Senator Scott Dibble Shares his Advice for Former Foster Youth

"Listen to and engage young people themselves in work of making things better. They know the shortcomings of the foster care system. They are best situated to articulate the solutions. Incredible personal and leadership development opportunities for those young people lie in efforts to build a movement and campaign for change. Be open to innovation, to changes, to different ways to use “the money.” It is not your money, it is held and used in trust. Protecting jobs, institutions, the status quo is a moral failure if those things are not doing much to make young people’s lives better."

"In the Minnesota Legislature, we have passed some groundbreaking legislation and devoted significant resources to help address the issues around the foster care system, youth homelessness, bullying in schools, the continuum of services and support young people need to grow into happy, productive, adulthood – lives with purpose and meaning.

Former Foster Youth TYRAUGHN BARNETT Shares His Story...

What I needed the most when I emancipated was family. I was just told I had a court date 11 days after my birthday. Turned out that I was emancipated. It was so unexpected. Having no money or a place to live, my foster parent let me stay until I was ready to leave. But my stuff was coming up missing so I decided to move out and live with friends until I finally found a place!

Piece of advice- Never give up. Learn your rights. Ask your social worker about your rights, if you don't know them. Keep your head up and stay strong! Join clubs that'll keep you busy with others. Use Facebook to connect with other foster youth."

Read More...

Former Foster Youth JHAMASA LEWIS-ADAMS Shares Her Story...

"The foster care system taught me to be self motivated and leave no corner unturned. It taught me resilience, independence, hard work, determination and above all, strategy and timing."

"My worst experience in foster care was being adopted by someone who was once a foster parent. I had other experiences but this one is at the top because I was mentally and emotionally abused. I thought that this was my chance at family and love but it wasn't. It was eye opening to live with a narcissist and to experience how adults will knowingly take advantage of children.

Read More...

Former Foster Youth Maria Rodriguez Shares Her Story...

"Although hopelessness may seep in while in the foster care system, hope is the only thing we have left to help us get through and keep going--to keep fighting. At times, hope is the only power we have in certain situations so hang on to that."

"I can't say what my worst experience in the foster care system has been because that feeling of rejection from a so-called "parent" never goes away; it lingers into every home you enter or every person that comes into your life.

Read More...

ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue54 (August 2017)

Former Foster Youth Shari Walker Shares Her Story...

"The system taught me that I was stronger than what I knew, and

wiser than what I felt."

"My worst experience in foster care happened one month before I emancipated out of the foster care system. I had been accepted to over seven Universities and was being provided an all expense paid trip to my top school Clark Atlanta University, in Georgia. The excitement was driven by my acceptance to the University, the tour of the school and going to a new place. I grew up my entire life in Los Angeles, the furthest areas of LA I had reached was Inglewood, South Central and Compton. So this tour would solidify my decision to go to school out of state and start a new beginning...

Read More...

Former Foster Youth Cheyenne Cobb Shares Her Story...

"The system taught me resilience. Going through all the things I have gone through, especially at such a young age has shown me that I have overcome so much already. What more can't I surpass? My ability to not only break these challenges down, but to come out of them and THRIVE, is forever something that will speak volumes to my character."

"My worst experience in the foster care system was probably being away from my siblings. Even if it's for a short period of time, not physically being there with them and having them was tough. Especially since they are all that I have.

Read More...

WilsonBlock Wednesdays EPISODE 5 (March 22nd, 2017) featuring Young PAY$O

Listen // Download

Mistah Wilson touches on "Ethnic Bias" within Pasadena-based media outlets, shout outs to DENA artists, and an exclusive interview with Oakland rapper Young PAY$O on WilsonBlock100 Radio...