2019 Outstanding Young Leaders

Jai McClean, 24, Texas Foster Care System Jai feels that her foster care experiences have provided her with opportunities to gain transferable skills such as effective communication and flexibility. The most influential experience that she feels she has had that will assist her in working with foster youth is her... Read more

Kayla Johnson, 21, North Carolina’s Foster Care System Kayla entered care at age 9, while in foster care Kayla had a lot of trouble expressing herself and became a very withdrawn child, feeling too shy to talk to other kids her age. She experienced moving to different schools for multiple... Read more

Isaiah Dorty, 25, North Carolina’s Foster Care System Isaiah experienced many placements while in care and he feels it well equipped him to advocate and inspire youth in the system to overcome and rise above whatever past trauma they have suffered through. Throughout his years in high school and college,... Read more

Tianna Christie, 20, New York’s Foster Care System Tianna started her path in advocacy by sharing her foster care story with other foster youth in her community. She will always remember after sharing her story for the first time, a foster youth came up to her and told her that... Read more

Anthony Tullio, 21, New Jersey’s foster care system Anthony entered care at age 14, while he was a freshman in high school. He believes that in his time as a foster youth he learned about the expectations people hold close to their heart, and how to find ways to bring... Read more

Felicia Blankenship, 21, Washington’s foster care system Felicia was placed in the care of family guardians with her two older siblings. She is very much involved in her community, to whom she gives credit to helping her understand her own needs for self-care and others. In addition to caring for... Read more

Amber Tatkenhorst, 19, Montana’s foster care system Amber was placed into foster care at the age of 9 and was reunified with her family at 13. Even though she was placed back with her family, it wasn’t the best thing for her. Very soon after her reunification, she left to... Read more

Kara Mullen, 17, Montana’s foster care system. Kara experienced two foster care placements. Garden City helps the community by going to elder homes selling them organic, low-cost vegetables. Kara worked and volunteered at Garden City harvest during the summer of 2018. She also volunteered at a food bank and at... Read more

Jason McCleanning, 19, spent 6 years in Wisconsin’s Child welfare system. Jason entered foster care at 12. He experienced 5 different placements. His last placement was a kinship placement, where he stayed until aging out of care at 18. Jason is a member of the Regional Youth Advisory Council and... Read more

Takota, 19, Nevada’s foster care system. Takota’s experiences in foster care have made him open-minded and aware of the cruelty that lives in our world. He wants to be that genuine person that people can trust and confide in. Every second of the foster care system gave him a boost... Read more