When Hope Leads
Looking Forward
I didn’t know what to expect as I returned to the speaking circuit as a mother in 2023. To my surprise, my child did well traveling with me. He didn’t seem to mind going through TSA or the multitude of people walking in the airport. After my nerves calmed down, I realized that having him with me was like being anywhere else. I noticed my confidence increased as we attended each subsequent event.
My engagements took us across the country—from Albany, New York, to Denver, Colorado, and Boise, Idaho. As the keynote speaker, I found a recurring theme in my speeches—legacy. I often speak about my foster parents, the Johnsons. They were who I considered to be my parents. They treated me like family and with respect. During my Albany speech, I mentioned the plaque that hung up in the Johnsons’ home. It had the following quote:
“A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”
The Johnsons’ legacy was full of intention and love—something I believe has made me the woman I am. As a mother and lived experience advocate, I now think more about what I want my legacy to be. Having spoken to audiences for nearly two decades, I know strides have been made in child welfare— increased protective factors for children and families, college scholarships for students in foster care, and legislation to help reduce out-of-home placements.
However, there is still work to be done. There is still high staff turnover and the overrepresentation of Black, Latinx, and Native children in foster care. As a storyteller, I know I can’t share my own experiences without talking about how others are impacted by the system. Namely, what people need to adequately provide services and for children and families to thrive. By continuing to speak up, I’m hopeful that people are listening and are willing to do the work to change our system.
From left to right: Sharing my experience of growing up with the Johnsons at the ‘Foster A Child, Change A Life’ event hosted by the New York Office of Children and Family Services, presenting at the Daniel Memorial Conference in Denver, Colorado, Keynote Speaker at the Golden Gala for JEMfriends in Boise, Idaho
