By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News
East Lansing, MI – A diverse panel of social workers and policymakers heard more than two hours of testimony Friday from foster care youth from around the state. The event was held at Michigan State University.
The speakers relayed their stories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and advocated for changes that would improve their educational opportunities.
Orlando Mitchell was forced to raise his siblings when his mother abandoned him at age 11. Now 20, he still lives on the streets of Detroit. He wants decision makers to help give him a more stable life.
"Away from people that does drugs," says Mitchell. "Away from people that shoots every day. Away from an environment or a city that, that's just...a clobbering fist of anger and hate and horror."
Twenty-two year old Natalie Kyles is a student at MSU. She's also a single mother and former foster care child. She admires the bravery of much younger kids who found the courage to speak.
"It's not easy," Kyles admits. "With the experiences that they've experienced, the things that they've been through...you wouldn't even expect them to be here today. You wouldn't expect them to want to get out of their seats and even talk."
Social workers and educators say foster care kids need a more coherent system of caring adults who can help them move beyond high school and into a successful college experience.