North Carolina

Ares Epps is a former foster youth, currently enrolled at North Carolina State University double majoring in communications and film studies. Ares is a former NC State track and field student-athlete. Ares does advocacy around foster care issues, which consists of working for SAYSO (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) as... Read more

Milizhia Mills 2 years in Foster Care 24 years old She/her/hers Milizhia Mills graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. While her education was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Milizhia intends to enroll in law school and pursue a career as... Read more

Josiah Billingsley 4 years in Foster Care 17 years old He/him/his Josiah Billingsley is completing high school and will attend Fayetteville State University starting in Fall 2022. He will pursue a degree in Physical Education, and wants to eventually have a career as a coach. His hope is to coach... Read more

Lanitta Berry grew up having a passion for her peers and doing what was best for them. Lanitta got started doing advocacy work in 2015 with an organization called SaySo of North Carolina. During her advocacy career, she has worked on all 3 levels of government while also being able... Read more

Trent Taylor is honored to be serving as a member of the Youth Engagement Team at the Administration of Children and Families. Trent experienced sexual abuse, extreme neglect, and domestic violence during the first half of his childhood. After he traveled a horrific journey through the Foster Care System that... Read more

Kayla Johnson, 21, North Carolina’s Foster Care System Kayla entered care at age 9, while in foster care Kayla had a lot of trouble expressing herself and became a very withdrawn child, feeling too shy to talk to other kids her age. She experienced moving to different schools for multiple... Read more

Isaiah Dorty, 25, North Carolina’s Foster Care System Isaiah experienced many placements while in care and he feels it well equipped him to advocate and inspire youth in the system to overcome and rise above whatever past trauma they have suffered through. Throughout his years in high school and college,... Read more

Hanna Alley spent two years in North Carolina’s foster care system. Hanna is currently a senior in high school and will be proudly graduating in June 2018. She has started a creative arts club at school as an outlet to allow other students to connect with each other and form... Read more

Trent Taylor entered the foster care system in North Carolina at the age of 4. After 5 different placements he was adopted at the age of 9. Trent co-authored “Shattered No More,” the story of his journey from trauma to triumph and speaks often about his experiences in an effort... Read more

Ms. Fuller spent the first seven years of her life in kinship care. At age 8 she entered foster care and was subsequently adopted. She has been working with Foster Youth, and as an Advocate for Children, for the past six years; including serving as a Transitions Specialist in the... Read more