More Than a Conference: Foster Youth Tap into Internal Power at Blueprint
Cody Van Felden remembers feeling something special in 2019 when she first participated in Blueprint, a semi-annual conference organized by John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY). Cody was formerly in foster care and had also experienced homelessness. She had attended conferences before, but never one where she felt her participation was truly valued. For Cody, […]
Thank You JBAY Executive Director Amy Lemley
There is big news at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY): Amy Lemley is leaving, after 18 years with the organization. Amy started at JBAY in 2006, after serving as the co-founder and Executive Director of First Place for Youth. She had recently given birth to her daughter Violet and was not even looking for […]
Celebrating Success: Four JBAY Youth Advocates Graduate and Inspire at Commencements
May is graduation season and here at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), we are delighted to share the good news about four JBAY Youth Advocates who are crossing the stage and receiving their degrees. The first is Wednesday Pope, who received four Associate’s Degrees from Folsom Lake College, including two transfer degrees in Business […]
New JBAY Video Empowers College Students to Maintain Financial Aid
When former foster youth Erin Clews learned that she was not meeting “Satisfactory Academic Progress,” she had no idea what it meant, how she could address it or what the implications were for her as a college student. The words just didn’t mean anything, and information about it was scarce. She didn’t know there was […]
Youth Advocate Cody Van Felden Honored for Resilience and Impact
“The first 18 years of my life tested my resiliency: I was adopted at age 4, experienced 13 years of emotional abuse and was homeless as a minor. These are things that no child or youth should experience.” These were the opening remarks of Cody Van Felden, a former foster youth and youth advocate mentor […]
Courage in Action: Roesella Wilhem Advocates for Foster Youth Housing
Courage. It’s a noun, but in the case of Roesella Wilhem it should also be a verb. Rose is a youth advocate at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) and a college student at American River College in North Highlands, CA, outside of Sacramento. She has been a critical part of JBAY’s efforts to preserve […]
JBAY Continues its Campaign to Preserve Housing for Foster Youth
It’s April and for John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), that means budget season. JBAY continues its fight to protect two critical housing programs for foster youth in the 2024-25 state budget. At each step of the way, JBAY’s Youth Advocates have played a critical role, explaining how the elimination of these important programs will […]
No Longer Hidden in Plain Sight: JBAY Advocates to Help Homeless Students
After Esmeralda Nuno Mora’s father was deported, her mother was left to raise two small children. Esme’s situation worsened at age 14 when her mother was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. “When she ultimately passed away, I not only lost my mom but my stability and a sense of security.” After her mother’s death, Esme […]
20 Years of Impact: JBAY to Celebrate Milestone Anniversary
Where did the time go? Somehow, it’s been 20 years since retired State Senator John Burton founded John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY). On Tuesday, April 23rd, JBAY will celebrate this important milestone at a reception at the California Museum in Sacramento. In addition to celebrating 20 years of JBAY, the early evening reception will […]