Kevinee Gilmore, 33, Cleveland
Digital activist behind her HashtagFosterCare campaign, landlord, public speaker, social media consultant and trainer for foster and adoptive parents.
Background:
I grew up in foster care. I was in 13 different homes. I think foster kids are looked down upon; at least that was my experience. It shapes your entire life. At 18 years old I was out of foster care with nowhere to live so I went to Cleveland State and lived in a dorm. I never thought I was smart enough for college but my social worker suggested it. I got a degree in social work. Fifty-four percent of kids in foster care don't have a high school diploma. They often do that on purpose so that they don't get put out of foster care. On my 18th birthday I was in court getting emancipated while other kids were having graduation parties.
After college:
In 2007, with the help of a social worker who is still in my life, I got an internship on Capital Hill working for John Kerry's office and then I got the opportunity to work in Hillary Clinton's office. I lived in a dorm at Catholic University. I was in a program called the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. It helps foster youth get internships in a senator's office with the goal of getting the foster youth to get the senators to sign off on child welfare bills. After that, I began taking classes toward a master's degree.
Digital activist behind her HashtagFosterCare campaign, landlord, public speaker, social media consultant and trainer for foster and adoptive parents.
Background:
I grew up in foster care. I was in 13 different homes. I think foster kids are looked down upon; at least that was my experience. It shapes your entire life. At 18 years old I was out of foster care with nowhere to live so I went to Cleveland State and lived in a dorm. I never thought I was smart enough for college but my social worker suggested it. I got a degree in social work. Fifty-four percent of kids in foster care don't have a high school diploma. They often do that on purpose so that they don't get put out of foster care. On my 18th birthday I was in court getting emancipated while other kids were having graduation parties.
After college:
In 2007, with the help of a social worker who is still in my life, I got an internship on Capital Hill working for John Kerry's office and then I got the opportunity to work in Hillary Clinton's office. I lived in a dorm at Catholic University. I was in a program called the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. It helps foster youth get internships in a senator's office with the goal of getting the foster youth to get the senators to sign off on child welfare bills. After that, I began taking classes toward a master's degree.
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