In this episode, we hear the story of Leroy, who went into foster care in November 2005 due to abuse and neglect. He spent two years in foster care, during which time all of his siblings were in different homes. After two and a half years, he went back to live with his mom, but unfortunately, the abuse started back up again. After being saved by CPS, he went through several foster placements, attended multiple schools, and finally graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. Now, he's creating a program from scratch called the Youth Impact Project Manager, where he is working diligently to support youth groups. We also hear about his relationships with his siblings, his experiences with his immigration and CPS attorneys, and his relationship with his caseworkers. Despite the many obstacles he faced, Leroy persevered and is now making a positive impact on the lives of others.

If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at [email protected]! You deserve to be heard.

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Credits:

• Interviewee: Leroy Berrones Soto 
• Interviewers: Karen Nobrega and Jordyn Lubin 
• Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi
• Music Credit:
  • Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu
  • Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.