A Community That Builds Agency
This reflection is shared with permission and represents one youth’s lived experience. Virtue Visionary exists to protect spaces where youth can speak honestly, be seen fully, and engage in advocacy without fear of being minimized or tokenized.
“Being a part of the [this advocacy community] shows me how much work still needs to be done in this society, but it also shows how many advocates and supporters are out there who want to see the youth succeed.
There was an incredible program implemented in Cincinnati called the HEMI Program which paired paired mentors with foster youth who were attending college so that they would have support and encouragement on their journey through college. Most foster youth don't have the privilege of a family support system to guide and assist financially or emotionally with this endeavor, but HEMI held Scholarship Fundraisers every year to help youth succeed where they otherwise would have had much more struggle and sacrifice. The HEMI Program was tied to the University of Cincinnati, as well as the Hamilton County Youth Advisory Board at the time, which had monthly meetings with Youth in their teens as well as those already emancipated. These meetings provided life skills trainings & professional development sessions, fun trips to museums & retreats, and gave us opportunities to participate in community service work. Hearing from YABs from other counties at the Quarterly Statewide meetings in Columbus brings perspective on different situations being dealt with in different areas. We many times learn what legislation has been passed and/or needs to be passed to address these issues, and the group discussions keeps us informed and vigilant on how we can best advocate for the next generation given our own lived experiences.
This community fills youth a sense of worth and agency, knowing their voice has power and can influence changes to policies which can solve problems in the real world”.
