Claim OwnershipYouth Voice Amplified
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© 2025 Youth Voice Amplified
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Join hosts Gennessa Fisher and Brian Johnson for this youth-led and youth-focused monthly interview series as they talk with young people about their life experiences with homelessness, foster care, disabilities, teen parenting, and more. Each conversation will uncover stories of hope and strength from youth storytellers who will share the best ways we can support youth in similar situations. If you want to know how to do better for youth or simply be inspired, this is your show! Every youth has a story to tell. Are you ready to listen?
41 Episodes
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This December, Youth Voice Amplified heads to Delano, California, for a heartwarming holiday special featuring the beloved "Foster Youth Fairy Godmother" herself—Tina Tyler Smith. As the Director of Student Support Services and Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison for Delano Union School District, Tina shares how she and her team create joy, connection, and belonging during the holidays for students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care. In this inspiring conversation, you'll hear...
In this powerful Homeless Youth Awareness Month episode, we sit down with members of the Youth Action Board (YAB), a group of young leaders with lived experience with homelessness who are driving real change in Kern County. From survival and stigma to policy and peer support, this roundtable dives deep into the realities of youth homelessness, what needs to change, and how youth are using their voices to reshape the system. Whether you’re a policymaker, community member, or someone looking t...
We pick up right where we left off...at Pablo's turning point. After years of bouncing between foster homes, group homes, and incarceration, he shares what helped him break free from the cycle. In this episode, Pablo talks about his college journey, his work supporting other students, and the advice he would give to youth who feel stuck like he once did. He also speaks directly to educators, social workers, group home staff, and policymakers by offering heartfelt wisdom on how to do bet...
In this powerful first half of his two-part episode, we meet Pablo who learned to survive every crashing wave life threw at him. From navigating the foster care system to experiencing incarceration, Pablo opens up about what it was like to grow up feeling invisible, unheard, and alone. But even in the darkest moments, his story is filled with honesty, insight, and strength. Warning: This episode contains discussions of topics that may be difficult for some listeners, including trauma, c...
This month on Youth Voice Amplified, Gennessa takes the mic for a special episode highlighting one of her favorite themes—human kindness. She revisits some of the most moving moments from past youth storytellers and the adult allies who walked alongside them, weaving together a powerful compilation of real-life experiences where kindness changed the course of someone’s day… or even their life. From neighbors who stepped in to protect a child to mentors who believed in someone before the...
After surviving a car crash that nearly ended her life, Angela faced even more challenges. But Angela didn’t just survive—she found her voice. In this powerful conclusion of her story, Angela reflects on forgiveness, healing from trauma, and the quiet strength it takes to rewrite your future. From walking again after her accident to walking into classrooms as a future educator, Angela shares how faith, love, and community helped her believe that she matters—and that others do too. Warning: Th...
In this powerful first episode of a two-part series, Angela reflects on her journey through childhood trauma, navigating life in the streets, and the time she spent in juvenile detention. As a teenager searching for connection and safety, she found herself pulled into a world that made survival feel like the only option. But a near-death experience changed everything—forcing her to confront her past and begin a new path forward. Raw, honest, and deeply moving, Angela’s story reminds us ...
In honor of National Foster Care Month, this special Youth Voice Amplified episode brings you a powerful live panel from the 10th Annual YES! (Youth Empowering Success) Conference. Host Gennessa joins fellow foster youth alumni Cynthia and Rubi to share raw, real stories of resilience, healing, and hope. Moderated by award-winning speaker and former foster youth Kevon Lee, this conversation dives into the challenges of foster care, aging out, education, parenting, and finding your voice. Whet...
In this special episode of Youth Voice Amplified, host Gennessa sits down with Alyssa and Siena—two incredible student leaders behind Kern County’s Leaders In Life Conference, a groundbreaking event created by teens, for teens. Now in its 25th year, Leaders In Life is one of California’s largest youth-led conferences and has empowered over 85,000 students through powerful workshops, meaningful leadership experiences, and a planning process driven entirely by youth. Alyssa and Siena pull back ...
In this uplifting episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we sit down with Jordynn, a young mom who turned her experience with homelessness into a powerful voice for change. As a dedicated youth advocate, Jordynn shares how she balances the challenges of parenting, school, and work—all while using her story to support and uplift young parents in her community. Jordynn’s journey is all about resilience and hope. She opens up about creating a safe and nurturing home for her children, building a stro...
In this special episode celebrating Youth Voice Amplified's 2nd anniversary, we’re honored to feature Dakota, a high school senior navigating life as an unaccompanied homeless youth. Dakota shares his incredible journey of resilience and determination, from losing both parents to finding stability through his school’s McKinney-Vento program. His openness about overcoming stigma, reclaiming his education, and creating a brighter future offers a powerful reminder of the strength within us all. ...
Kick off 2025 with an inspiring story of youth leadership! Tita, the first-ever Student Champion on the Kern County Board of Education, joins us to share how she’s amplifying student voices and making an impact for over 200,000 students. From leading as ASB President to balancing her passion for filmmaking, Tita opens up about her journey, the pressures of leadership, and how she stays “humbly excellent” while advocating for change. She also shares powerful insights into the unique challenges...
In this special holiday episode of Youth Voice Amplified, Kristy Torres from Kern County Department of Human Services and Bryanna Wood from the Kern County Dream Center share how they bring joy, support, and hope to foster and homeless youth during the holiday season. Learn how programs like the Holiday Cottage and Dream Center create safe spaces, provide essential resources, and help youth feel seen and cared for. Kristy and Bryanna open up about the unique challenges these youth face during...
This special holiday bonus episode of Youth Voice Amplified wraps up Homeless Youth Awareness Month with a heartfelt roundtable discussion featuring members of the Youth Action Board (YAB), part of Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative. These inspiring young advocates, with lived experiences of homelessness, share the challenges faced by homeless youth, the critical role of community support, and practical ways we can all help. From personal stories to impactful advice, the Y...
🎙️ In this special episode for Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Youth Voice Amplified features Cynthia, a youth advocate with lived experience of youth homelessness. Through the Project I Am From poetry exercise, Cynthia shares a raw and moving piece reflecting on her roots, resilience, and growth. She opens up about her journey as a homeless high school student, the support systems that helped her, and her ongoing mission to uplift others in her community. She also offers profound...
In this moving episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we welcome back Melie, a dedicated advocate for homeless youth, to kick off our special focus on Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Through Project "I Am From," we dive deep into the power of lived experience and poetry, uncovering unique stories of youth who have experienced homelessness and the places they come from. Listen as Melie shares her own powerful piece, "I Am From," and reflects on resilience, family traditions, and what it truly...
In this special live-recorded episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we bring you an inspiring Open Mic night at the Dream Center 🎤 , where youth who've faced adversity share their stories through powerful spoken word, poetry, and music. 💪 🗣️🎶 Alongside their adult supporters, these young voices open up about their experiences, creativity, and resilience in a safe and empowering space. Tune in to hear the raw, heartfelt performances that highlight the importance of open mic events for homele...
In this episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we’re bringing you James’s powerful story. He talks about what it was like to face homelessness at a young age, bouncing from place to place, and how it affected his time in school. James doesn't hold back as he shares the tough realities of trying to keep up with his education while dealing with constant instability. James doesn’t hold back—he shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between. His story is a powerful reminder of the strength it t...
Carter Beardsley, is not just a student—he's a changemaker! As the Region 8 President of the California Association of Student Councils, Chairman of the Kern Literacy Council's Youth Literacy Committee, and a Bakersfield Youth Commissioner, Carter is at the forefront of uplifting student voices in his school and the community. Join us as Carter shares his personal journey into leadership, fueled by a passion for equity and student advocacy. He opens up about the challenges he faced, the motiv...
In the powerful conclusion of our two-part series, we pick up where we left off, diving deeper into Rico's transformative journey. After being harshly judged by his community and witnessing friends succumb to drug use, Rico made the life-changing decision to shift his mindset and, ultimately, his destiny. Now, as a peer support specialist, Rico dedicates his life to helping homeless and foster youth navigate their own difficult paths. He also shares his remarkable story of personal growth an...
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