• Ready to Make Him Pay

  by L.F.

  Names have been changed. Even at 8, I knew what was going on wasn’t right. But only later did I understand that I was a victim of sexual abuse by my stepfather. And now, at 17, I want him in prison.

• I Started a Peer Tutoring Program Just for Foster Youth

  by Sarah Malik

  My family has always emphasized the importance of education. All three of my aunts are teachers, and my father has helped me with my schoolwork throughout my life. My dad enrolled me in a prep course for Hunter College High School, one of New York City’s specialized schools for students in grades 7-12.

• Foster Youth Deserve a Seat at the Table

  by Gabrielle Rodriguez

  I have been in foster care since I was 16. In that time, I have served as a “youth voice” on youth advisory boards (YABs) for among others, my agency, Heartshare St. Vincent’s Services; Fair Futures; New Yorkers for Children; and the Dorm Project.

• Bringing My Attacker to Justice

  by Anonymous

  Names have been changed. During my sophomore year in high school I downloaded an app for making friends in my area. Whenever I met someone, I told them right away that I was 15. When I first connected with Tom, he told me he was “around my age,” but I found out later he was really 28.

• How Is ACS Fighting Racism?

  by Gabrielle Rodriguez

  Gabrielle Rodriguez interviewed ACS Commissioner David Hansell on June 11, a few weeks after George Floyd’s murder sparked protests against police brutality and white supremacy around the world. Gabrielle Rodriguez: What does Black Lives Matter (BLM) mean to you? David Hansell: It starts with the work we do at ACS.

• Standing Up in Public

  by Gabrielle Rodriguez

  I recently went to a Black Lives Matter vigil at the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York, a church on the Upper West Side. The vigil honored those who lost their lives to police brutality and white supremacy.