2011 Outstanding Young Leaders

Christa, of Minnesota, was nine years old, on Christmas Eve, when she and her sister were torn away from their mother and taken to a home for children. In four different placements in 6 months, they finally got a kinship placement with their grandmother that lasted one year and a... Read more

Oussama Djebli spent around 2 years in Colorado's Foster Care System. After aging out of foster care, Oussama worked very hard to secure stable housing and earn his GED. He has been working to provide for himself since the age of sixteen, but now is proudly completing his second semester... Read more

annonymous spent 5 years in Maryland's Foster Care System Learning opportunity abounds for this college student from Maryland. Her philosopy seems to be that where there is challenge, there will be a chance to achieve, learn, and pass along her experience. Her little brother has been the lucky recipient of her... Read more

Torri spent 3 years in Missouri's Foster Care System Torri entered the foster care system was she was 14 years old, and was adopted at age 17. She’s a success is every sense of the word . Great in the classroom, she’s a member of the National Honor Society. Torri... Read more

Cieria Rodiriguez Toney spent 3 years in Ohio's Foster Care System Cieria is an inspirational young woman who utilizes her personal story to help improve the system. As a young adult in Ohio’s foster care system, Cieria has faced many ups and downs. Despite what she has gone through while... Read more

Ross Brown spent 5 years in New Jersey's Foster Care System. Ross Brown is a New Jersey Outstanding Young Leader. He has earned this award through surviving some startling situations and fighting for a better and more honest life. Ross could have been a statistic, but knew he wanted something... Read more

Ian spent 3 years in Washington's Foster Care System. A witty writer, engaging public speaker, and college freshman, Ian is earning quite an outstanding reputation for the work he does on behalf of youth in foster care. Ian respects the impact being in foster care has had on him, and... Read more

Freddie Scott spent 11 years in Indiana's Foster Care System After eleven years in foster care, Freddie Scott not only lives independently, but also finds time to give back to his foster care community through Generation Now Youth Leadership Board. “I have learned what volunteering is all about; I have... Read more

Isaiah spent 6 years in Iowa's Foster Care System Isaiah knows about foster care. He was removed from his home and put into a group facility at age twelve with no idea what to expect. A number of foster care placements followed until he finally "aged out" of Supervised Apartment... Read more

Zefer Tesfamariyam spent 2 years in Maryland's Foster Care System At age 14, Zefer’s parents sent her (alone and as a minor) on a journey to the United States because the war situation in her home country of Eritrea (on the horn of Africa) proved too dangerous for her family,... Read more