From Woe to ‘Whoa!’: Foster Youth Advocating for Change

When it comes to system reform, the perspectives we should pay the most attention to are those who know the system best: individuals with lived experience. Our final episode of this season features two young changemakers using their experiences in foster care to help create a better reality for youth today. Eve Aaliyah Valdez is a youth activist with California Youth Connection, a youth-led organization that aims to transform foster care. Demontea Thompson is a doctoral candidate in the UCLA School of Education, a foster care researcher, and co-founder of Twinspire, a nonprofit organization that provides financial literacy to young people with foster care experience. How can we better prioritize basic needs for foster youth? What happens when we invite young people with lived experience to actively participate in research and reform processes? Guest speaker 1: Eve Aaliyah Valdez, Youth Activist, California Youth ConnectionGuest speaker 2: Demontea Thompson, Executive Director & co-founder, Together We Inspire; Doctoral Candidate & Researcher, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies Interviewer: Angela James, Senior Project Scientist, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Angela James is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic.Join the CTS mailing listFollow CTS or share your thoughts with us at [e-mail] Notes:Foster(ing) Youth in the California State University (UCLA CTS report, 2023).DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services)Children’s InstituteUnited FriendsAlan DettlaffDorothy RobertsChafee GrantTHP-Plus (Transitional Housing Program Plus)ILP (Independent Living Program)CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)Medi-CalSelf-harm crisis line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.