Lucina Kayee

Having already known the trials of emigrating from Liberia to America, foster care was just one more bump in the road towards success for Lucina. Her first placement was at St. Joseph’s Home For Children where unfortunately in between the many homes she would have following that stay, she’d end up at intermittently another 16 times. Even at the young age 12, Lucina expressed a fervent ability to take the initiative and help others. Having enjoyed the personal benefits she gained from her dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Lucina was surprised to find that many of the other youth at her facility hadn’t taken to it in the same way. After speaking with her teacher, she was allowed to learn the skills she needed to teach the class herself and began presenting to her peers.

Lucina found that youth in foster care were rarely at the table and she intended to create her own for youth of color in the foster care system. Lucina and two other foster girls co-Founded MY Generation, a youth-run organization that embraces the collaboration between youth of color and their circle of support. Although she has aged out of the system, she continues to create pathways for this generation and generations to come. Lucina is a powerful advocate who’s been honored for both her personal aptitude and courageous work on behalf of other youth. She aspires to one day complete her degree in political science and become an international immigration attorney.