Volume 11 Issue 2

I have always taken pride in my ability to find the stories other people were overlooking If you weren’t paying attention to it, and I thought you should be, you could bet I was going to tell you about it I like an underdog I like the ones who don’t take no for an answer. I like fighters. I like people and stories with a finish line and someone determined to get there Sure, the therapists who read this will conclude that I see myself in these types of stories You’re probably right Nonetheless, I have a knack for finding these great stories that other people seem to breeze over This is where the magic is made These are the people who inspire These are the ones who persevere I’m into that Happy to put their stories in front of you fine folks.

In the decade before my forced hiatus, I covered so many people and stories like these. You should check out the archive on the site when you get some free time. As I was preparing the second issue of the relaunch a thought occurred The initial relaunch issue was a smashing success Honestly, I’ve been overwhelmed at the amount of attention and visitors the website and magazine have garnered since changing the format and availability I filled that relaunch issue with what I felt were my biggest and best stories The stories that got the most attention and put me in the position to acquire a larger audience. I wanted that audience to bring more attention to those overlooked stories I was talking about Now that I have said audience, it’s time for me to show all you new readers some of those said stories. (That sentence felt clever in my head. Not sure I pulled it off.)

As I searched through all the stories I had covered, those that my contributors covered in attempt to find the stories I thought deserved more attention it struck me as to how lucky I have been to be the one who got to present these tales Good or bad, it’s my honor to bring these voices to the forefront I’m so excited that making the magazine free online has brought so much attention to my work. It would be silly for me to waste this opportunity to put these underserved stories in front of all of you new readers

About that; I have been overwhelmed by the number of supporters and new readers the magazine has garnered with the new format Over one hundred fifty thousand people have checked out the relaunch issue. I’m floored. If I wrote it once, I’ve written it a million times; I never thought this thing would have lasted more than a year It was a dream I had Wasn’t supposed to turn into a decade of work or a life’s mission. So when the relaunch was such a huge success, not a soul on the planet was more surprised than I was at the response This is all gravy I had a small goal that turned into a career, any thing larger than that happening has just been like playing with house money. Even the losses don’t feel like losses when you weren’t supposed to be in the game to begin with

The benefit of staying in a game that you maybe shouldn’t be in is you can

play with reckless abandon You can leave it all on the court or field When you’ve got nothing to lose, why not go all out? That’s how I feel I maybe shouldn’t be here anyway so why not run the stories I think the world needs to know? There have been times when I’ve gotten myself sued or in trouble for going after entities who tower over me If it impacts foster youth, I’m covering it Not supposed to be here anyway. I practice journalism in the same way I played sports; you may be bigger, stronger or faster than I am, but you will not outwork me Because I never let anyone outwork me, I have seen and done some incredible things Met some remarkable people. Learned about things I wasn’t aware. Working my tail off has led me to cover some tremendous people and stories I’ve included a handful of those stories in this issue

First priority of this whole thing has been to inform That’s why the first article in this issue is about family finding I’ve got this friend from southern California His job, his JOB is to find family members of kids in care so they have the chance to live with their family members If he can’t get them on the phone, my friend Richard Villasana, goes to Mexico! Mexico! To find family members in villages without phones he travels south of the border to seek out a ray of hope for a kid languishing in the system when they could be with their families. I think it’s important for us all to understand family finding

I mentioned my affinity for those who fight Those who don’t give in My business mentor Rhonda Sciortino calls them “Successful Survivors”. I like that and I like those kinds of people Because I stayed in the game, I’ve met so many of them. Hell, Rhonda’s one of them But there are so many others

There’s Darryl Phipps, a kid born in NYC who found himself growing up deep in the heart of Texas This guy endured unimaginable trauma and came out on the other side of it a two-time Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Famer Or Lynn Price who took a desire to be around her sibling while in care, created a summer camp that does just that? And what about Rob Garris? This dude boxed his whole life and much like care, he aged out Did that stop him from stepping back in the ring long after most guys hang up the gloves? Nope And that’s who you land on my radar You fight.

They aren’t all great stories Some are tragic. Some fighters aren’t given the chance to fight back I’ve covered so many of these tragic tales Young Adrian Jones’ story will stay with me forever The young boy wasn’t given the chance to live his life To fight To grow. His memory stands as a reminder of the importance of due diligence and double checking a situation before per-

manently placing a child in a new home Despite how much I hate covering that side of foster care, it is a necessary evil. The world needs to hear the tragic stories along with the ones of triumph that inspire us so often I think about kids like Adrian when I’m trying to find the motivation to do my job when it feels like the world is on my shoulders. Kids like Adrian will never have the chance to do the things I’ve been fortunate to do It’s on me to make sure everyone remembers who they were

Sometimes, someone I work with will go on to do amazing things This job gives and takes which can be tough to navigate but one of the things it gives me is the luxury of seeing people I interact with and enjoy being around accomplish newsworthy feats. Oh, the list I could put together of all the lives that have touched me who have gone on to touch so many lives, occasionally an entire country, in a positive way

I met then Congresswoman Karen Bass over the course of running this magazine and was immediately struck with her determination to improve the world of foster care I’m not foolish enough to reveal a political affiliation, if I’m being honest, outside of foster care issues my days of caring about politics are long gone I care, but not enough to get charged up. That aside, I find myself in rooms full of political power players They seem to get along from what I could see and most are genuine in the concern for others Some are flashy, some are more subtle I found the now mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass to fall into that second category She kept her head down and worked hard for kids in foster care as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Now she’s the mayor of one of the largest cities in the country. Somehow our paths crossed and I was able to get to know her a bit through interviews and interactions at foster care events. And now she’s in charge of LA This has been some kind of journey

It gets even cooler! I was one of the first people to see the TV show “The Fosters” before it debuted. Or getting to see “Short Term 12” before Brie Larson became famous and ultimately became Captain Marvel. While those two early looks were very cool, getting to see the movie “Know How”, a film with an entire cast of real foster kids floored me. You can’t imagine how exciting it was to find out something like that even existed! It was raw, real and well-acted. Something you should check out for yourself I mean, after you read my review.

One more thing before I wrap this up You should know there’s an Orphan Train Museum in Kansas and if you keep an eye open you can catch an eyeopening look at present day foster care at the Foster Youth Museum It pops up all over the west coast The brainchild of Jamie Lee Evans, it uses displays of an artistic variety to take the viewer on a tour of what foster care is like now It’s captivating, moving and worth the drive if you should have a chance to see it

I feel like I’m rusty I’m usually a stronger writer I’ll get better with repetition; I was sure I was done writing for a long time But here we are, back at it again I hope you enjoy the issue despite my inelegant prose in this section (Did I save it by sounding smart there?)

I’m going to go back to finding stories the others overlook You enjoy the issue. I’ll catch you again in the Fall.

YOUR SON HAS ASKED A CALCULUS QUESTION YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND AT ALL

Do you:

(A) Create a diversion.

(B) Look up the answer on your phone but pretend you knew it.

(C) Hire a tutor. For yourself.

When it comes to being a parent, there are no perfect answers — just being there is enough. So don’t worry, you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who will love you just the same.

Dem ys tifying Family Finding

By Richard Villasana Foster Focus Contributor

For more than twenty years, I have specialized in locating family members in Mexico for non-profit organizations, foster care agencies, attorneys and private individuals. Yet I had never heard of the term "family finding" until in 2008, I received a call from Kevin Campbell, who had developed the family finding concept in the early 1990s. Family finding is the process of identifying and locating family members of children in foster care in the United States to notify them of the child's situation. Once contacted, any one of these relatives can then step up to provide support and hopefully a permanent home for the child.

Campbell didn't have to convince me about the human value of locating a parent or relatives. Having already spent more than a decade reuniting children and adults with their families, I knew firsthand the power of finding a longlost relative and how it can completely change a person’s life.

That's why I was shocked when, just a few months ago, a top investigator with one of the country's leading family finding organizations told me that there are still many in the foster care industry who maintain serious reservations about the value of conducting family finding

The terrible inadequacies of our foster care system have been the focus of a constant flow of government studies and news stories. Recently, foster care was called the "last resort for children" by former Texas family court judge Brent Chesney. He continued, "Statistics show clearly that if you put someone in foster care, they stay there longer and the case stays open longer than if you put them with a family member or a friend."

Supporting Chesney's views are two studies cited by Martin Guggenheim, President of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform (NCCPR)

These showed that children in foster care suffered worse abuse than their peers who were left with parents who were known to mistreat them. Data from the Annie E Casey Foundation shows that 17% of children enter foster care because of some form of abuse. Yet an analysis of the Casey Family Programs Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study by NCCPR revealed that nearly one-third of children are physically or sexually abused while in foster care.

As Martin Guggenheim wrote, "For a young enough child, [being removed from their home] can be an experience akin to a kidnapping Children feel they must have done something terribly wrong for which they are being punished " He added, "When a child is placed into foster care, he loses not only Mom and Dad but often brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, friends and classmates."

Even for an adult, being torn away from your entire social circle would be a terrifying experience Imagine being a child or a teenager forced to build a new life with virtually no emotional support. Coping with a new house in a new school district with a new family would be a tough pill for even a well-adjusted adult to swallow

Many government officials have publicly stated that their foster care system is broken Usually these comments come on the heels of a scathing foster care study or, tragically, following the death of a foster child Class action lawsuits have been filed against several states by former foster children who were abused while in the foster care system.

In January of 2016, a news report broadcast by KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, Texas, highlighted a class action lawsuit that was filed against Texas' Child Protection Services. It resulted in Federal Judge Janis Jack calling the state's foster care program "broken" and

ordering an overhaul of the entire system

Yet as terrible as foster care can be for a child, aging out is often worse That's when a foster youth is forced out of their home because they have reached 18 or 21, depending on the state

These kids often lack the skills to survive Eighty percent find themselves at risk of starvation, becoming homeless, committing crimes, ending up in prison or killed Jim O'Hara of the Pew Charitable Trusts says, "We have failed these children if they 'age out' of foster care without a safe, permanent family they can count on " The ones who do age out have usually been in the system for five years or more Gary Stangler of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative has stated, "Every child in foster care deserves a family, and the need doesn't end at age 18 The desire for family is hard-wired in us."

The reasons for performing family finding are its many benefits. Ann Silverberg Williamson, DHS executive director, stated, "Evidence indicates that children are stronger and have a longer societal success rate when they can safely remain in their family unit, school and community." Research by the Los Angeles based organization, Community Coalition, founded by Congress member Karen Bass, found that "children placed with relatives have better outcomes, including fewer behavioral problems, higher high school graduation rates and less chance of unemployment and homelessness "

While child experts, judges and research institutes such as the University of Pennsylvania agree that foster care is not the best place for a child, funding continues to be cited as a problem for agencies needing to conduct effective family finding However, this just doesn't make sense Finding family members would save foster care agencies money Kern County’s California Permanency for Youth Project stated in a

2008 report:

“Over $200,000 a month could be saved if only 37 youth were placed, resulting in millions in annual savings The calculations provide solid cost justification for permanency programs, aside from the immeasurable benefits that come from providing youth with homes ”

For those in social services who remain skeptical as to the benefits of family finding, one only needs look at the alternatives Let's take a realistic scenario: Ann, 13, enters a California group home where the monthly cost is $5,000 That's a minimum of $60,000 a year At that age, her chances of getting adopted are about 1%, so it's likely that she will remain in that group home for five years at a total cost to the state of $300,000.

In contrast, the cost of doing the diligence to locate relatives -- a process which can deliver results in a matter of minutes, not months or years -- can vary from as little as twenty dollars for an online search to a few hundred for a more extensive investigation

There is great motivation for any agency to follow the family finding protocol. The Center for Family Finding and Youth Connectedness states that the success rate in locating relatives in the U.S. can be as high as 85%. With a thorough family finding, often one or more relatives are located and notified of the child's circumstances. In the worst case scenario, where no one is able to take her in, the agency can provide Ann with their names and contact information In this way, she can have information and possible contact with blood relatives who may still offer emotional support, especially once she ages out

In a better and more common outcome, one of the relatives does want to take Ann. The agency will most likely pay them $4,000 to $5,000 per year for the care of Ann now that she is in relative

placement. So apart from the human concerns, from a purely financial point of view, the choices in this case are to pay $60,000 per year for Ann's annual care in a group home, or spend a few hundred dollars for family finding with the chance of success leading to a yearly cost savings of $55,000

Looked at from this perspective, is there a credible argument still to be made for not doing the diligence of family finding?

best:

"It is painful to think that some child currently in U S foster care could be with blood relatives – perhaps not a perfect solution but at least one that has a chance at being humane – or, if we knew for certain that their family could not be found, we would be able to attempt a permanent placement "

Even if an effort is not successful, at least the agency has done its best to unite a child with family members. Not putting 100% effort into family finding is not only irresponsible, it places tens of thousands of foster children at unacceptable risk

Maybe it's time for both those in and outside the industry to ask harder questions, such as who is possibly against searching for families? What motivation could there be to give less than the full diligence to unite foster children with their relatives? These kids deserve a shot at that better, brighter future Why in the world would we not want to give it to them?

It's definitely time for agencies and the public to support the family finding process Let's make sure our family finding efforts reflect this simple and honorable goal. We're doing it to help the children

Teresa M Burleson, Foster Care Social Worker with the McDowell County Department of Social Services, probably said it

The Child Who Was Fed to Pigs

By:Dr. Jamie Schwandt Foster Focus Contributor

If you haven’t heard of the sad death of 7-year old Adrian Jones, then prepare yourself for a horrific story Furthermore, prepare yourself to be extremely upset at the child welfare system My intent here is to say the things that everyone else is thinking, yet are too afraid to say.

After thinking about the open-source model and open-source governance, my mind started racing. What about Open-Source Foster Care?

Adrian Jones father, Michael Jones, was sentenced to life in prison for killing Adrian in the Kansas City area. His stepmother, Heather Jones is also serving a life sentence for her role in his murder Adrian was abused by his parents and starved to death Yet, it was what happened after his death that was equally horrific This is a story you would expect to see on the dark web. If you are not familiar with the dark web, consider yourself lucky as there are some truly evil stories hidden there However, this one might just be worse than any other I have read

Adrian’s home became a prison prior to his death The 7-year old was blindfolded and strapped to a table, his face was cracked with a broomstick, he was forced to eat out of a maggot infested bowl outside his home with his hands tied behind his back, he was stripped naked and confined to a shower stall for hours, forced to stand in neck-deep water in the Jones dirty swimming pool overnight, and even trapped to an inversion table with handcuffs Yet, this is not the worst part

After Adrian had died alone in the shower (for which he was left there for two weeks after his death), his parents went out and purchased pigs. They intentionally did not feed the pigs for period of time just to make sure they were extremely hungry Then, just like a story from the dark web, they threw Adrian’s dead body to the pigs Yes, his sadistic parents fed him to pigs If you are interested in reading more on this story, I recommend you read this 3part series by Jessica McMaster at KSHB.com.

My intent here is to ask why this hap-

pened. I want to know why the child welfare system failed this child so badly Here are three pointed questions I have for our child welfare system, prepare to be upset

1. You knew he was being abused, yet you did nothing Why was Adrian not removed from his home?

In 2012, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) removed Adrian from his biological mother. Guess who they gave him to his father, Michael Jones In 2013, a Missouri Children’s Division social worker and police officer actually spoke with Adrian The little boy told them the following,

“Daddy kicks me ”

Adrian stated that his father, “Keeps hitting me in the head and punches me in the stomach and mom keeps pulling on my ears and it really hurts ”

He added that his parents,

“Always lock me in my room I have to sleep without a pillow and blanket.”

The Kansas City Star reported that the Missouri Children’s Division found a preponderance of evidence that Adrian had been neglected in July of 2013 In-

vestigators and medical staff actually examined Adrian Yet, Missouri’s plan was to provide in-home services to the family, even though the family failed to cooperate with Missouri authorities At one point, the family even tried to give Adrian to the authorities, yet they would not take him!

As a former Kansas foster child myself, I was removed from my home due to neglect Yet, my life was not in danger and I was easily removed from my home Why not Adrian? This should have been blatantly obvious to all involved. This should have been an easy decision to remove the boy from these horrible people especially since they clearly did not want him.

2 He lives in Kansas now, so we made them aware. So, you allowed abuse to continue because the child moved out of state! Did you forget that Kansas City lies right on the Kansas/Missouri border?

The family stopped communicating with Missouri authorities and moved out of state to Kansas However, for those of you who live in Kansas or Missouri, you know that Kansas City lies directly on the border between the two states. They remained in the Kansas City area (they just crossed the state line)

Line in the sand

“Imagine you and another adult agree to draw a line in the sand You both agree that, as long as you are on your side, you have to leave the other person alone The other adult turns out to be an abusive person who beats children You can clearly see the child being abused, but you agreed not to cross the line You decide that you have to at least call ‘someone’ so you can clear your conscience and show that you made ‘someone’ aware It doesn’t matter that the ‘someone’ you made aware is just as incompetent as you are ”

Dr Jamie Schwandt

According to The Kansas City Star and CBSnews com, a Missouri case worker made the following remarks in a report, “I made KS aware that Adrian had disclosed physical abuse by his stepmother Heather Jones and his father Michael Jones during a (forensic) interview held in Missouri ”

Additionally, the worker commented, “I also reported that the children are home schooled and not seen by any outside members of the family on a regular basis, which heightened our concerns for the safety of the children ”

Kansas DCF Secretary, Phyllis Gilmore, stated that they last had contact with the family in early 2012. KSHB com reported that Gilmore said the family’s frequently alternating residency between Kansas and Missouri greatly disrupted continuity of services and evaluation However, she insisted Kansas child welfare officials “often” shared information about Adrian “when known” with their Missouri counterparts.

Additionally, Gilmore stated that her agency, “Thoroughly investigated” each reported incident of abuse or neglect involving Adrian

Yet, they last had contact with the family in early 2012? So, which one is it? Kansas DCF refuses to release any information regarding the case… something they are known for

3 What is the purpose of the child welfare system if we fail to protect the welfare of our children?

Have you ever noticed how people will see something horrible, yet they turn their head and pretend not to notice? Well, that’s exactly what happened here Let’s examine some final key points from this nightmare.

KSHB com reported that a former employee of Michael Jones stated that he witnessed Adrian being abused Why didn’t he say anything?!

·

Adrian’s grandmother contacted DCF twice prior to his murder

·

Former Deputy Director of DCF, Dianne Keech, informed KSHB com that she is appalled by the lack of transparency from the agency She quit the department due to issues similar to this case. Dianne stated that DCF often kept secret these type of child death cases from the public She remarked,

“It’s unconscionable. When there’s a child death and that child has had a history with DCF, that information needs to go to the family and the public and that agency needs to be held accountable ”

Diane also commented about a DCF attorney,

“She (the attorney) didn’t feel like we should document anything related to a child death. She wanted to only have verbal conversation over the phone If we took handwritten notes we were instructed to shred them afterwards.”

Yet, here is the most alarming remark from Diane,

“I’ve personally viewed numerous deaths in Kansas where we’ve missed it ”

·

Adrian’s parents had an elaborate camera system setup around the home In fact, KSHB com found that the timestamps on the surveillance footage show Adrian was abused over the course of 9 months They recorded the torture and killing of their son. Addi-

tionally, another adult male was living in the home at the time Willie Flowers, who can be seen on camera in the home knew what was going on. This person did absolutely nothing According to KSHB com, John Picerno (criminal defense attorney) said it’s not a crime to live in a home while a child is being abused or even tortured and killed

This is insane!

· Heather Jones asked her landlord to log into her iCloud account to save pictures of her kids When she logged in, she found pictures of Adrian being tortured and abused She turned them over to the police Heather Jones also shared these pictures to groups of people over Facebook She discussed and shared stories of torturing young Adrian Yet, no one did anything!

The Kansas City Star reported that a Missouri child advocate and CEO of FosterAdopt Connect, Lori Ross, stated that Adrian should have been removed from the home by Missouri authorities after he reported abuse in 2013 Ross remarked, “

I don’t understand why, after what he initially said, there wasn’t an immediate request to pick him up He was very detailed, saying in his (then) 5-year old voice he was being dramatically abused ”

So, what was the response by the child welfare system In Kansas, a new Task Force was launched after Jones was sentenced to life in prison for killing Adrian It’s too bad it takes a horrific death of a 7-year old child to finally get people to do something

Yet, guess who we are hoping will fix this horrible system? You got it the same people who allowed this to happen!

If I performed as poorly in my job as the child welfare system has, I would hope that I would be fired Everyone involved in Adrian’s case should quit Obviously, you are in the wrong line of work

Lastly, my hope is that everyone who reads this will share this story and never allow the child welfare system to forget what happened to young Adrian Jones.

H e a r t o f a C h a m p i o n

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

How do you define a champion? How do you pinpoint that quality that turns a hard worker into a contender? What drives an athlete to perform years beyond what’s expected of them? What makes a champion?

There’s the scoreboard That’s one way to do it Wins and losses? You could go that route How do you calculate heart? How do you account for fortitude? Does skill trump heart? What system do you use to determine how many times a person might get up after being knocked down?

Fact is you can’t. You couldn’t predict that Rudy Rudinger would get himself tossed around Notre Dame’s practice field week after week You couldn’t look at Spud Webb or even a high school freshman Michael Jordan and determine they would become NBA stars. No one saw Doug Flutie coming. A long haired, waif of a man named Randy Johnson wouldn’t strike you as the most feared pitcher in the world when you first met him A champion knows their worth; validation lies in the completion of the task.

Completion of the task is a skillset that Rob Garris of Mount Vernon, New York has perfected.

It was back in 1985 when the future looked brighter than it ever had for the young pugilist. He had spent the better part of his life in foster care. At 20 years old Garris looked the part of contender He was fighting well during the year ’s New York Golden Gloves tournament Alas, a chipped bone in his nose would put a stop to his surge. He would go on to get married, have three kids, start a foundation for foster youth and open his own barbershop called Mackadocious and became a pillar of the community His dreams of competing professionally all but dashed, he lived a happy life. But a champion is never really content without having proved their worth

In 2012, Garris, 27 years removed from his time in the ring as an amateur, set out to do what had eluded him nearly three decades ago; fight his first pro fight After a string of exhibition fights, he did just that on December 8, 2012 when he stepped in to the ring against Abdellah Smith at the Resorts World Casino in Queens, NY. The spirited bout made Garris the oldest boxer to ever fight professionally

Dubbed the “Children’s Champion”, Garris’ value to the world reaches far beyond the ring The foundation he founded, Throwaway Kids Foundation, runs the gamut of helpful services for the local foster youth From family finding to mentoring to the more emotionally draining task of ensuring headstones are purchased for youth who perish in care His heart is with foster care and the kids who occupy the system and his barbershop has become the heart of the community

Mackadocious is a staple of the New Rochelle landscape Athletes, entertainers and rappers have all passed through the doors on Webster Avenue The shop not only gives Garris the ability to practice his trade but also engrains him in the neighborhood He likes interacting with the neighborhood kids and customers who have been coming back for years He learns about the lives He hears their hopes, their problems, the ups and downs of life in the busiest city in the country and their achievements when life goes their way They are as much a part of Garris’ life as he is a part of theirs

I met Rob a couple years back and was instantly impressed with his demeanor For a boxer, he’s really polite and easy going He’s got a subdued attitude, quite a

shift from the ferocious hook thrower he becomes when he the gloves on Boxing wasn’t the first thing he told me about himself The Throwaway Kids Foundation was the first bit of information he shared about himself with me He’s proud He should be, not everyone comes back to foster care to help the kids that are presently in the system He wants to help As much as he wanted a belt, Garris wants to make a difference in the life of today’s foster kids

As I got to know him, I found his love of foster youth was only eclipsed by his love of family. A look at his Facebook wall shows family from all over showering him with messages of appreciation and affection So it was with a heavy heart that Rob Garris announced he would in fact be fighting again at age 50 but this time the fight would be dedicated to his son, Dimek, who was lost after battling cancer in 2015

Saddened by the loss of his son but excited for his return to the ring, I reached out to Rob to share both my sympathy for Dimek and enthusiasm for his upcoming fight He was, as was to be expected, solemn and still in mourning. Yet despite his grief he trained He trained And then he trained some more I have no understanding of losing a child but I watched in awe as he fought through the pain to regain his ring form

As the fight neared I began to wonder what would drive him to get back to fighting at age 50, who was this guy George Forman? (He met Foreman just before that first pro fight The former champ encouraged him to shatter any age record out there ) “I want to show the kids they can do anything There are no excuses. Age, where you grew up, you can overcome any of these things,” says Garris

The fight was set for September 12th at the Mount Vernon Boys and Girls Club. I geared up to sit ringside to watch the sweet science in person. Much to my dismay, I was hit with a stomach bug that had the force of a Tyson body shot Out of commission, I would have to settle for first-hand accounts and the fight tape

The opponent was again Abdellah Smith, the same Smith who faced off with Garris in his first pro bout. The air was thick with the tension and the emotions still surrounding the loss of Dimek. Garris came out in a fury. Combinations of jobs and powerful hooks bombarded Smith, his best defense proving futile. The emotionally charged Garris spent the first two rounds trading flurries of punches for several sequences with Smith who attempted to match the intensity. The body shots began to wear on Smith midway

through the second as he made his way back to a concerned corner

The start of the third round found the crowd at a fevered pitch. They had risen with every blow Screamed at every feigned jab Bellowed with every landed tag to the body. They were ready for a knockout and Garris would deliver A minute into the round Garris connected with a jab to the face, hook to the body combination that rattle the ribs of Smith. Smith returned with a combo of his own only to be met by a fierce jab followed quickly with a devastating hook to the head sending him to the canvas

As the referee began the ten count, relief began to fill Garris’ face The realization of a victory seemed insignificant next to honoring his son’s life He looked skyward while his victory was announced to the crowd, most of which were beginning to flood the ring Hands raised, surrounded by family and friends, Garris had seen another task to completion, the mark of a true champion.

The fight will never end for Garris It may not be in the ring where he can use his powerful punching style, but the force with which those punches are thrown will still be felt via the passion he approaches life with He’ll fight on for the foster youth who can’t fight for themselves. He’ll fight to remain a fixture of his community He’ll fight to make sure his shop is always there for those who need it. He’ll fight to be sure Dimek’s memory lives on He’ll fight to ensure that the Throwaway Kids Foundation has an impact. He’ll fight on with the heart of a champion He won’t look back at what could have been He’s done all he set out to do. After all, a champion knows their worth; validation lies in the completion of the task

All About T hat B

Los Angeles has a New Mayor with Deep Foster C

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

It’s no secret that when it comes to politics in America these days, no one is getting along. Turn on any news program at any time of day and you will be inundated with anger from the left, right and middle If there is one thing everyone in Washington D.C. can agree on is that they just can’t agree on anything. Enter the issue of foster care.

This is where opposing parties who are seemingly enemies become fast friends. It’s tough to vote against kids. It’s even tougher when those entering the government, do so with the underlying intention of helping people Whatever the campaign entailed, whatever the climb into office, you can bet they started out with the hopes of helping people. And who better to help than kids?

This is where aisles are crossed. This is where leaders of differing opinions on nearly everything, find common ground. It’s been my experience, that the issues of foster care and adoption trump the party agenda Individuals who were just hours ago vehemently debating one another, can be found sharing laughs at any foster care related function.

Most members of Congress and Senate are parents. Some are adoptive parents. Some are even foster parents. Even if a government official isn’t a parent, chances are they’ve got one At the very least they were children themselves This lends itself favorably to the cause of foster care. Most can recall being small, vulnerable, voiceless. It may be buried deep down but they can relate to those feelings.

Best intentions combined with memories of youth or the faces of the kids in their own home, leads to a desire to take care of the nation’s children. Taking care of the country’s most vulnerable is seen as an investment in the future and a responsibility of those who sit among the Legislators in Washington.

No one waves the flag of the importance of that investment and responsibility like second term Congress member from California, Karen Bass.

Actions speak louder than words and intentions; Congresswoman Bass is the embodiment of that philosophy. Within months of arriving in the nation’s capital she created the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth along with Congressman Tom Marino of Pennsylvania

Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, there were no Congressional Caucuses devoted to the foster care system For those of us who are not politically savvy, the definition is as follows; a congressional caucus is a group of members of the United States Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives. Formally, caucuses are formed as congressional member organizations (CMOs)

Bass

Care Ties

through the United States House of Representatives and governed under the rules of that chamber Clearly if there were ever a subject that needed a caucus, it is foster care

Springing to action is nothing new to Karen Bass; she’s been doing it since she was a child

Karen Bass grew up in the 60’s during the height of the civil rights movement in Los Angeles, California. The daughter of Dewitt Bass, a letter carrier and Wilhelmina, her mother, a homemaker Along with her three brothers, Bass saw firsthand the plight of the minority population in the city That exposure led to a life fueled by protecting the disenfranchised and those without a voice

She would begin a life of service through school by studying philosophy at San Diego State University later earning a B.S. in health sciences from California State University, Dominguez Hills She would take the skills learned in those classes and apply them as a physician assistant and as a clinical instructor at the USC Keck School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program for nearly a decade

In the midst of all this learning and teaching, she found time to become a part of the community Moreover, she became a community leader. Her involvement in her neighborhood led to the formation of the Community Coalition, a community-based social justice organization in South Los Angeles that empowers residents to become involved in making a difference, which she founded

Soon her work was recognized by state politicians When you ask her, she wasn’t encouraged to run for public office, she was led by the hand and nearly forced “Congresswoman Diane Watson told me that I had been a community activist long enough and it was time I went to serve my state in Sacramento I had no interest in doing that at all but

she told me at the time, there were no African-American women in the state legislature I certainly felt the sense of obligation upon hearing that.”

She was elected to the California State Assembly in 2004 to represent the 47th Assembly District In what appears to be Karen Bass’ style, she hit the ground running. Her district included tough areas such as South Las Angeles and the Crenshaw district, areas in dire need of attention. Attention is exactly what they got So involved was Bass that the Assembly’s Speaker Fabian Núñez appointed Bass California State Assembly Majority Whip and next the Majority Floor Leader for a legislative session

Her intention to provide a voice for foster children was evident from her first days at the Capital. She served as chair of the Select Committee on Foster Care When Speaker Núñez termed out in 2008, she was asked to run and later elected to succeed him as Speaker of California Assembly by her colleagues The moment was a historic one. She made history when she became the 67th Speaker of the California Assembly making her the first African American woman and the first Democratic woman to serve as Speaker of the California Assembly. Bass is also the first African American woman in the country to serve in the role of Speaker of a state Assembly.

During her time as Speaker, her legislation included bills improving conditions and services for youth in California’s foster care system

Her time at the California Assembly was up due to term limits and she confirmed her candidacy to succeed retiring U S Representative Diane Watson in California's 33rd congressional district She won the election with over 86% of the vote and off to Washington D C she went with the fight for foster youth on the top of her list of issues to address. In her first term, she created the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster

Youth along with co-chair U.S. Representative Tom Marino (R-Pa ), with the intention of examining national standards of care in the child welfare system

This is where my time with the Congresswoman begins

The Caucus began in 2011; coincidentally it was at this time that Foster Focus was finally launched I met the Congresswoman shortly thereafter.

My experience with politicians has been consistently positive. As earlier mentioned, foster care does bring the political masses together In that spirit, Foster Focus has been warmly welcomed in the nation’s capital

Members of the Caucus have been especially inviting One of the very first members of the Caucus to interact with the magazine was Representative Bass, a trend that has continued up to this point When thanked for the kindness the office has shown the magazine, the response has consistently been “anything for the kids ”

Action being the measuring stick for what “anything for the kids” means, Bass has been at the forefront of all things foster care since she arrived on the Hill

The examples are numerous and Foster Focus has been fortunate to be reporting the different bills and initiatives that Bass’ office, as well as her colleagues in the Caucus, have put together

Co-creating and co-chairing a Caucus is a statement in itself, but Congressmember Bass was just getting started. What came next were a series of events and policy ideas geared toward helping current and former foster youth.

First came the announcement of a Listening Tour. The multicity journey was a huge undertaking The idea; travel the country stopping in major cities as well

as rural communities to garner as much information as possible The goal of the tour was to engage current foster youth and alumni of care, with social workers, judges and other individuals involved in foster care Caucus members would receive first-hand accounts from people whose lives revolved around the foster care system

The response from the foster care community was immediate; someone was listening.

The Caucus would kick off the tour in 2012 with a visit to Los Angeles where they toured the Department of Children and Family Services, SHIELDS for Families, the L.A. Children's Court and held a community town hall where the frontline workers were able to explain some of the tools used to aid in reunification, something that has aided in reducing the city’s foster care numbers

Visits to Miami in the Southeastern part of the country, Boston in the New England area, Seattle in the great Northwest, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York among others would follow. All the while Representative Bass and her colleagues were learning the makeup of foster care Group homes were toured. Foster care academic groups shared their findings Innovative programs were explored Most importantly, foster youth and alumni were having their voices heard, some for the first time

The alumni community was especially sought after Hundreds of alumni from across the nation shared their experiences with the Caucus, giving those members an intimate view of foster care through the eyes of those who experienced it An invaluable tool when evaluating what policies will improve the system.

In all the tour served it’s purpose, to better inform members as to what issues are impacting foster care across the nation As Bass put it “Both Republican

and Democratic Members of the Caucus not only gained direct knowledge about foster care on a state level, but they also furthered their understanding of policies that are still needed to produce a substantial impact on foster care nationwide ”

2012 also saw the inaugural “Shadow Day on Capitol Hill” where Members of Congress hosted current and former foster youth from across the U.S. in Washington in an effort to help them understand the inner workings of the House of Representatives, learn about the legislative initiatives related to foster care, and share their stories with policy makers

It’s become a yearly event As an alumni and the editor of Foster Focus, I am privileged enough to have attended each Shadow Day The faces on the kids as they interact with decision makers is truly a joy. It is a life changing event for a lot of these great kids who, in most cases, are about to age out into the world. It gives them a chance to see another avenue they could take These Shadow Days have led to friendships, internships and in a few cases, and employment opportunities Kids get to tag along as a Senator or Representative, generally from their home state, go through a day of meetings, hearings and good old fashioned smiles and handshakes. Some kids, who have never seen a city, get to ride the subway, roam around Capitol Hill and even get to hop on the Capitol Subway System, an underground train system that connects all the capitol buildings, a ride only Congressional Pages and members of the house get to take You can imagine the stories the participants get to tell when they return home.

It was at the first Shadow Day that Bass

and the Caucus would announce the introduction of A+ PLUS Act, which focuses on improving the educational experiences and outcomes of youth in foster care.

The beginning of 2013 saw the passage of the Uninterrupted Scholars Act. In a nutshell, the Uninterrupted Scholars Act allows child welfare agencies access to the education records of children within their care while also preserving the educational privacy rights granted to students under current federal law. As a result, foster youth will now have additional advocates to ensure they are immediately enrolled into school and have access to the interventions they may need to succeed academically A big victory for kids who are moved to multiple schools.

The signing of the bill was held in the Oval Office Bass with other Caucus members and foster youth were present to watch the President sign the bill into law. Former and current foster youth standing alongside the President was a highlight for the foster care community. Of the signing, Bass commented, “The Uninterrupted Scholars Act is a concrete step forward to keep foster youth from slipping through the cracks in our education and child welfare systems With this landmark legislation, Congress is helping to tackle foster care dropout rates head on and giving those who care for foster youth an additional tool to advocate for those in their care.

Today marks a victory for the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and foster youth across the nation ”

There is no denying the impact that the Caucus has had on foster care in just a short period of time There is also no denying a key factor in that impact are the voices of former and current foster youth that were heard during the innovative Listening Tour.

I had the good fortune to talk to Congresswoman Bass before her year got off the ground in 2014 She spoke of the different bills she would sponsor and co-sponsor over the next year. She had decided that the issue of human trafficking from care was one that needed addressed. Her office would be crafting a bill in the hopes that it would be signed into law That’s exactly what happened Human trafficking and the pipeline to it that is foster care have been at the forefront heavily over the last year Bringing attention to that fact has been Bass and the Caucus’ intense effort to find answers and solutions in full view of the public. On numerous occasions since her arrival in D C , Representative Bass has brought the issue of human trafficking and foster care’s unwanted involvement in it, to the floor of the House That continuous attention led to Bass’ biggest win to date; the Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015

The Act being signed into law in January of 2015 was the culmination of years of hard work by Bass, her staff, the Caucus and the hundreds of voices

they heard on the listening tour The legislation ensures that each state develops a child protection plan with provisions and procedures to identify and assess all reports involving children known or suspected to be victims of trafficking, training plans for child protective service workers to appropriately respond to reports of child trafficking, and policies and procedures to connect child victims to public or private specialized services It also makes sure that states submit an annual report on the matter and that the Department of Human Services to submit a report of its own

"This legislation will provide real training to those responsible for protecting foster children and will compile concrete data so that we can continue to fight against sex trafficking,” said Bass “Children should never be treated as prostitutes They are victims And the men who abuse these children are not johns. They are child molesters. For far too many girls, our foster care system is a gateway to becoming a sex trafficking victim. Our children are our most precious resource, and we all have a responsibility to protect them "

Protecting children is always on the mind of the Representative from California. As a child she watched community leaders around her rise to the challenge of giving a voice to the vulnerable. Those memories and experiences have created a fearless advocate for children

Congressmember Bass has proven herself a true friend of those who wish to improve the foster care system. She continues to work in concert with those who do the work of protecting kids All of this while addressing all of the other needs of those who elected her to office A tough job for anyone, yet Bass has shown she is more than up for the task. In a recent trip to Williamsport, PA, Representative Tom Marino, the Caucus’ Co-Chair ’s home base, I had the chance to witness (again) how the Lis-

tening Tour cultivates the discussions that lead to action. After visiting several locations around the area who work with the local foster youth population, the listening part of the Tour began.

Following greetings from both Representatives Bass and Marino, a panel of local foster care alumni, parents and caseworkers worked through the various issues they face. The alumni spoke of the benefits of caring caseworkers and mentors that ensure their wellbeing The foster parents took the time to discuss the need for better preparation for their kids leaving care for the real world. After a few stories, some that tugged on the heartstrings, a few caseworkers made a point of expressing how proud they were at the advances the kids under their care have made It is stops on the tour like the one in Williamsport, that keep the members of Caucus in the know, as to what works and isn’t working for the people putting in the work.

Karen Bass will take what she’s learned on these stops back to her office where she and her team get to work looking for solutions to foster care’s problems

The results of that work are the bills that are brought to the House floor in defense of the nation’s most vulnerable Sure, foster care can make political opponents cross the aisle Sure, everyone wants to help the kids Without action the best intentions are simply that; best intentions

The actions of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and its members like, Representative Karen Bass are the steps needed to help repair the problems within foster care A constant ear to the ground will ensure that those steps are taken in a timely manner.

As the Caucus and Congresswoman Bass delve into another year of public service, you can be sure that the faces of those she has met over the years will be front and center as she continues to fight for a better foster care system

F o s t e r Y o u F o s t e r Y o u t

A m p l i f i e s Y A m p l i f i e s Y

B y B y A n n i e G a r d i n e r a n d J a m i e L e e E v a n s A n n i e G a r d i n e r a n d J a m i e L e e E v a n s

F o s t e r F o c u s C o n t r i b u t o r s F o s t e r F o c u s C o n t r i b u t o r s

I k n e w s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l w a s a b o u t t o h a p p e n w h e n I I k n e w s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l w a s a b o u t t o h a p p e n w h e n I w a l k e d u p t h e s t a i r s t o G r a c e C a t h e d r a l i n S a n F r a n w a l k e d u p t h e s t a i r s t o G r a c e C a t h e d r a l i n S a n F r a n -c i s c o , C A . I t w a s n e a r l y d u s k w h e n I o p e n e d t h e f r o n t c i s c o , C A I t w a s n e a r l y d u s k w h e n I o p e n e d t h e f r o n t d o o r a n d t h e m a j e s t i c s e t t i n g f i l l e d m y s e n s e s : t h e d o o r a n d t h e m a j e s t i c s e t t i n g f i l l e d m y s e n s e s : t h e s t a i n e d g l a s s , s o f t l y g l o w i n g i n t h e e v e n i n g l i g h t ; t h e s t a i n e d g l a s s , s o f t l y g l o w i n g i n t h e e v e n i n g l i g h t ; t h e n o t e s f r o m a t r i o o f m u s i c i a n s f i l l i n g t h e n a v e ; a n d a n o t e s f r o m a t r i o o f m u s i c i a n s f i l l i n g t h e n a v e ; a n d a s t e a d y f l o w o f p e o p l e , p u l l i n g m e s t a g e l e f t i n t o t h e s t e a d y f l o w o f p e o p l e , p u l l i n g m e s t a g e l e f t i n t o t h e w o r l d o f L o s t C h i l d h o o d s w o r l d o f L o s t C h i l d h o o d s . S i l e n c e d N o M o r e S i l e n c e d N o M o r e

m a k i n g f o s t e r y o u t h m o r e p r o n e t o c a v i t i e s a n d c o m m a k i n g f o s t e r y o u t h m o r e p r o n e t o c a v i t i e s a n d c o m -p r o m i s e d o r a l c a r e A n o t h e r e x h i b i t r e v e a l s c o m m o n p r o m i s e d o r a l c a r e . A n o t h e r e x h i b i t r e v e a l s c o m m o n f o o d s t h a t a r e s e r v e d i n g r o u p h o m e s , w h e r e h e a l t h y f o o d s t h a t a r e s e r v e d i n g r o u p h o m e s , w h e r e h e a l t h y m e a l s a r e w a n t i n g . m e a l s a r e w a n t i n g .

A n e x h i b i t i o n o f F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m , m a k i n g i t s S a n

A n e x h i b i t i o n o f F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m , m a k i n g i t s S a n

F r a n c i s c o p u b l i c d e b u t , L o s t C h i l d h o o d s c h r o n i c l e s

F r a n c i s c o p u b l i c d e b u t , L o s t C h i l d h o o d s c h r o n i c l e s y o u t h e x p e r i e n c e s i n f o s t e r c a r e T h e f i r s t o f i t s k i n d , y o u t h e x p e r i e n c e s i n f o s t e r c a r e . T h e f i r s t o f i t s k i n d , t h i s t r a v e l i n g e x h i b i t i o n i s r e v e a l i n g t h e v o i c e s o f f o s t h i s t r a v e l i n g e x h i b i t i o n i s r e v e a l i n g t h e v o i c e s o f f o s -t e r y o u t h , a l l t o o o f t e n s i l e n c e d t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t a c h e s t e r y o u t h , a l l t o o o f t e n s i l e n c e d t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t a c h e s o f l o s s , a n d t h e p o w e r l e s s n e s s o f i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f l o s s , a n d t h e p o w e r l e s s n e s s o f i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n . I n t h e w o r d s o f I p o M a ’ e , a f o r m e r f o s t e r y o u t h w h o I n t h e w o r d s o f I p o M a ’ e , a f o r m e r f o s t e r y o u t h w h o s p o k e a t t h e o p e n i n g r e c e p t i o n , “ T h e m u s e u m i s h e l p s p o k e a t t h e o p e n i n g r e c e p t i o n , “ T h e m u s e u m i s h e l p -i n g h e a l p e o p l e l i k e m e a n d i s g i v i n g o u r v o i c e s b a c k ” i n g h e a l p e o p l e l i k e m e a n i s g i v i n g o u r v o i c e s a c k . ” U p o n e n t e r i n g t h e e x h i b i t i o n , v i s i t o r s i m m e d i a t e l y s e e U p o n e n t e r i n g t h e e x h i b i t i o n , v i s i t o r s i m m e d i a t e l y s e e t h e i m p a c t o f f o s t e r c a r e , w i t h a d i s p l a y o n h y g i e n e t h e i m p a c t o f f o s t e r c a r e , w i t h a d i s p l a y o n h y g i e n e p r o d u c t s , a n d a d e s c r i p t i o n a b o u t t h e l a c k t h e r e o f i n p r o d u c t s , a n d a d e s c r i p t i o n a b o u t t h e l a c k t h e r e o f i n g r o u p h o m e s . I t i s n o t u n c o m m o n f o r y o u n g w o m e n t o g r o u p h o m e s . I t i s n o t u n c o m m o n f o r y o u n g w o m e n t o b e d e n i e d m e n s t r u a t i o n p r o d u c t s a n d t h u s u s e m a k e s h i f t b e d e n i e d m e n s t r u a t i o n p r o d u c t s a n d t h u s u s e m a k e s h i f t p a d s s t a p l e d t o g e t h e r f r o m t o i l e t p a p e r. L i k e w i s e , d e n p a d s s t a p l e d t o g e t h e r f r o m t o i l e t p a p e r L i k e w i s e , d e n -t a l f l o s s a n d o t h e r o r a l h y g i e n e p r o d u c t s a r e a b s e n t t a l f l o s s a n d o t h e r o r a l h y g i e n e p r o d u c t s a r e a b s e n t

A b l e n d o f l a r g e f o r m a t p h o t o s t a k e n b y p h o t o g r a p h e r A b l e n d o f l a r g e f o r m a t p h o t o s t a k e n b y p h o t o g r a p h e r a n d F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m C u r a t o r R a y B u s s o l a r i , a r t i a n d F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m C u r a t o r R a y B u s s o l a r i , a r t i -f a c t s f r o m c u r r e n t a n d f o r m e r f o s t e r y o u t h , a r t , a n d f a c t s f r o m c u r r e n t a n d f o r m e r f o s t e r y o u t h , a r t , a n d v i d e o p o r t r a i t s , F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m h a s b e c o m e t h e v i d e o p o r t r a i t s , F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m h a s b e c o m e t h e l a r g e s t c o l l e c t i o n o f i t s k i n d , a n d b o t h y o u t h a n d t h e l a r g e s t c o l l e c t i o n o f i t s k i n d , a n d b o t h y o u t h a n d t h e p u b l i c a r e t a k i n g n o t i c e D u r i n g a n O a k l a n d , C A p u b l i c a r e t a k i n g n o t i c e . D u r i n g a n O a k l a n d , C A g a l l e r y e x h i b i t i o n , s o m e 2 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e v i e w e d t h e e x g a l l e r y e x h i b i t i o n , s o m e 2 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e v i e w e d t h e e x -h i b i t o v e r f o u r w e e k s . A t t h e h i s t o r i c G r a c e C a t h e d r a l h i b i t o v e r f o u r w e e k s . A t t h e h i s t o r i c G r a c e C a t h e d r a l i n S a n F r a n c i s c o , u p w a r d s o f 5 , 0 0 0 w i l l t a k e p a r t d u r i n S a n F r a n c i s c o , u p w a r d s o f 5 , 0 0 0 w i l l t a k e p a r t d u r -i n g i t s t w o - w e e k r u n , f r o m O c t o b e r 1 5 t o N o v e m b e r, i n g i t s t w o - w e e k r u n , f r o m O c t o b e r 1 5 t o N o v e m b e r, 1 , 2 0 1 5 . 1 , 2 0 1 5 .

A s I c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h t h e e x h i b i t , I s t o p p e d i n f r o n t A s I c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h t h e e x h i b i t , I s t o p p e d i n f r o n t o f a b l a c k a n d w h i t e p h o t o o f L a t r e n d a L e s l i e h o l d i n g o f a b l a c k a n d w h i t e p h o t o o f L a t r e n d a L e s l i e h o l d i n g a c l e a r p l a s t i c b a g w i t h h e r b e l o n g i n g s T h i s p h o t o , f e a a c l e a r p l a s t i c b a g w i t h h e r b e l o n g i n g s . T h i s p h o t o , f e a -t u r e d i n t h e e x h i b i t i o n ’s p r o m o t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s , t e l l s t u r e d i n t h e e x h i b i t i o n ’s p r o m o t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s , t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f t h e i n f a m o u s “ f o s t e r y o u t h l u g g a g e , ” i n t o t h e s t o r y o f t h e i n f a m o u s “ f o s t e r y o u t h l u g g a g e , ” i n t o w h i c h f o s t e r y o u t h p l a c e t h e i r s c a n t b e l o n g i n g s w h e n w h i c h f o s t e r y o u t h p l a c e t h e i r s c a n t b e l o n g i n g s w h e n m o v i n g f r o m p l a c e m e n t t o p l a c e m e n t . W h e n y o u v i e w m o v i n g f r o m p l a c e m e n t t o p l a c e m e n t W h e n y o u v i e w t h e p h o t o , L e s l i e s a y s s h e w a n t s y o u t o “ t h i n k a b o u t t h e p h o t o , L e s l i e s a y s s h e w a n t s y o u t o “ t h i n k a b o u t t h e i n s t a b i l i t y f o s t e r y o u t h e x p e r i e n c e ” A n d s h e w a n t s t h e i n s t a b i l i t y f o s t e r y o u t h e x p e r i e n c e . ” A n d s h e w a n t s y o u t o k n o w t h a t y o u t h a r e s t r o n g a n d c a r r y o n , b u t y o u t o k n o w t h a t y o u t h a r e s t r o n g a n d c a r r y o n , b u t t h e y n e e d y o u r s u p p o r t . t h e y n e e d y o u r s u p p o r t .

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W h e n A r t M e e t s S o c i a l J u s t i c e W h e n A r t M e e t s S o c i a l J u s t i c e

T h e R i g h t R e v e r e n d M a r c H a n d l e y A n d r u s , B i s h o p o f T h e R i g h t R e v e r e n d M a r c H a n d l e y A n d r u s , B i s h o p o f t h e E p i s c o p a l D i o c e s e o f C a l i f o r n i a , w e l c o m e d 4 0 0 v i s t h e E p i s c o p a l D i o c e s e o f C a l i f o r n i a , w e l c o m e d 4 0 0 v i s -i t o r s t o t h e o p e n i n g r e c e p t i o n f o r L o s t C h i l d h o o d s a n d i t o r s t o t h e o p e n i n g r e c e p t i o n f o r L o s t C h i l d h o o d s a n d c a l l e d o u t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s e x h i b i t i o n w h e n h e c a l l e d o u t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s e x h i b i t i o n w h e n h e s a i d , “ G r a c e C a t h e d r a l h a s n e v e r h o s t e d a n y t h i n g m o r e s a i d , “ G r a c e C a t h e d r a l h a s n e v e r h o s t e d a n y t h i n g m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n L o s t C h i l d h o o d s , w h i c h i s p u t t i n g a f a c e i m p o r t a n t t h a n L o s t C h i l d h o o d s , w h i c h i s p u t t i n g a f a c e o n o n e o u r m o s t v u l n e r a b l e p o p u l a t i o n s – f o s t e r y o u t h . ” o n o n e o u r m o s t v u l n e r a b l e p o p u l a t i o n s – f o s t e r y o u t h . ”

H e t h e n c a l l e d o u t S e n a t o r M a r k L e n o , a l s o a m o n g t h e H e t h e n c a l l e d o u t S e n a t o r M a r k L e n o , a l s o a m o n g t h e s p e a k e r s , a s o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t a d v o c a t e s f o r j u s t i c e i n s p e a k e r s , a s o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t a d v o c a t e s f o r j u s t i c e i n

C a l i f o r n i a . C a l i f o r n i a .

c e p t a b o u t r e p a i r i n g t h e w o r l d a n d c o m m i t t i n g t o t h e c e p t a b o u t r e p a i r i n g t h e w o r l d a n d c o m m i t t i n g t o t h e p r a c t i c e o f s o c i a l j u s t i c e p r a c t i c e o f s o c i a l j u s t i c e .

S e n a t o r M a r k L e n o h a s l o n g a d v o c a t e d f o r f o s t e r y o u t h .

S e n a t o r M a r k L e n o h a s l o n g a d v o c a t e d f o r f o s t e r y o u t h Wo r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h C a l i f o r n i a Yo u t h C o n n e c t i o n , t h e Wo r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h C a l i f o r n i a Yo u t h C o n n e c t i o n , t h e n o n p r o f i t b e h i n d F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m , S e n a t o r L e n o n o n p r o f i t b e h i n d F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m , S e n a t o r L e n o h a s c a r r i e d a s i g n i f i c a n t p i e c e o f f o s t e r y o u t h l e g i s l a h a s c a r r i e d a s i g n i f i c a n t p i e c e o f f o s t e r y o u t h l e g i s l a -t i o n t h r o u g h t h e C a l i f o r n i a p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s n e a r l y t i o n t h r o u g h t h e C a l i f o r n i a p o l i t i c a l p r o c e s s n e a r l y e v e r y y e a r i n o f f i c e B i l l s h a v e i m p r o v e d p o l i c i e s r e e v e r y y e a r i n o f f i c e . B i l l s h a v e i m p r o v e d p o l i c i e s r e -l a t e d t o h o u s i n g , h e a l t h c a r e , s i b l i n g v i s i t a t i o n , a n d l a t e d t o h o u s i n g , h e a l t h c a r e , s i b l i n g v i s i t a t i o n , a n d p l a c e m e n t s o f L G B T f o s t e r y o u t h . L e n o s a y s u n e q u i v p l a c e m e n t s o f L G B T f o s t e r y o u t h . L e n o s a y s u n e q u i v -o c a l l y, “ F o s t e r y o u t h a r e o u r y o u t h – t h e y o u t h o f t h e o c a l l y, “ F o s t e r y o u t h a r e o u r y o u t h – t h e y o u t h o f t h e s t a t e – a n d w e h a v e t o t a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r s t a t e – a n d w e h a v e t o t a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r s t o r i e s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s a n d m a k e s u r e t h e n e x t g e n e r s t o r i e s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s a n d m a k e s u r e t h e n e x t g e n e r -a t i o n h a s b e t t e r e x p e r i e n c e s ” a t i o n h a s b e t t e r e x p e r i e n c e s . ”

S e n a t o r L e n o t a l k e d a b o u t t i k k u n o l a m , a J u d a i c c o n S e n a t o r L e n o t a l k e d a b o u t t i k k u n o l a m , a J u d a i c c o n --

F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m r e p r e s e n t s a n e w t r e n d i n m u s e F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m r e p r e s e n t s a n e w t r e n d i n m u s e -u m s , o n e t h a t c o m b i n e s a r t a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e A r t i s u m s , o n e t h a t c o m b i n e s a r t a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e . A r t i s p o t e n t a n d r e a c h e s p e o p l e i n w a y s t h a t o t h e r m e d i a d o p o t e n t a n d r e a c h e s p e o p l e i n w a y s t h a t o t h e r m e d i a d o n o t . J a m i e L e e E v a n s , c o - d i r e c t o r o f F o s t e r Yo u t h M u n o t . J a m i e L e e E v a n s , c o - d i r e c t o r o f F o s t e r Yo u t h M u -s e u m , s a y s , “ E a c h t i m e w e e x h i b i t L o s t C h i l d h o o d s , s e u m , s a y s , “ E a c h t i m e w e e x h i b i t L o s t C h i l d h o o d s , w e h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n g a g e c o m m u n i t i e s – c o m w e h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n g a g e c o m m u n i t i e s – c o m -m u n i t i e s o f f a i t h , y o u t h a d v o c a t e s , c u r r e n t a n d f o r m e r m u n i t i e s o f f a i t h , y o u t h a d v o c a t e s , c u r r e n t a n d f o r m e r f o s t e r y o u t h , a n d t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c – i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n f o s t e r y o u t h , a n d t h e g e n e r a l p u l i c – i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t w h a t i t m e a n s t o s u p p o r t f o s t e r y o u t h a r o u n d a b o u t w h a t i t m e a n s t o s u p p o r t f o s t e r y o u t h a r o u n d h o u s i n g , h e a l t h c a r e , e d u c a t i o n a n d c o n n e c t i o n . T h e h o u s i n g , h e a l t h c a r e , e d u c a t i o n a n d c o n n e c t i o n . T h e L o s t C h i l d h o o d s e x h i b i t i o n i s w h e r e a r t m e e t s a d v o L o s t C h i l d h o o d s e x h i b i t i o n i s w h e r e a r t m e e t s a v o -c a c y, a n d i t m o v e s p e o p l e . ” c a c y, a n d i t m o v e s p e o p l e ”

T h e R e v e r e n d s R e b e c c a N e l s o n E d w a r d s a n d C h r i s T h e R e v e r e n d s R e b e c c a N e l s o n E d w a r s a n d C h r i s C h a s e c a n t e l l y o u w h a t i t i s l i k e t o b e m o v e d b y a r t C h a s e c a n t e l l y o u w h a t i t i s l i k e t o b e m o v e d b y a r t a n d c o m p e l l e d t o a c t . C o - d i r e c t o r s o f B r a i d M i s s i o n , a n d c o m p e l l e d t o a c t . C o - d i r e c t o r s o f B r a i d M i s s i o n , E d w a r d s a n d C h a s e s a w a p r i v a t e e x h i b i t i o n o f F o s t e r E d w a r d s a n C h a s e s a w a p r i v a t e e x h i b i t i o n o f F o s t e r Yo u t h M u s e u m l a s t y e a r, a n d a s a r e s u l t , c h a n g e d t h e Yo u t h M u s e u m l a s t y e a r, a n d a s a r e s u l t , c h a n g e d t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e i r m i n i s t r y t o f o c u s o n s u p p o r t i n g f o s t e r d i r e c t i o n o f t h e i r m i n i s t r y t o f o c u s o n s u p p o r t i n g f o s t e r y o u t h i n S a n F r a n c i s c o a n d s t a r t e d a m e n t o r i n g p r o y o u t h i n S a n F r a n c i s c o a n d s t a r t e d a m e n t o r i n g p r o -g r a m . M o r e o v e r, t h e y b e c a m e “ s i n g u l a r l y f o c u s e d o n g r a m M o r e o v e r, t h e y b e c a m e “ s i n g u l a r l y f o c u s e d o n f i n d i n g t h e l a r g e s t s t a g e i n t h e E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h t o e x f i n d i n g t h e l a r g e s t s t a g e i n t h e E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h t o e x -p o s e t h e p o w e r f u l s t o r i e s a n d a r t o f f o s t e r y o u t h ” T h e p o s e t h e p o w e r f u l s t o r i e s a n d a r t o f f o s t e r y o u t h . ” T h e historic Grace Cathedral, visited by some 200 people daily, was the obvious choice.

h M u s e u m t h M u s e u m

Y o u t h V o i c e s Y o u t h V o i c e s

Foster Youth and Faith

Communities of faith have a long history of addressing social justice issues. Among foster youth, faith can be a transformative experience and offer comfort and community; for others, religion has been a source of pain and disconnection

Angel Woolsey, one of the museum contributors, shares,

“Through my journey in foster care I often struggled with faith because child abuse and neglect were not often openly discussed at my church, causing me at times to feel alone with my struggle Being openly queer as a youth also caused me to feel disconnected, because I constantly heard that I must be saved from my sinful ways. I feel privileged to witness Grace Cathedral welcoming us all, the hurt, the underrepresented, the abused, the neglected, the queer and openly embracing the fact that we are here, we live and are all children of God."

Visitors will see some objects of faith in the museum that former foster youth have donated The Reverend Rebecca Nelson Edwards, says “the now unsilenced stories, images, and artifacts in the Lost Childhoods exhibition are sacred and we want them to be a source of hope for everyone who visits Grace Cathedral ”

From Disruption and Loss to Transformation

As visitors progress through themes of developmental disruption, institutionalization, powerlessness and loss, they move into transformation. This part of the exhibition tells youth stories about healing and empowerment; after all, the current and former foster youth who share their voices in the museum may have been “lost,” but they are indeed resilient.

One exhibit holds several pieces of legislation that youth advocates with California Youth Connection helped usher into California law In another display, visitors meet “families related by love”

i e , former foster youth who have intentionally created family with each other. Together, they share birthdays, holidays and milestones

Education plays prominently in the museum for its role in healing and transformation There’s a stunning photo of a young woman reading on a marble bench in the foyer of a library, a massive sculpture to her side Libraries were a safe place for this former foster youth – a place where she could let down her armor and explore new worlds

When one former foster youth was asked what childhood activity helped shape her identity, she wrote, “Reading and writing freed me from my day-today struggles I love self-help books because they light my fire, which encourages me to be an activist ”

Community Engagement

A hallmark characteristic of social justice museums is community engagement, where the public is invited to interact with the exhibit through per-

sonal reflection and participate in wraparound events

Visitors to the museum are welcome to share their reflections in an Exhibit Journal For instance, when viewing objects and photos that pertain to loss, visitors might consider whether they have ever been kept from someone they love – and the impact

Braid Mission, exhibition sponsor, and Grace Cathedral, host, co-organized several events for the community In a public conversation about Faith & Contemporary Issues, Valentino Luna and Latrenda Leslie, both museum contributors, shared their experiences in foster care, offered recommendations to improve the system, and reflected on the role of faith and God in their lives. With vulnerability, Luna talked about his history as a commercially sexually exploited youth on the streets of Los Angeles and shared his triumphant and successful transition to adulthood

The audience asked a number of questions – e g , “How can we support foster youth between the ages of 15 and 18?” Reflecting on her own experience, Leslie recommended that foster youth be given the right to interview prospective foster parents before being placed, and motioned for more personal choice when the child welfare system recommends mental health treatment

A Vessel for Healing

If we are to improve the experiences and outcomes for foster youth, we have to look beyond the role of the government and child welfare professionals, to include the general public Foster youth

live in our communities and our neighborhoods, go to our schools and places of faith, and want what everyone wants – connection, dignity and love

On any given day, there are over 400,000 children and youth in foster care in the U.S. – and 26,000 who age out with insufficient resources and support each year Policy alone cannot change the heartache of loss and disruption, but the public – individual people – can offer connection, mentoring, resources, housing, wellness, and opportunities

You might wonder why a youth who has so little and has worked so hard

would let go of his or her graduation diploma – or any of the objects in the museum for that matter. Put simply, the museum is a vessel for healing And museum contributors very much want the general public to understand what it means to grow up in foster care, so that members of the community can provide support and connection for foster youth.

If there is one thing that has moved me repeatedly in working on behalf of foster youth, it has been the notion of permanence – and what it means to have permanent connections in this world of ours In the face of instability, as youth move from placement to placement, I understand that Foster Youth Museum is coming to represent a permanent home where objects, stories and photos – previously silenced – will be held in a safe repository and shared respectfully. “With community support, we can make this a reality so we invite people to support Foster Youth Museum with a donation,” says co-director Evans.

Resources are needed to purchase a storage system in which donated items made of paper, cloth, and photos can be protected from changes in temperature and humidity Funding will also allow the Foster Youth Museum to hire a staff person who can expand the museum’s reach

Foster Youth Museum currently maintains three exhibitions: Lost Childhoods, Tribute: Stories of Foster Youth Tattoos, Homeless.

For more information about Foster Youth Museum, visit www fosteryouthmuseum org

25 Years of Camp to Belong

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

Let me tell you about a pretty remarkable person She says that one ripple can make waves of change. She is steadfast in this belief and it has aided her in creating a factory of memories for America’s siblings in foster care. Thousands upon thousands of kids across 13 states and some in Australia, have benefited from that belief system. Now that you know what drives her, let me introduce you to Lynn Price, Founder of Camp To Belong.

Lynn was walking around living a happy childhood when she was rocked by the news she was adopted, moreover, she had a sister out in the world. A tough bit of news to absorb for an 8-year-old from Illinois When you get to know about Lynn Price, you will find that she doesn’t see the dark side of a situation No, Lynn instead looks for the positives in a situation, a trait surely learned at a young age With the knowledge of her newly found sister, Andi, was living on the other side of town They would see one another over the years, but it was college where their relationship truly blossomed into sisterhood

She attended a top tier college, found a talent in marketing and landed an impressive job when she left school. How impressive? Helping to launch ESPN impressive So valuable to the team at ESPN was she they asked her to open the Dallas office of the company It’s that enthusiasm for a project, mixed

with an undeniable talent for getting the job done that has served her well in her life She would help the W Group, a satellite communications firm, expand their cable Television business, as well as The Golf Channel It appeared to be no ceiling for her career ascent and then tragedy in the form of her mentor and

foster youth. In 1994 she sold her business and moved to Las Vegas to raise her family and volunteer as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and at a children’s shelter. You see, foster kids were never far from her mind as she went through life. In college she organized the fraternities and sororities to work on the prevention of child abuse. And there was of course, her own story and Andi. Now she was on the frontlines What she saw would be her call to action.

Mystified by the statistics of siblings separated by foster care, 75% of those who enter the system are separated from their brother or sister, she was compelled to act. She’d had success bringing siblings together through her role as a CASA, but more was needed. Much more.

boss passing away. With a new baby on the way and the loss of her mentor, she set off on her own.

Running a business of any kind of on your own is a daunting task, running a communications firm from the ground up is a different animal to tame But Price & Associates excelled, even earning awards along the way.

It was her next move that would set the stage for a life devoted to America’s

These reunions of siblings needed to be done on a much grander scale and with much more frequency. But how and where could she create a safe atmosphere for these estranged family members to reconnect and solidify life-long bonds? Summer camp!

1995 Lynn Price used all that she had learned in her life, everything from marketing and organization to selflessness and empathy, to create Camp To Belong. It was to be a week long camping experience that would allow the kids to play, explore and get to spend time together. That was the key to the whole

idea; together. “My sister, Andi and I missed out on sharing our childhood days - it is that need of developing a strong sense of belonging that Camp To Belong gifts to our resilient campers,” she has been quoted as saying in regards to the importance of siblings being together

Fast forward 25 years later. I’m driving through a part of the Appalachian Trail here in my home state of Pennsylvania I live an hour or two away from the newest addition to the Camp To Belong family of camps; Camp To Belong River Valley. I was slated to meet up with Lynn here a few days earlier Family obligations kept me away from our meeting but I wasn’t going to miss a chance to see the camp in person

I’ve been Lynn-adjacent since I started the magazine Something always gets in the way of us meeting face to face She has 13 camps and a camp in Australia she has to tend to She’s a highly sought-after speaker and on top of all that, a mother and an Ashoka Fellow which is a group of select social entrepreneurs and changemakers from across the globe. She’s a busy person, part of why she’s been so successful We’ll catch up with one another someday, I’m sure of it.

I don’t get to this part of the state that often. It’s gorgeous here. Winding roads carved through mountains Streams around every bend What a sight for these kids to see on their way to a week long adventure As I made my way, passing quaint houses and holiday cabins, I started to think about my brothers and sisters I didn’t know I had an older brother and sister until I was in my teens but was fairly close to my younger brother who l lived with He was too smart for the teen version of me to get too close to, he kind of intimidated me with his brain But when I went into care, I kept the best memories we had and would get to see him during the visits I’d take back to my hometown I got to thinking about how much fun it

would have been to get to see him for a week each summer at camp We were both Boy Scouts, camp was something we shared I moved away. Would have been nice to have had a Camp To Belong to link up with him and watch him grow.

That’s what Lynn has created; a touchstone for these kids. A place they can come to and make memories without the worries of the world around them If at least for a week.

Entering the grounds of the camp, I started to get as excited as the kids must be My eyes darted back and forth at the many activity areas A horse stable A pond with a canoe on the shore at the ready A rope course An outdoor stage A pool I started to get jealous that I was only to spend a short time here. Cabins. Hiking trails What a week these kids were having!

After finding my way to their specific camp, I saw something that resonated with me. It was a girl, alone, hitting a tetherball around a pole She was clearly waiting on someone Just passing the time until that person arrived. Again, I think of Lynn Price, by herself, her sister on the other side of town, separated by circumstance. Waiting. The little girl I saw didn’t have to wait long for a playmate to arrive

The area was an oval of seemingly new cabins The air was clean and filled with the sounds of birds, critters scurrying about the forest floor and the most important ingredient that makes Camp To Belong so special; laughter of children. The weather was great, not too humid, though no one told the bugs that information. What a small price to be to be in nature for a week Among the smiling faces I found the Camp Directors; Jennifer Strohl and Samii Emdur.

It takes a special personality to give up yourself and your time for a cause. Volunteers have always had my admiration I’ve been fortunate enough to meet hun-

dreds and hundreds of volunteers in my time as the Editor of this magazine and the size of their hearts never ceases to amaze. Hours away from home, time away from family and devotion to a cause without compensation is a mesmerizing mindset. This is what keeps Camp To Belong thriving It’s the people that make the experience special

The Camp Directors regaled me with tales of the week There was a Birthday Party Night, where the kids exchanged meaningful gifts for the birthday that would likely miss this year There was Inspiration Night, where storytelling leaves kids excited about their futures They told me all about the swimming, hiking, bonding, art, laughter and joy the week had brought with the same enthusiasm as the kids they were serving

Soon there would be more activities for them to tend to and we would say are goodbyes. Driving away I couldn’t help but think of a little girl in Illinois who just wanted to be around her sister and where that need has taken her.

13 camps in the US, 1 in Australia Over 10,000 kids reunited with their siblings. 2 books, Real Belonging: Giving Siblings Their Right to Reunite and Vision For A Change, A Social Entrepreneur ’s Insights From the Heart Named a CBS American Hero Ashoka Fellow Oprah’s Use Your Life award. A Presidential Service Award Membership in the National Speakers Association Creator of a million memories.

Twenty five years later, that little girl created one hell of a ripple.

Movie Review

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

It's no secret that one of the best perks of running Foster Focus is getting to see any foster care related films and T V shows before they hit the public. The bulk of them have been tremendous, a few left me hoping for a bit more and one or two have really blown me away. Know How, a production written and acted in by foster youth in the Possibility Project program, falls into that last category.

Let me stress this point. If I didn't tell you that this movie was written by foster youth, YOU'D HAVE NO IDEA If I didn't tell you that the principle players in this movie were actors pulled right from the foster care system, YOU'D HAVE NO CLUE. If I told you that this was a big budget Hollywood production with actors who come from acting schools from around the country, YOU WOULD TOTALLY BELIEVE ME

That's the beauty of Know How. It manages to be gritty and raw while being aesthetically gorgeous and visually on par with studio backed efforts.

Director Juan Carlos Pineiro Esoriaza brings his personal flair to Know How's overall feel Bringing the busy streets of New York City, with all its characters to the big screen is no small task and yet Pineiro Esoriaza not only achieves that feat but manages to create a sense of intimacy amongst the wildness of the world the characters find themselves

The screen brightens with awe-inspiring slow snapshots of New York City at night The neon clashing against the darkness of late night sky gives a visual strength to a heartfelt rap verse inviting the viewer into this thought provoking film.

Reality smacks you in the mouth as the key characters are introduced in a wave of short glimpses. The quick insights

set the mood for the 2 hour intrusion into these youths lives

The point of this review is to entice you to watch the film which is making the rounds in the festival circuit now With that in mind, you won't be getting the entire plot here Instead, we'll take a brief look at the main characters and how they became part of this tapestry of a film

dreams". She has all the tools to succeed but will she learn how to use them in time to graduate?

Next weaving their way through subway cars James and Austin, a set of brothers, played by Michael Kareem Dew and Gilbert Howard, left to the street depending on each other for survival. The actors do a phenomenal job of convincing the viewer that they are brothers who depend on each other to

We'll start with Addie played by Niquana Clark Addie plays a dual role as both a focal point and the navigator of the film's path, her voice is the guide through the treacherous look at the circumstances the foster youth in the film face She is a street smart under achiever, in the care of her unsympathetic aunt, with a cynical view on what life has to offer In her words she manages life in a city "full of subways and

survive The struggle to eat, struggle to find a warm bed and reach out to a bad element to help get them through. Will James' hope and Austin's hunger to get money lead them off the streets to a good life or to a jail cell?

Another set of siblings composed of two sisters with polar opposite personalities Eva and Desi live with a father who wakes up to go to work and returns

later only to rest for the next day of work They learn to take care of themselves Desi played by Ainsley Henry, who gives a brilliantly subtle performance, glides carelessly through life as Eva, a highly motivated student and unwilling caretaker who overcomes her surroundings on her way to a college acceptance Wonderfully played by Gabrielle Garcia, Eva's determination keeps the family together The demons of their father threaten to tear the family apart. How will they react to their time in care?

The film does a quality job of giving insight into the traumas that these foster youth have faced At no point is this more evident than the story line involving Megan a tortured soul with a lip ring Brilliantly portrayed by Claribelle Pagan, Megan is the epitome of the tragic foster youth Beaten and battered, abused and blamed she represents the hardest affected foster youth. She enters care amid allegations of abuse When she is separated from her sister, Kayla, portrayed effortlessly by Lee Jiminez, her rock, she is forced to face the world

on her own. Is a residential treatment facility away from her sister the right place for such a fragile girl?

Before we meet the final players, attention needs to be given to the supporting cast. A mix of novice and veteran actors fill out this world created by those living it A few stand outs included those who played social workers and parents of foster youth Vincent Notice's depiction of a beaten down father who battles an addiction to drugs while trying to take care of two girls was especially poignant

The collective work of this ensemble cast leaves the viewer wondering if this was really most of the actors first time on camera There is a tone of wisdom, of subtlety which this cast possesses which usually takes actors years to accomplish The talent of the cast only serves to amplify the emotion and message that the viewer sees on screen.

Rounding out the cast of main players, a love struck boyfriend and girlfriend live estranged Maintaining a relation-

ship can be difficult for any two people but when Marie, who lives life in a group home and her boyfriend Trey, who lives a normal life, it makes staying together nearly impossible Ebonee Simpson does an especially fine job of bringing the hang-ups that prevent many foster youth from having healthy relationships alive on screen

Watching DeShawn Brown bring Trey to life on screen, watching him make his character stay grounded while his girlfriend's myriad of emotions are hurled at him is a true lesson in patience

When you get to see this movie, when you get to see these scenes play out on film, when you get the chance to watch these young adult's lives bleed through the camera you may finally have an inkling, a glimpse, a sliver of understanding as to what life in care is all about And you may finally get the answer you've been looking for to the question of How do they make it? How do they survive? When you do get to see this film you will "Know How".

Never Counted O How Darryl Phipps Becam

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

As foster kids we're called fighters and survivors all the time So much so, that it begins to lose its meaning, its impact Granted there are in fact thousands of those foster youth who are survivors, fighters Some continue their fight through advocacy, some academia and some turn to athletics.

Then there is Darryl Phipps, who continues his fight everyday He fights his martial arts opponents He fights stereotypes He fights for a sport in the entertainment industry. But his toughest enemy comes in the form of memories of a childhood so horrific, so unfathomable, that he may never see the end of the battle

Darryl K. Phipps though born in Queens, NY grew up deep in the heart of Texas. The small town of Cleveland, TX gave him a sense of security that was shattered daily inside his abusive home he shared with his sisters Tisha and Chimene Jasmine Lewis

He grew up without his father, a steady stream of male figures would fill that void, good or bad, as they appeared and disappeared from his mother Karen's carefree life He would have to fight them as well

When the person who is meant to protect you is the one trying to hurt you, what are your options? For a scared 10 year old isolated with a commanding mother and equally scared little sister, the only option has to fall in line, or else

When nothing in your life has been normal, it becomes your "normal" Each day, each beating, leads into the next Bruises don't sting to the touch after a while Scars and words fade was the months pass Your "normal" becomes routine, almost expected. It builds a fiery rage in the abused stomach, a rage that cannot be released. The consequences of that could be devastating

So Darryl lived two lives through his childhood. One where he was a smart quite shy boy who was kind to everyone around him Withdrawn Serious But at home, it was a different story Volatile Aggressive Violent The mood of the house resonated through its occupants Tension was the ambience A powder keg ready to explode

And when Darryl was 11 years old, it finally did

Explosion was an understatement

It was a typical tension filled day when in a rage Karen Phipps began to rail on Tisha. The screams, thuds and familiar sounds filled the house An 11-year-old Darryl was forced to not only witness but also become an unknowing participant in the horrendous beating death of his sister

At some point during the chaos of the unprovoked attack, Phipps' mother, blinded by rage, forced the terrified Darryl to momentarily hold his struggling 7-year-old sister in place The beating continued on without him, he was too young, too small, too scared to defend his baby sister against the monster bearing down on her.

One life taken One life changed forever One life in a cage

The trial was over before it began The court sentenced Karen Phipps to 99 years in a Texas Penitentiary In the 20 years since that verdict appeals have been made, attempts at freedom have fallen short One appeal sites the improper use of

me an MMA Hall of Famer

photos during the proceedings. Another put the blame on the shoulders of Children's Protective Services The rationale being that no one from CPS had ever taken the time to educate Karen on how to properly discipline her children

.

With their mother behind bars and no available family with whom they could stay, Darryl and his sister Chimene Jasmine Lewis, entered the Texas foster care system

Initially, it looked like everything was finally going to be okay The nightmare appeared as if it might fade away.

Their first placement was the H u t c h i n s o n Family in Houston. It was good to have structure outside the walls of school. The family was heavily involved in Boy Scouts, an activity that suited Darryl He began to excel Darryl found safety in structure. The discipline aspect of life had not been a problem for the young boy about to embark on his high school journey

Life was good for a little bit, then middle school came with all its obstacles and trappings For Darryl, the rage inside lay dormant with the support of the Hutchinson's but that would change in the cold halls of middle school

Kids are cruel to an undersized black middle-schooler in Texas Kids can be really cruel. He hadn't experienced bullying or ill will until that point Instinct took over The fighter came out The rage was unlocked.

The fighting began The principal's of-

fice became a frequent stop. Suspensions began to pile up Frequent dismissals from school early for behavioral issues led to caseworkers getting involved in his discipline A shelter followed by 2 years in a residential treatment center, in the form of a ranch called New Horizons located just south of the middle of nowhere was the prescribed solution.

He flourished in his new environment Regular therapy sessions helped to slowly extinguish his inner rage The constant structure reintroduced Darryl to the security that he craved. Sur-

It was about this time that a familiar face reappeared in Phipps life Henry Heath was a friend of the family, he made it his place to make sure that an eye was kept on Darryl

On the occasions that Darryl's missteps landed him in high water, it was Heath that would rush to his aide, explaining Phipps' sorted past to an angry principal Time and again Heath would come to the rescue. Darryl's inability to deal with change and Heaths' desire to always be there both came to a head during Phipps' sophomore year.

After yet another incident, Heath made the trek to defend Darryl It was the same routine he'd run through all through freshmen year This would be the last time, Heath couldn't do it anymore It was time for Darryl to take responsibility for Darryl

rounded by other kids in the same situation he found himself

As he spent his days and nights on the ranch, he moved to a more introverted personality He'd always been a shy boy but he was becoming a loner as a teen. There is a danger in solitude People need other people in order to develop properly. Social interaction is a crucial component in a young man's journey to independence Retreating into himself left him feeling unrelateable. It was this loner mentality he carried back with him to high school and placement in a foster group home in Goldthwaite, Texas then a traditional foster home placement in Brownwood, Texas

But he wouldn't be left on an island alone. Heath Henry had a bigger plan for the angry young man They would find a way to channel all those emotions in a productive way. Darryl had already shown an ability to rise to a challenge Despite his issues, he was still on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout, but what could he do that would utilize his positive response to discipline and still allow him to release anger?

Heath went to the Thomas family, Darryl's foster parents, to explore the possibility of martial arts It seemed like the idea was going nowhere fast. Why give an angry young man the tools necessary to become a dangerous young man?

Heath emphasized the benefits of martial arts, discipline, routine, and having to understand yourself in order to be successful.

He made a strong argument Phipps started the search for a dojo. Alas, when he found one, neither the county or his foster family had funds available for him to attend. He was discouraged, but no less hungry for the chance He managed to find a free class at a local Boys & Girls Club. He was hooked!

He took to the lessons of Sensei Bobby Brewer. He found worth in the life lessons mixed in with learning the art of Kaju Bujutsu Kwai, (a military art) He began to build on the foundation laid through those years of therapy in residential care The anger subsided slowly The visits to the principal all but stopped Heath Henry's plan of giving Darryl an outlet for his anger was a success. There were no more fights....well there was one more fight that year The outcome would bring the lone wolf to the front of the pack.

The new Darryl Phipps, sophomore year, was still a loner but less of an outcast and more of a wallflower His focus

was now on his studies and improving in martial arts That training not only took over his life but turned out to be quite handy one afternoon on the grounds of his high school

Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd Walking out of school

Darryl saw a massive crowd. Curiosity brought him face to face with two girls enthralled in a heated debate that quickly escalated into a fist fight. As the two girls, one pregnant, tussled a weapon was branded, suddenly the girl with child was fighting a knife-wielding combatant Darryl jumped into action He quickly relieved her of the knife, then took her to the ground, detaining her until authorities arrived The pregnant girl suffered only a minor injury and the baby was born healthy.

Suddenly the big man on campus title belonged to Darryl. There was no hiding anymore He quickly became a member of the football team, finding acceptance among the school's elite. It was a nice change from feeling unwanted

Darryl would go on to have a successful finish to high school A local celebrity whose name could regularly be found in the town paper for Martial Arts Tournament wins was on his way to becoming a fifth degree black belt or for an interest in the school's acting

He aged out into junior college where he continued to hone his skills. He joined the Texas State Guard rising to the rank of corporal specializing in hand to hand combat, special operations training, disaster relief and more among other specialties

As his life improved, so did his confidence and in turn his acting

improved It improved so much that it caught the attention of a talent scout who implored him to make the move to New York or Los Angeles At that urging he sold everything he owned, including his car, then purchased his ticket to the Big Apple

Things moved quickly for Darryl when he arrived in NYC He was quickly accepted to the Williams Esper Studio acting school, one of New York's most acclaimed schools In addition to that he was asked to teach the martial arts that he loves so much at New York City's top Dojo Modern Martial Arts NY

True to his form, Darryl now holds the distinction of the city's top instructors This summer Darryl K Phipps was inducted for a second time to the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame He holds more belts than a Madison Avenue fashionista, including 6x Grand-Champion in forms and sparring as well as, 2 x world champion in forms and sparring in 2003 and 2004, to go with more titles than most competitors his age

All of this while piling up the acting roles like, also worked on a show that went nationwide on the Oprah Winfrey Network called, "Unfaithful Stories of Betrayal", the episode titled "Wake Up Call" He also had a part in the award winning film, "Change". He's currently shooting two movies, with eight more projects on tap A long way from the nightmare childhood that shaped him, though the memories and dreams linger Always the fighter, the only difference now is he fights for the right reasons.