Disregarded: How “Othering” Harms Students in the Foster System
Inaccurate perceptions about youth and parents involved in the foster system have negative consequences for educational achievement, resulting in disparate access to resources, poor treatment of youth in both the education and foster systems, and impermanence and instability, all of which perpetuate harm.
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Next100 Is Changing the Face and Future of Progressive Policy
Next100 is a startup think tank created for—and by—the next generation of policy leaders. We envision a future in which the policy space is inclusive of and driven by a diverse set of the next generation’s thinkers and doers, who are developing creative, rigorous, and relevant policy ideas, with a focus on translating these ideas into tangible change.
Meet the Policy Entrepreneurs
Lindsey is an advocate for economic justice and a first-generation college graduate. At Next100, Lindsey’s work focuses on the design and implementation of compassionate, effective policies to end poverty by working to expand and improve safety net benefits like the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and advance policies like universal paid leave to support all families, drawing on her experience growing up in low-income, rural Alabama.
Robert Godfried is an advocate for creating public service opportunities that are accessible to all. At Next100, Robert focuses on increasing equity and inclusion in AmeriCorps and public service more broadly at the federal, state, and local levels. He previously worked in tenant organizing as an AmeriCorps member, as a field organizer for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, and as an associate for a progressive political digital marketing firm.
Alejandra is an educational equity and immigration justice advocate. At Next100, Alejandra’s work focuses on expanding systemic academic, social, and emotional supports for K–12 immigrant students and multilingual learners, drawing on her teaching experience in Miami–Dade County Public Schools. Alejandra is a proud product of Mexican immigrants, and previously worked at various education and immigration non-profit organizations in New York City.
Chantal is an advocate for students involved in the foster system, working to ensure they have the school support they need to succeed. At Next100, Chantal’s work focuses on improving academic outcomes and narrowing the opportunity gap between students in the foster system and their peers. Chantal draws on her experience as an education attorney working directly with students and families impacted by the foster system and seeks to see schools as sources of support, encouragement, and care for this unique and vulnerable population.
Diana is an immigrant rights and climate justice advocate, and a first-generation college graduate. At Next100, Diana works to enhance our immigration system to recognize climate migrants so that climate-displaced people have a pathway to relocate in a safe and dignified way. Diana draws on her experience as an undocumented youth in the Dream Act movement, where she first became politically active.
Suryani (Sury) Dewa Ayu is an advocate for creating spaces of belonging and inclusion—particularly democratic spaces—that center historically marginalized communities. At Next100, Sury focuses on leveraging local and international learnings about civic design to help foster democratic practice and improve policy outcomes for underrepresented communities on a federal level. Sury draws on her experience as a civic designer, having developed a program to hire and empower local teen civic designers to propose design recommendations for city government.
