2021 Outstanding Young Leaders

Special Fleming-Patterson She/Her/Hers 23 Years Old California Foster Care System Special Fleming-Patterson is currently a sophomore at Los Angeles Southwest College studying psychology. Her educational goals include obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, master’s in LCSW/LMFT, and perhaps pursue her doctorate in the future. Special loves learning new things from... Read more

Kristen Powell She/Her/Hers 23 Years Old Kansas Foster Care System Kristen spent most of her childhood and adult life in Wichita, KS. She is currently a student at Wichita State University, and is working to obtain her bachelor’s degree with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology... Read more

Evan White He/Him/His 20 Years Old New Jersey Foster Care System Evan, originally from Seattle, Washington and now a resident of Summit, New Jersey, experienced two different placements across five years spent in care. He currently attends the College of New Jersey. He plays bass, guitar, and drums in addition... Read more

Marciela Rodrigues She/Her/Hers 19 Years Old California Foster Care System Marciela first entered the foster care system when she was only a few days old and has spent 18 years in the foster system. She has experienced 15 plus placements but is now currently attending the University of California Berkeley... Read more

Ashley Marguerite Papias She/Her/Hers/Ella 17 Years Old California Foster Care System Ashley entered the foster care system at 5 years old -- in the state of California -- and will exit as soon as she turns 18. She is planning to attend UC Berkeley this upcoming fall. She was motivated... Read more

Anna Judson She/Her/Hers 23 Years Old California Foster Care System Anna Judson is a graduating legal studies student with a double minor in public policy and human rights. Throughout her undergraduate career, Anna advocated and provided services to low-income, first-generation, and foster-youth communities, and co-developed the Berkeley Hope Scholar’s “UC... Read more

Joshua Beauchamp He/Him/His 20 Years Old Illinois Foster Care System Joshua is now attending Elmhurst University as a Junior, double majoring in Political Science and History. He works to advocate for the community because he feels it’s important to make an impact and have your voice be heard. Joshua successfully... Read more

Kumayl Qureshi He/Him/His 21 Years Old New Jersey Foster Care System Kumayl experienced eight different placements over the span of 6 years and is now attending the New Jersey Institute of Technology, studying architecture under a five year program. Kumayl is involved with the EOP community at NJIT and frequently... Read more

James Robson He/Him/His 23 Years Old Massachusetts Foster Care System James Robson studied Biomedical Engineering and Music Performance (saxophone) as an undergraduate, and he is now working towards earning a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. James is zealous about research focused around expanding access to healthcare technologies, developing... Read more

Alexia Ysabel Betances She/Her/Hers 21 Years Old Florida Foster Care System Alexia Ysabel Betances currently attends Florida Atlantic University, where she is a senior studying social work graduating in Fall 2021 with a bachelor’s degree. Alexia plans on continuing her studies at Florida Atlantic University in the Master of Social... Read more