Advocacy Day a Success What Is Advocacy? SHAY DENEY J
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Building a world class foster care system while serving our neighborhood youth March 2004 Foster Care and Homeless Youth Speak out Across the Nation Volume IV, Issue 3 Visit us online at www.mockingbirdsociety.org Advocacy Day a Success What is Advocacy? SHAY DENEY J. EBOH Advocate n- One who argues for a cause; a supporter ON FEBRUARY 9TH I dragged myself out of bed at 7:30 or defender. in the morning. For me that is the equivalent of waking -American Heritage Dictionary up at the crack of dawn. In a half-dead state, I walked down to the nearest bus stop and got on a bus headed in The right to advocate is a privilege given to every- the direction of the University District Youth Center in one who lives in America. If that is so, then why do Seattle. I wasn’t the only kid doing this. Over 100 youth most people not even know what it means? across the Puget Sound area in Washington State, on Most people think of advocacy as a difficult and their own free time, were loading themselves into vans overwhelming thing to get involved with. True, with their peers from group homes, shelters and local there are people who do it for a living: meeting with youth centers. We were all heading down to Olympia legislators all the time and constantly fighting for (Washington state capitol) to participate in Youth important issues. What most people don’t know, Advocacy Day. Senator Rosa Franklin, Mockingbird Times reporter Princess Hollins, Tonya Greenfield, service providers and youth. however, is that advocacy can be as easy as sending Youth Advocacy Day (formerly known as Homeless Photo by Mockingbird staff. an email or letter to your local state legislators, edu- Youth Lobby Day) is an annual event whose purpose is cating your friends, teachers, and parents about an to bring youth and youth advocates from across the state issue that is important to you, or even creating an together to collectively advocate for young people with How To Be An Advocate after school advocacy club where you can practice legislators in Olympia. The focus of Youth Advocacy fighting for your cause. • Get involved. You can visit your local government’s Day is improving the lives of our community’s most If you have a cause that you believe in, I strongly vulnerable youth, which include young people involved web site and read about things that are happening urge you to study up on your issue to see what you in various systems including: homeless, foster care and right at this very moment in your state capitol. If can do to help change it. It all really depends on juvenile justice. you find a bill that you want to support, you can be an advocate by educating your community about the what you are advocating for. There are millions of The topic of focus this year was the sealing of juvenile facts. different ways to advocate. records. Youth advocates from across the state are Recently, I had the chance to interview an advocate proposing a change to the current law. The proposed • Write an email or a letter to whomever it may con- named Nancy Amidei, Director of a program called bill (House Bill 3078 and Senate Bill 6609) will cut the cern, such as a legislator or your governor. the Civic Engagement Project. time in half that someone will have to wait in order to have their records sealed. Participants met and shared • Visit your state capitol and request a meeting with their stories with Senators Thibadeau, Franklin and a local legislator. You don’t have to be old enough to Hargrove and Representatives Dickerson, Pettigrew and vote to speak with your legislators. Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. One young woman, WHAT IS ADVOCACY CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 who lives in a Seattle transitional housing program, shared her story with Representative Chopp. She spoke of how she had a past run-in with the law but managed to break her old habits and started making choices that Alumni Corner had more positive results. She stated that “people change, the law should too.” JOHN SEITA cerpt from a social work report written on me all those many years ago: When I was an eight-year-old boy I was removed from my mother’s home and unwillingly started on an odys- John’s father has openly rejected John in the past and states INSIDE sey that would not end until I was well into adulthood. that he wants nothing to do with him. John is aware of this and is having a tremendous amount of After the court took us away from our trouble handling this knowledge. Letter from the Editor 2 mother, I never saw my sister Maria “Most high school graduates go Added to this is the knowledge by John by Jim Theofelis again. Jimmy and I were sent by the away to college with a sense of of knowing that his father accepts his court to live in the Receiving Home— excitement and a yearning for brother. John seems not to reject James Poetry Corner 2 this big gray, smelly, ramshackle independence. Of course, while because he is living with his father, but My Motherhood building in inner city Cleveland [that] they make plans to fully enjoy seems quite affectionate toward him by Kathy housed kids nobody wanted. The first the freedom that college life and is always anxious and concerned night away from our equally filthy will afford them, they com- about how he is doing. Music Review 3 apartment, I was angry and terrified pletely take for granted the se- Hieroglyphics Makes Your Head Bounce and unsure of what was going to hap- curity system that is backing After a few weeks, the court al- by Darius Reynolds pen next. Kneeling beside the rusty, them up.” lowed Jimmy to leave the Receiv- metal-framed bed with the urine- ing Home to live with Dad. I still What is Love? 3 stained mattress, I prayed to ease my had hopes to return home, if not by Bridgett Siroshton pain. My cries for help resounded like wails into an with my mother, at least with my father. Imagine my empty universe. joy when I was told, “Your dad is here to see you.” I Foster Care Summit 4 nearly sprinted down to the lobby with a grin, seeking by Darius Reynolds My memories of my first foster home are faint and few; his embrace. We walked to his car. I sat proudly beside I only stayed there a week. I then ran away. It was the my dad on the front seat. Movie Review 4 first of many times that I would run from a foster home— Kill Bill: Vol. I it was after all a foster home, and I did not belong there. He was my hero who had come to rescue me from It turned out that I belonged nowhere. Here is an ex- my captors. He drove an old rusty Mercury, but to Page 2 Mockingbird Times, March 2004 year based on satisfactory progress and financial need. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Letter From the Editor See www.orphan.org and click on the application link. Deadline: April 1st 2004 for the 2004-2005 academic year. Poetry Corner In my experience, employment and education are two vechicles that help marginalized communities improve (OFA) HILDEGARD LASH MERIT SCHOLARSHIP Provides up their current and future lives. Along those lines, I to $5000 to sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending My Motherhood four-year colleges. To apply, complete the OFA/Casey encourage you to review the following opportunities I’ll never again have the life Family Scholars application and write a letter that states for scholarships available to the young people we serve. I tried so hard to achieve interest in being considered for a Hildegard Lash Merit that’s a harsh realization FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA): Scholarship. For more information or to apply call: 1- To be pregnant when you’re a teen Youth in foster care and homeless youth are eligible to 800-950-4673 or www.orphan.org/programs/ To give birth to a child file their FAFSA as an independent student (“orphan/ hildegard.html Deadline: April 1st 2004 for the 2004-2005 When I myself am still a kid ward of the court”), and can receive up to $4050 per academic year. year in Federal Pell Grant aid and between $1500 - $4000 But I got so much more growing up to do per year in Washington State Need Grant aid to attend NATIONAL FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP: Well at least I thought I did an eligible Washington college. You may also qualify Offers scholarships for foster youth who wish to further But I can’t go back now for private or institutional scholarships and grants. their education beyond high school, including college After all I messed up www.fafsa.ed.gov Deadline: Apply asap after January 1st studies, vocational and job training, and correspondence And why should my baby have to pay during the year prior to enrollment. courses, including the GED. For more information or to Because I didn’t use a glove apply call: 1-800-557-5238 or visit www.nfpainc.org/ So back to reality CHAFEE - EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER (ETV) can index.cfm Deadline: March 31st 2004 for the 2004-2005 I’m gonna be a mom provide up to $5000 per year for post-secondary academic year. At least I’ll finally have a family education expenses in addition to other independent Because I never really had one living money, for youth who age out of foster care and ACHIEVERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: This scholarship Well I guess I can’t complain opportunity is for foster youth and other low-income are between the ages of 18 and 23.