When people talk about youth voice, they often miss an essential part of the story. We must take small, daily steps in the right direction and not let challenges tear us down. Youth voice is about being part of the
At the age of 16, before I even had a grasp of what advocacy meant, there was something that continued to weigh heavy on my heart. It would be the first question I asked to all who were around me;
I lived in a kinship placement between the ages of 15 and 19. Thankfully, I had a consistent and dedicated caseworker for the majority of my time in the system who directed me to any resources necessary. What surprised me
I experienced using my voice at the age of 15 when I had a choice to move back with my father, or stay with my grandfather. This was important and impactful because I had actually got to choose what I
My name is Justyce Callisto, and I'm 23. I have 10 years of experience in foster care and eight years as a lived-experience leader (youth advocate). I was around 2 years old when I entered foster care. I, of course,
Everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone wants to share it. I didn’t want to share mine until I heard my experience could help pass a bill to get an ombudsman appointed for foster youth. I was on
It was a rare occasion when I felt truly listened to and supported while I was in foster care. When I finally felt that my voice was heard, I became more hopeful that I could not only change my life
I’ve been telling my story for a few years now, and at first I was always embarrassed by it. I felt as though I was just a huge charity case to everyone around me. I felt like the poster child
Shame. We’ve all felt it. It’s a common side effect of advocacy work that no one really talks about, otherwise known as oversharing. Oversharing is the unwanted disclosure of information or details that leave us feeling raw, anxious, and distressed;
“When you find your voice, you don’t find some new thing inside of you. Instead, you find a little more of you.” – Dan Cumberland Finding your voice initially seems scary because you worry about how people will react to what
