The 3rd annual New York City Council Foster Youth Shadow Day was held on May 23. Its goal was to provide young people who have spent time in the foster care system an opportunity to learn about the governing of NYC and to be able to share their personal experiences in the foster care system with elected leaders.

Eleven young people joined us at the New York City Council offices. Following a tour of City Hall, each young person was paired off with a City Council member, and they spent the morning shadowing the member and staff. That afternoon, the young people sat next to their council members during the Stated Meeting in City Hall and a few of them even addressed the entire council from their seats! The day culminated in a roundtable discussion where Council Members Levin, Rose, and Reynoso joined us in a stimulating conversation about the challenges young people face in regards to housing, education, employment, and accessing resources while transitioning out of care.