of Caribbean background, found being in foster care was tough at times. She determined that while she was her parents' child, she did not need to inherit their choices. During her time in foster care,... Read more

Krystle Hodges spent 8 years in Texas's foster care system. During her time in foster care, Krystle experienced about eleven different placements. She experienced challenges being labeled a "problem child", when she just wanted a home. Recently, Krystle was adopted. She currently attends high school and is also taking college... Read more

Patricia spent 6 years in Hawaii's foster care system. Patricia first entered care at ten years old; she was reunified with her mother and re-entered care after really unfortunate events at age 16. After difficult struggles including over 6 different placements in 2 years and being separated from her siblings,... Read more

Shambel spent 3 years in Colorado's foster care system. Shambel is from Eritrea in East Africa; after his mother passed, he fled to Ethiopia with two friends of his friends due to lack of educational, living opportunities and human rights violations. After living in a refugee camp for four years,... Read more