Special Series

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest 2023 Winners & Finalists

Each year, Fostering Media Connections hosts the Youth Voices Rising 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 or creative poetry describing how their experiences in foster care and experiences of homelessness connects with the juvenile justice system. These are the winners and finalists of this year’s Youth Voice Writing Contest.

Victor, Not Victim, of Circumstances

5/1/2023

Victor, Not Victim, of Circumstances

Deshawn Rankins

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest essay winner Deshawn Rankins writes about how foster care gave him access to more opportunities.

Stockholm Syndrome

5/2/2023

Stockholm Syndrome

Tierra Lamore

Youth Voice Writing Contest poetry winner Tierra Lamore writes about how the foster care and juvenile justice system made them feel like an outsider.

If a Tree Falls Down...

5/3/2023

If a Tree Falls Down…

Beza Woche

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest essay finalist Beza Woche writes about laws that target folks who experience homelessness.

Of Hope & Healing

5/4/2023

Of Hope & Healing

Haley Bartow

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest poetry finalist Haley Bartow writes about the struggles of aging out of foster care.

Every Child in Foster Care Needs Stability

5/5/2023

Every Child in Foster Care Needs Stability

Atorrie Burrell

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest essay finalist Atorrie Burrell writes about how support can end the foster care-to-prison pipeline.

All I Wanted was One Right...

5/8/2023

All I Wanted was One Right…

Gilbert Velazquez-Macedo

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest poetry finalist Gilbert Velazquez-Macedo writes about how the foster care-to-prison pipeline impacts mental health.

A Former Life

5/9/2023

A Former Life

Shannon Mickle

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest essay finalist Shannon Mickle writes about the connection between foster care, juvenile justice, and homelessness.

Individualism

5/10/2023

Individualism

Bella Rodriguez

Youth Voices Rising Writing Contest essay finalist Bella Rodriguez writes about being the sum of their individual actions, rather than their circumstances.