Virginia

Ashley Hovey, 20, Virginia’s Foster Care System Ashley entered care at the age of 5. She experienced two different placements. She has two biological brothers; they were all adopted together in a loving home. Ashley is a leader in a Christian organization called Campus Crusade for Christ, also known as... Read more

4 years in Virginia's foster care system 18 years old He/Him/His While in the foster care system, Melvin has done some extraordinary things. He currently serves as President on an advocacy group called SpeakOut which helps to bring many issues in Virginia’s foster care system to Legislature. Melvin is also... Read more

Shayla Martis has been in foster care in Virginia since the age of twelve and will be aging out this year. She currently attends school full time at Wytheville Community College, where she plans to attain an associate’s degree in human services followed by a transfer to Radford University to... Read more

Milading Maihemuti has been in the foster care system for two years and has been in two placements in the state of Virginia. He is currently a junior in high school and is involved in many organizations in and out of school. He is part of the Legion of Mary... Read more

Malissa Meacham-Perry spent about 3 years in Virginia's Foster Care System Malissa Meacham-Perry has an impressive resume for being only nineteen years old. During her last two years of high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Forensic Speech Team, Latin Club, Superintendent's Student Advisory Group on... Read more

Darya Mikhailova spent 2 years in Virginia's Foster Care System. Cultural connections come in many forms, as Darya Mikhailova’s life proves. Since arriving in the United States at the age of 10, she has endured several years of instability with her mother that led to three years of foster care—and... Read more

Bianca Ruthven spent several years in Virginia's Foster Care System Bianca is interested in making the art world more accessible for everyone. She uses her foster care experiences to raise consciousness and create change regarding the representation of underprivileged groups in fine art. As a graduate student at Carnegie Melon... Read more