November is National Adoption Month. Let's help spread awareness to our friends and family by sharing an episode of Foster Tales. 

Today, I am joined by Maggie who is the co-founder of Foster Nation. We speak about her upbringing in the Foster Care system. She not only had to navigate care with a sibling, but also was tasked with learning a brand new language. She now is advocating for Foster Youth nationwide. We speak about how she is able to stay informed about the current issues in care, and how you can be inclusive to Foster Youth this holiday season. 

You can learn more about Maggie's work and organization at www.fosternation.org

Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast.  Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail [email protected]

On Today's episode, I am speaking with Professor, Author, and Activist, Christian Greene. Christian grew up in foster-care in California. He wrote a book about his life experiences, about how he literally went from custody and became a graduate of UCLA. He is now is actively working with several organizations on behalf of Foster Kids everywhere. You can connect with Christian on IG at @christian423 and his book "Uncovering Your Worth: From Legal Custody to UCLA" is available online for purchase. Also, you can visit www.cancelthecontract.com 

Jayde, grew up in care, with her sister, Chy (Previous Episode: Tale of 2 Sisters, Part 1). This episode is an honest depiction of how the foster-care system works. Jayde's story is nothing short of incredible. She's been placed in every living arrangement imaginable. She's survived every type of abuse. While her childhood was not easy, now as an adult, she's unpacking what happened to her, and giving us an honest dialogue about what her life and experiences were. 

To connect with A Sense of home you can go to: asenseofhome.org

Chy Mellow has gone from Foster Care to Fashion Model. Her upbringing wasn't the easiest. She's now using her platform to spread awareness and speak out about her personal experiences, while in care. She grew up with another sibling, Jayde, who you will hear from in Part 2. If you want to connect with CHY on IG, her handle is @Chy_mellow.

In the Season 1 Finale, I am talking with Chey. Chey is the founder of Jenni's Flower (Jennisflower.org). Chey, explains what connects her to the Foster Care World, and how she was unaware her upbringing made her eligible for scholarships, funding, and benefits. She talks about the different programs made available to her. Also, she talks about her partnership with the UCLA Pritzker Center and the work that she is doing to help benefit foster youth before they enter the system. If you want to follow Chey on Instagram, you can find her @_cheycatherine

Today, I am joined by Victor Manalo of Downey Cares Collaborative. We speak about the importance of mentorship in the Foster Care Community and the launch of Operation Jumpstart in Downey, CA. Victor goes into detail about the program, and we have a dialogue regarding making real lasting change in the community through small interactive changes. You can learn more about Victor's organization and background at VictorManalo.com