Each year, Fostering Media Connections hosts the Youth Voice Writing Contest — an opportunity for youth with experience in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems to write about their experiences. This year, writers were asked to submit essays using the prompt, “Inspiration can be …” or creative poetry about the impact these systems have had on their lives. These are the finalists and winners of this year’s Youth Voice Writing Contest.

Ley-Lonni Woodruff

6/28/2021

EPIC

Ley-Lonni Woodruff earned first place in the Youth Voice Writing Contest poetry division for her piece, EPIC.

Youth Voice Writing Contest Winner Hannah Hamm

6/28/2021

Twisted Fairytale

Hannah Hamm earned first place in the Youth Voice Writing Contest essay division for her piece, Twisted Fairytale.

6/28/2021

A Car Is Not a Home

Madison Follett is the second-place finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest for her poem, "A Car Is Not a Home."

"Things That Matter are Hard," by Laila-Rose Hudson, is the second-place finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest, essay division.

6/28/2021

Things That Matter Are Hard

Student and writer Laila-Rose Hudson finds inspiration from her personal mantra, "Things that matter are hard." She's the second-place finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest.

Youth Voice Writing Contest finalist Samantha Villajin writes about the strength she found in community after experiencing childhood trauma.

6/24/2021

Power in Numbers

Youth Voice Writing Contest finalist Samantha Villajin writes about the strength she found in community after experiencing childhood trauma.

6/24/2021

I Was Just the Foster Daughter

A finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest, poetry division, writes about her experience of sexual assault while in foster care.

6/22/2021

Inspiration is All

Inspiration can be an opportunity that pops up in your life, leading you toward a wonderful path like it did for writer Esmeralda Camberos. She's a finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest, essay division.

"Home" by Nileh Irsan, is a finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest, poetry division.

6/22/2021

Home

"Home" by Nileh Irsan, is a finalist in the Youth Voice Writing Contest, poetry division.

Ley-Lonni Woodruff

6/21/2021

Inspiration Through Insecurity

While some synonymize insecurity with terms like weakness, deficit, hardship and detriment, writer Ley-Lonni Woodruff connects insecurity to inspiration.