Congratulations to the Class of 2025
Last week, JBAY invited this year’s college graduates from around the state to gather in celebration at Cal State LA. It was a beautiful event, marking an incredibly significant moment in many lives. Today in California, 10% of foster youth graduate from college – a rate significantly higher than in any other state, one that […]
JBAY Out & About: A Recap of Two Recent Convenings
It’s been a busy spring for the JBAY team. Director of Education Jessica Petrass and Senior Project Associate Cody Van Felden attended and presented at the Foster Youth Education Summit in Orange County in early April, and several JBAY staff participated in Pathways to Promise: California’s Early Wealth Account System Summit in Sacramento later that month. […]
JBAY Youth Advocate Esme Nuno Mora Receives UC Berkeley Service Award
JBAY Youth Advocate Esme Nuno Mora was announced this month as the sole undergraduate recipient of this year’s UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Award for Civic Engagement in honor of her research and advocacy to support students who have experienced homelessness. This award recognizes four individuals or student groups addressing urgent community needs beyond the UC Berkeley […]
Debbie Raucher to Depart JBAY, Leaving a Legacy of Impact
Interim Executive Director and long-time Director of Programs Debbie Raucher has announced that she will be leaving John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) effective Tuesday, February 11th. Former Executive Director Amy Lemley recalls meeting Debbie almost 16 years ago. “Debbie’s intelligence and work ethic were apparent within the first days of working together,” said Lemley. […]
Voices of Change: JBAY Welcomes New Youth Advocates
Governor Newsom has unveiled his January budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year, marking a shift toward stability with a modest surplus following two years of deficits. While the news is promising, challenges remain, including potential federal cuts and the unknown costs tied to the devastating LA fires. For a detailed breakdown of what this […]
Transforming the Holidays
For many, the holiday season is a time for family, tradition, and celebration. But for Erin Clews, a Youth Advocate Mentor at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), the holidays were once a stark reminder of isolation. JBAY Interim Executive Director Debbie Raucher recently spoke with Erin about her reflections on the season and her […]
From Barriers to Bridges: New FAFSA off to a Promising Start
For CJ Cook, attending college was never part of the plan. Entering the foster care system at age nine and coming from a family with no history of higher education, he didn’t see college as a possibility. His junior year of high school was disrupted by the challenges of the Covid pandemic, and two weeks […]
The Pathway from Trauma to Resilience Highlighted at JBAY Gala
Last night, JBAY held its annual gala, a memorable event that celebrated John Burton’s 92nd birthday and JBAY’s twenty-year anniversary. Amid the networking, mingling, and inspiring speeches honoring our Burton Champions, the keynote speech from JBAY Youth Advocate Wednesday Pope stood out as a highlight of the evening. Her words served as a poignant reminder of […]
JBAY Welcomes Two Esteemed Leaders to its Board of Directors
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is thrilled to welcome two distinguished individuals to its board of directors: Bob Giroux and Greg Lucas. Joining in October, Bob and Greg bring decades of advocacy and state government expertise that will help further JBAY’s mission to improve the lives of California’s youth with experience in foster care […]