Yemoja Speaks

Yemoja Speaks

By Shalonda SwansonSociety & CulturePersonal Journals
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Yemoja Speaks episodes

  • 3. Managing our own actions
    This podcast is about understanding and denouncing fault for being placed into foster care. I was not placed in foster care because of what I did but as a result of what my parents and family have done or haven't done. Once we understand that being in foster care is not our fault we must then look at how we react it our situation. We have complete control over how we choose to behave as a result. As a former foster youth I take full responsibility for my actions, and looking back on them I acted a certain way as a result of how I felt. I was hurt and felt neglected and unwanted at times which made me act in ways that demanded attention.
     As a community, we must look at behaviors as reactions to the emotional trauma. We must be forgiving to the youth, especially teenagers who aren't able to express their hurt or emotions due to the lack of trust. We must try to understand each other to better one another.
    If you enjoy this podcast, please support us by sharing with youth in foster care, aged out, or caseworkers. We are accepting donations to get Heal Through Art program started for foster youth. You can make a donation at Donations-to-Yemoja-Speaks-Made Here. All donations will be used to buy supplies, support foster youth, and hire staff to keep the production going. Yemoja Speaks accepts to give job opportunities to foster youth. Thank you for supporting. 
    Follow up on social media
    Yemoja Speaks Instagram
    Yemoja Speaks Facebook
    45 min
  • 2. Relationships Matters
    Being in foster care has taught me that relationships matter. I discuss my experience with creating relationships with people helped me create opportunities for myself. As youth in foster care we are trying to figure out life without a manual but when we use the people who were sent in our lives to better us, we become who we were supposed to be. 
    I thank all the people who encouraged me, my mentors, my family, the community organizations, collaboratives, case workers, and community supporters. If it wasn’t for the people around me telling me the truth I could have made terrible decision that could have changed my life. 
    Follow up on social media
    Yemoja Speaks Instagram
    Yemoja Speaks Facebook
    35 min
  • 1. Intro to Talk That Talk

    Hi my name is Shalonda and I am a Social Media Strategist. I have been working with a nonprofit organization for a couple years now and thought that I really need to share my foster care story. This podcast is to share my experience and things that I did to make a smooth transition out of foster care. I want to create a community that share their success stories to strengthen the youth. We will discuss the programs that help foster youth all over the United States and interview different organization who are dedicated in changing the lives of foster youth. 

    I hope that you enjoy this podcast and I said that I would not edit it because I have always stopped myself from doing thing in the past due to wanting it to be prefect. Guess what, nothing is ever prefect so yes I know there will be mistakes in this podcast but going I really need to get it out NOW! 

    Thank you for listening. 

    17 min

About Yemoja Speaks

From the publisher's feed

Hey, my name is Shalonda, your host. This podcast is about foster care and our experiences growing up in custody. We want to highlight success stories to give the next generation tips on how they can…