2019 Outstanding Young Leaders

Kyra Smith, 20, Alabama’s Foster Care System Kyra experienced four different placements and is now attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham while taking care of her grandmother and great grandmother. She also works at her college campus recreation center. Kyra is on the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and... Read more

April Barcus, 23, California’s Foster Care System April was in foster care for six years. She experienced 31 different housing placements and attended 22 different high schools. Despite this, she finished high school and attended Antelope Valley College. In college, April helped to start the Guardian Scholars program and ran... Read more

Hailey Loyd, 18, Texas’s Foster Care System Hailey has been in foster care for 7 years now. She experienced 6 foster homes. One of the most difficult challenges she faced was explaining to her younger siblings why they were in foster care. Hailey is on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC)... Read more

Emily Stochel, 20, Washington’s Foster Care System Emily’s time in foster care was not traditional by any means. She spent 9 months in two residential treatment centers out of state, one month at youth shelters, and one month in a foster care group home setting. At 16 she returned home... Read more

Ashley Hovey, 20, Virginia’s Foster Care System Ashley entered care at the age of 5. She experienced two different placements. She has two biological brothers; they were all adopted together in a loving home. Ashley is a leader in a Christian organization called Campus Crusade for Christ, also known as... Read more

Justyce Elizabeth Callisto Pan/Pans/Panself 20 Years Old Vermont Foster Care System Justyce Elizabeth Callisto is currently working on getting pans bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in mental health counseling from SNHU. Once pan has gotten pans bachelor’s degree, Justyce plans on getting pans master’s degree in psychology, child... Read more

Bethani Dobbs, 20, Texas’s Foster Care System Bethani entered foster care around age 2 and was later reunited with her biological father. She entered care again at age 12 and experienced multiple placements; shelters, foster homes, a treatment center, and a Girl’s home. Naturally confused and feeling unwanted, at age... Read more

Lelia Almaraz-Romo, 19, Tennessee’s Foster Care System Lelia entered care at 14 and aged out at 18. She experienced 3 foster homes and 2 congregate care homes. In 2014-2015, she volunteered with a soup kitchen and assisted with organizing food at a church greeting people at the door when they... Read more

Halimah Powell, 24, South Carolina’s Foster Care System Halimah entered foster care at 13 and was emancipated at 21. Now at age 24, she is married and a mother. While in foster care she never had much stability. She’s experienced thirteen different foster homes. Only one of her foster homes... Read more

Yalanis Zahily Velez-Gonzalez, 19, Puerto Rico’s Foster Care System Yalanis has been in the foster care system going on 2 years. She understands how being in the system might impact a young person’s decisions during their teen years, versus being raised traditionally. She’s developed a dual perspective she’d love to... Read more