Welcome to By Their Side, everyone! This episode features an interview with David Ambroz, a national poverty and child welfare expert and the author of the bestselling memoir A Place Called Home: A Memoir! Ambroz shares his powerful personal story of growing up homeless and in the foster care system and how those experiences shaped his lifelong mission to help children and families break the cycle of poverty!

David explains that for him, "home" as a child was simply wherever he and his family could find shelter at the time - a church basement, a bus stop, or the subway. He describes the trauma of entering the foster care system, where most of the homes he was placed in were not truly "homes" filled with love and safety. As he's gotten older, David has come to define home not by physical walls but rather by the people and mission that sustain him.

Our conversation explores how the child welfare and foster care systems have improved over time, with more policies and programs to support vulnerable children. However, David highlights the fact that there is still much work to be done to address the root causes of childhood poverty and homelessness, and he passionately argues that as a society, we need to stop treating these issues as just statistics and start seeing them as a moral necessity that affects the lives of real children.

David also shares some inspiring stories of the "occasional angels" - teachers, social workers, and foster parents who made a profound difference in his life, even via small acts of kindness. He stresses that everyone has the power to be an "occasional angel" and make a big impact, whether by becoming a CASA volunteer, hiring a foster youth intern, or simply having meaningful conversations about these issues.

The interview closes with David's call to action - for all of us to get involved, get uncomfortable, and do more to end the intergenerational cycle of poverty and trauma. He believes that with collective passion and action, we can create a society in which every child has access to the resources and support they need to thrive!

Highlights:

[1:45] - Home wasn't a place for David but rather the people and purpose that he chose. [3:38] - David argues that it's important to celebrate progress in child advocacy while continuing the work that remains unfinished. [5:09] - David reminds us that all wins are important, even imperfect ones. ​​ [8:36] - David encourages people to show children the same passion we give sports and celebrities. [9:52] - David believes that communities tend to step up during visible crises, but we need to shift to collective responsibility. [10:58] - David asserts that we need to address immediate crises like hunger while also fixing the systemic causes that create them in the first place. [13:41] - What did it feel like for David, as a small child, to be suffering yet completely ignored? [14:19] - Hear how David learned early on that society ignored his suffering, revealing to him how little his life mattered to others. [16:54] - Everyday "occasional angels" doing small, compassionate acts can drastically impact a child's life! [19:48] - ​​How might David's life have been different if more people had simply helped in small ways? [20:18] - David points out how a consistent adult presence such as a CASA could have guided him and profoundly changed his life trajectory. [23:44] - Hear how a question from David's mother awakened the idea of choice and sparked his first real hope. [26:00] - Having someone show you options and hope can transform survival-focused minds toward seeing a better future. [27:25] - David describes forgiveness as a lifelong discipline that enabled him to survive unbearable circumstances. [30:49] - Illness, not moral failure, explains many troubling behaviors. [32:35] - David argues that people misunderstand foster care and ignore their duty to oversee its power. ​​ [34:33] - David reiterates that kids living in foster care aren't broken and argues that we need to stop judging struggling families and workers. [37:08] - David feels that kids living in foster care aren't broken. [39:58] - The foster-friendly workplace certification encourages employers to support foster parents, and doing nothing is unacceptable. [41:22] - Don't wait for perfect conditions; show up with heart, take action, and always do more! [43:49] - Where can David be reached online? [44:56] - David expresses gratitude toward adults who helped him, but ending child poverty requires all of us to act.

Links & Resources:

David's Website

David's Instagram Page

David's Threads Page

David Ambroz - A Place Called Home: A Memoir

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Voices for CASA Children or its affiliates.

Content Warning: This episode may include discussions of sensitive topics that could be triggering for some listeners.