JBAY Welcomes Two Statewide Leaders to its Board of Directors
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its board of directors: Teri Holoman and Ana Matosantos. Teri and Anna joined the board of directors in October and bring a wellspring of legislative and advocacy experience. Teri brings her 15 years of legislative advocacy work to […]
JBAY is Putting the “Aid” in “Financial Aid”
Sitting across the table from anyone in a position of power can be intimidating. One of those tables may come as a surprise: it’s the table between a college student and a financial aid officer. No one knows about this gulf better than Elizabeth Clews. Elizabeth spent years appealing her school’s decision to cut off […]
JBAY is Changing What Foster Youth Expect When They’re Expecting
Play dates. Cartoons. Toys. These are some of the words that describe Cody Van Felden’s life these days. With a child of her own, she’s busier than ever, but she wouldn’t change a single moment. “Emotionally, it’s the greatest feeling in the world to be a parent,” she said. When she reflects on her path […]
As Andwele Studies Business, JBAY Studies College Affordability
Andwele Umar Zakee always knew that he was destined for college. “It was always part of the plan. I was always going to go to college,” he recalls. A Los Angeles native, Andwele spent the past few years living with cousins before entering foster care during his junior year of high school after losing access […]
The Foster Youth Tax Credit Keeps Foster Youth Driving Forward
Flor relies on her car to shuttle her children to childcare, get to school, and put in a day’s work at the Children’s Law Center to keep a roof over everyone’s heads. So, when the catalytic converter of her Prius was stolen for the fifth time, she had to pay out of pocket. Fortunately, Flor […]
JBAY Lends a Hand on the Path to Graduation
Christina Alvarado is gearing up to walk across the graduation stage this December to receive her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Sonoma State. Getting to this moment wasn’t easy. Christina entered the foster care system as a young child after experiencing homelessness. She was separated from her brothers and faced an uncertain future. She was […]
Grit and Determination Pay Off for Elizabeth…and JBAY
Grit and determination have always described former foster youth Elizabeth Clews. After leaving the college classroom to care for her newborn child and work full time, she remained determined to pursue her dream of a college degree. However, when she attempted to re-enroll, she found herself ineligible for financial aid because she did not meet […]
JBAY Helps Contra Costa Unlock Valuable Federal Housing Program
Contra Costa County is breaking new ground. In September, Contra Costa County received its first ever allocation of specialized housing choice vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The specialized vouchers, known as Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) vouchers, are intended to prevent homelessness among youth who “age out” of foster care. […]
Senators McGuire and Ashby Named Burton Champion Award Winners
Momentum continues to build for our December 14th celebration, as John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) names our second Burton Champion Award winners: California State Senators Mike McGuire and Senator Angelique Ashby. Senator McGuire and Senator Ashby will jointly receive the honor on Thursday, December 14th at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco in recognition […]