Stevenson senior to advocate for foster youth
Adlai E Stevenson High School senior Leyda Garcia will turn the tables around and have her chance at fostering Illinois lawmakers this month in Washington, D.C.
She has been chosen by the nonprofit organization FosterClub to represent the voices of youth in the foster care system in a Congressional Shadow Program, and it is a responsibility she is not taking lightly.
"I believe my background, though extremely unconventional, provided me the opportunity to acquire a unique set of survival skills," Garcia said. "One of these strengths is self-advocacy. Armed with this ability, I became passionate about helping others whose capacities may not have afforded them voices as strong."
The Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Program is an opportunity for young people with personal experience in the foster care system to participate in activities with policymakers, including committee hearings and media events.
They will be working together with their congressional representative, as well as White House officials in Washington, D.C., to improve the foster care system for the benefit of those that are or may have been involved in the system.
"Recently, I heard on the news that only three percent of foster children complete a four-year college program. I have vowed never to be restricted by a statistic and am determined to continue to surpass all those numbers that attempt to inhibit me," Garcia said.
Garcia entered Illinois' DCFS Foster Care system when she was 12 years old; by age 18 she had been enrolled in 12 different schools and had been moved in and out of eight placements. She has attended Stevenson High School for the past three years, where she achieved the educational stability to concentrate on academic growth and her future, and she credits Counselor Tom Habley with supporting that foundation.
"One of my personal heroes is Tom Habley," Garcia said. "I have learned so much from him, from how to be a better friend to how to gain independence while living apart from my natural family. He has accomplished so much personally and professionally, and I find him inspiring because he has always followed his heart."
Habley has been inspired by Garcia as well, and knows she will continue to prosper.
"Leyda made the statement that life is about creating yourself, not finding yourself; that is her source of strength. She has created a dedication to purpose and mission that others in the foster care culture will model."
About her motivation to give back, he adds, "She has had the courage to follow her heart with gratitude for all that have supported her."
Although she claims not to be driven by politics, Garcia was recently voted onto OMNI Youth Services Board of Directors as their youth representative, and for the next several years will be working with their Long Range Planning Committee. Awarded multiple scholarships, including one from Illinois' DCFS, Garcia plans to attend the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in the fall, where she has been designated as a James Scholar Honors Student in The School of Social Work.
"My intention is to feed my desire to learn and, in the process, give back to the vast and diverse villages that have raised me," Garcia said.
• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.