What initially was just a night away from her foster parents ended up becoming the start of Ash’s leadership journey. She first heard about Foster Success in 2019 when her Independent Living (IL) worker told her about an upcoming Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB) meeting. Eager to get out of the house and enjoy a free meal, Ash attended the meeting and quickly discovered a community that made her feel seen and heard.
The Indiana Youth Advisory Board is a group of teens and young adults from across Indiana, where members are empowered to advocate for themselves. It offers a safe space for them to connect, learn, and grow with one another. For Ash, IYAB was an integral part of her need for meaningful connection.
“Even with your friends, you feel a little cut off because there’s a part of you [having lived experience in foster care] that they may not understand. With IYAB, I was able to find people who were able to understand that part of me and went through something similar. It helped me be able to embrace that part of me.”
As her time concludes as an IYAB member, including two years in leadership, Ash not only found a sense of belonging, but also formed lasting friendships. She met two of her best friends through the program and continues to stay connected with several other members through a group chat.
As Ash became more involved, she grew confident in using her voice and discovered her passion for advocacy. She would go on to become part of LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy & Development) Ambassador. LEAD Ambassadors are a select group of young people committed to improving the lives of their peers. They must demonstrate proven skills to earn this role and receive ongoing training to ensure they are strong advocates and public speakers.
Ash reflects on the opportunities she’s gained as a LEAD Ambassador– such as contributing to creating the Insuring Foster Youth Trust Fund and meeting with Senators to discuss how Foster Success’s programs support young people transitioning out of the foster care system.
However, one opportunity that really stuck with Ash. Every year, IYAB hosts holiday parties to celebrate the season. Each event has a theme and is planned and executed entirely by IYAB members. Ash worked with fellow leaders to create a crafty movie night called “Winter Solstice Under the Stars*.” During the event, Ash spoke to the media about the importance of the IYAB holiday parties in building community for older foster youth. “It was a little bit nerve wracking [speaking to the media], but seeing the segment afterward with my work on the holiday party highlighted was very special.” You can watch the segment here.
It’s moments like these that Ash hopes will resonate, especially how Foster Success gives young people autonomy over making decisions about their lives. “Sometimes what you think is a bad idea for them, might be the best idea for what they need at that moment.” She believes that when older foster youth are given the space to make their own choices, they feel empowered and capable of leading their own lives.
This is why Ash encourages young people to take advantage of the opportunities IYAB offers. “Do it sooner rather than later. The sooner you start the more opportunities and accomplishments you can have, especially if you want to be a leader.” As for those currently in IYAB, Ash urges them to continue using their voice. “It might seem hard to speak up right now, but the more you do it the better you get at it. Even on days it feels hard to speak up, it’s important to do it when you feel like you can’t.”
As for Ash’s future, she’s still figuring things out but one thing is clear: she wants to continue to advocate for foster youth. “I want to be surrounded by the community and create that community for people like me.”
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Join us on May 14th for Breaking Down Barriers with Youth Engagement discover how IYAB and other Youth Engagement programs support young leaders like Ash in finding their voice through leadership, advocacy, and community building. Get tickets to Breaking Down Barriers with Youth Engagement here.