• A Breakthrough With My Mom

  by Parris Smith

  When I was 7, my mother said, “I’m going to America to give us a better life.” “Why?” I asked.  In Jamaica, my dad worked for a gas company and owned a shop attached to our house where we sold basic items like bread, light bulbs, and combs.

• Almost Derailed by the Pandemic

  by Vinay Hinduja

  Last year I was in the spring semester of my junior year at Queens College when COVID-19 shut school down. At first, I was excited that I wouldn’t have to wake up early for class anymore. Then I found out I was getting kicked out of the dorm—which was my home.

• Life On My Own

  by Bryant A.

  Foster care was a pretty good experience for me. I came into care when I was 15, and was placed with a good foster mother, Blanca, right away. She helped me stay on track, and so did some of my foster care workers.

• 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.

• My Parents Collect Bottles for a Living

  by Jessica Yauri

  Some names have been changed. My family collects bottles from sunup to sundown all year long. I started when I was 12, watching my parents glazed in sweat, as if it just rained on them. Despite the aches and the tireless nights, their smiles shined as they worked.

• We Work the Hardest and Suffer the Most

  by Edwin M.

  Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in September 2020.  Living in a worldwide pandemic is not easy for anybody. For me, one of the harshest truths I’ve learned during this time is how our economic system underserves some communities, revealing unfair treatment toward those most in need.