Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth and advocate Alexis Obinna. Alexis is one of the founders and a current member of the Los Angeles Reproductive Health Equity Project Youth Advisory Board.

During Alexis's time in California’s foster care system, volunteering at church was fun and better than staying at home. During college, Alexis was able to grow and learn more about support groups and organizations that are available to youth in foster care. Each year, Alexis helps run an annual event called “Independent City” where younger youth learn how to handle real-life situations. Alexis would like to keep learning and going to school in pursuit of a degree that will lead to helping foster children. Alexis’s main goal one day is to start a non-profit organization that helps with housing in Los Angeles County. Alexis has been volunteering and giving back to various communities since age eight. She started with helping her foster mom watch the daycare children, trash removal at her school, painting her school, planting community gardens, and so much more. In 2019 she graduated with her double associate's in sociology, and child development. She currently attends California State University Los Angeles, where she continues to fight and give back to various communities as a Social Work major. Alexis is a huge social and racial justice advocate and has fought for the rights of many people of color. She has collaborated with many nonprofits such as California Youth Connections, Los Angeles Reproductive Health Equity Program, the Department of Children and Family Services, Independent City, Youth-Led Participatory Action Plan research board, and so many more. She has been with CYC since 2014 and is honored to do great work to improve the child welfare system. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, roller skating, collecting crystals, visiting new places, and making art. She plans on working in a space that provides equitable resources and fair chances that she was denied. She wants to spread hope and positivity, and values working on herself to do so. Thank you for reading her bio and please ask her anything;  having had experienced the child welfare system for over sixteen years, she has many useful and resources.

California Youth Connection
National Foster Youth Institute
Los Angeles Reproductive Health
She Ready Foundation x Ready To Succeed
Foster Club
RHEP for Foster Youth
All That Glitters Isn't Gold - documentary by Alexis Obinna

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