Empowering Youth Voices: Advocacy in Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems

This is part 1 in a 2-part series. In this episode of the Youth Empowerment Radio podcast by Youth Move Colorado, host Carmen kicks off a series on youth voice and advocacy. They are joined by Braden Babcock, Shelby Costello, and Dominique, three youth advocates with lived experiences in the juvenile justice and foster care systems. The discussion delves into how youth can utilize their voices for change, influence policy, and raise awareness about youth advocacy within organizations. The guests share their personal journeys into advocacy, highlight important initiatives like the Sibling Bill of Rights, and stress the critical role of adults in supporting and listening to young advocates. They also explore the complexities and nuances of advocating within different systems and the impact it has on creating meaningful changes.

00:00 Introduction to Youth Empowerment Radio
01:38 Meet the Youth Advocates
02:32 Shelby's Advocacy Journey
03:29 Al's Advocacy Work and Challenges
05:18 Understanding Youth Advocacy
07:03 Navigating the Juvenile Justice System
16:50 The Role of Adults in Youth Advocacy
18:47 Improving Support Systems for Youth
23:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In Episode 18 of Youth Empowerment Radio, Part Two of the special series on youth voice and advocacy, host Carmen speaks with Tori and Jordan about the importance of inspiring, amplifying, and utilizing youth voices to create meaningful change. The discussion highlights the issues of trauma and re-traumatization, the need for genuine listening, and the challenges youth face in advocacy spaces. They emphasize creating inclusive spaces by meeting youth where they are and offering diverse opportunities for participation, including both group and individual settings. The episode also addresses the importance of lived experience in advocacy roles, combating biases in child welfare, and the necessity for organizational preparation and intentionality in fostering youth advocacy.

00:00 Introduction to Youth Empowerment Radio

01:24 Challenges of Incorporating Youth Voice

03:18 The Importance of Lived Experience

08:35 Creating Inclusive Advocacy Opportunities

17:04 Advice for Organizations and Youth Advocates

22:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Empowering Youth Voices: Advocacy and Change in Colorado - Part 1 | Youth Empowerment Radio Ep. 17

Join us for Episode 17 of Youth Empowerment Radio, the first part of a special series on the power of youth voice and advocacy. Host Carmen sits down with advocates Tori Schuler and Jordan to explore how to inspire and amplify youth voices to drive meaningful changes in laws and policies. They share personal journeys from foster care to advocacy, discuss the importance of authentic youth engagement, and highlight the potential impact of true youth involvement in organizational decision-making and legislative reform. Tune in to be inspired by their stories and insight into how we can all help empower young people in our communities.

00:00 Introduction to Youth Empowerment Radio
01:27 Meet Jordan: From Foster Care to Advocacy
04:04 Tori's Journey: Empowering Foster Care Voices
09:43 The Importance of Authentic Youth Engagement
15:05 Youth Voice vs. Youth Advocacy
24:49 Challenges and Transparency in Youth Advocacy

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Empowering Youth Voices: Advocacy and Change in Colorado - Part 1 | Youth Empowerment Radio Ep. 17

Join us for Episode 17 of Youth Empowerment Radio, the first part of a special series on the power of youth voice and advocacy. Host Carmen sits down with advocates Tori Schuler and Jordan to explore how to inspire and amplify youth voices to drive meaningful changes in laws and policies. They share personal journeys from foster care to advocacy, discuss the importance of authentic youth engagement, and highlight the potential impact of true youth involvement in organizational decision-making and legislative reform. Tune in to be inspired by their stories and insight into how we can all help empower young people in our communities.

00:00 Introduction to Youth Empowerment Radio

01:27 Meet Jordan: From Foster Care to Advocacy

04:04 Tori's Journey: Empowering Foster Care Voices

09:43 The Importance of Authentic Youth Engagement

15:05 Youth Voice vs. Youth Advocacy

24:49 Challenges and Transparency in Youth Advocacy