Michigan

Carissa Makielski, age 21 Pronouns: She/Her 4 years in Michigan foster system Carissa is from Big Rapids, Michigan. She is a student at Ferris State University and plans to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. Carissa plans to become a child welfare social worker, and will strive to keep siblings... Read more

Fawziah Jouni, age 22 Pronouns: She/Her 6 years in Michigan foster system Fawziah is from Detroit, Michigan. She is Lebanese-American, and is focused on helping other Arab-American foster youth feel supported. Fawziah intends to give back to her communities in the future through being a social worker. She is also... Read more

Izzy Rodriguez 6 years in Foster Care 19 years old She/her/hers Izzy Rodriguez is working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a focus on Law, Justice, and Social Change at the University of Michigan. Once she graduates, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration and continue... Read more

Jayonna Yahsha She/Hers/Hers 20 Years Old Michigan Foster Care System Jayonna Yahsha, spent over ten years in Michigan's foster care system including placements in foster homes, getting adopted and then placed back in the system until she aged out into voluntary foster care. Jayonna would describe her experience in the... Read more

Daysha Reed She/Her/Hers & They/Them/Theirs Michigan Foster Care System Daysha Reed grew up in Michigan as the oldest child of a family from the U.S. Virgin Islands. After entering foster care, she continued to college as a first-generation college student where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development... Read more

Aya Altantawi 18 years old She/Her/Hers Michigan Foster Care System Aya currently attends Michigan State University as a sophomore. She is currently majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology and minoring in philosophy of law as well as law, justice, and public policy. Always having had a passion for law, she... Read more

Nijeria Peterson 4 years in Michigan’s Foster Care System 20 years old She/Her/Hers Nijeria experienced four years in foster care in the state of Michigan. She is a first-generation college student studying at Western Michigan University majoring in Business Law, working at Foster Club, and planning for law school. One... Read more

Alyssa Andrews 6 year in Michigan’s Foster Care System 18 years old She/her/hers Alyssa spent about 6 years in and out of foster care. During those 6 years, she had about 5 foster home placements and kinship care placements. The future of the foster care system motivates Alyssa’s advocacy. She... Read more

Willie Taylor, 19, spent one year in Michigan’s foster care system. Willie experienced multiple residential group homes until one day he was adopted. Willie earned an award for advocating and sharing his lived experience in foster care to other foster youth. During winter he volunteers to shovel snow for elders... Read more

Emily Miller, 20, spent six months in Michigan’s foster care system. In her six months in care, Emily experienced therapeutic foster care and two foster homes, ending with reunification. Emily has received an award for taking part in creating mosaics for the local DHS office to provide a welcoming atmosphere... Read more