For the last 5 years they have arrived in droves. They arrive with big eyes and open minds. They arrive with agendas, things they need to accomplish. They arrive with high expectations and hope to create change. They arrive prepared, studied, ready to use what they know. They arrive as novices and depart as capable advocates. They are the participants in Shadow Day on the Hill in Washington D.C.
Each year, during the last week of National Foster Care Month, dozens of recent former foster youth are given the opportunity to “shadow” a member of Congress. They go through the rigors of a day in the life of a Congressperson, all the while informing their Congressional counterpart on the rigors that a foster youth faces during their day to day. It’s a chance for decision-makers to put a real face on the kids they’ve been tasked with protecting. The three-day event culminates with the main event, the Shadow Day.
For Representative Karen Bass of California, it’s one of the more important days on the calendar. Bass, a co-chair for the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, has been an integral part of the day since its inception. In fact, it was Bass’ then-Chief of Staff, Jenny Wood, who in Bass’ first term, came up with the idea of Shadow Day. Wood, an important advocate of foster care and adoption in her own right, saw a chance to put the issue of foster care right in the face of Congress. It’s one thing to hear the countless stories of or from foster youth, it’s an entirely different impact when the person who owns that story is standing right in front of you. Wood knew this, Bass knew this and soon the rest of Congress would know this as well.
I’ve been fortunate in the respect that I was at that inaugural Shadow Day. The enthusiasm was overwhelming. Kids from all over the country were on their game, ready to impact change. That first year the major players were FosterClub, Foster Care Alumni of America and the Caucus. I also recall a strong presence from the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically then-Commissioner Bryan Samuels. This was one of the first instances that had all the major players at the table…and get this, across that table from actual kids of care. Face to face, the ideas began volleying throughout the room. The former foster youth had legitimate gripes, but moreover, they came with facts and plans to improve care. This hadn’t happened before. In days passed, an advocate had to figure out how to get themselves a sit down meeting, a sit down meeting that generally had an assistant or intern in the role of Congressmember. Tough to make headway if you can’t talk to the person in charge. The obstacle was removed now. Change could happen.
Each year Shadow Day grows. Recently, that is due to the effort of a new, influential group, the National Foster Youth Institute, a group that includes many former child welfare higher ups. Because of that new influence more members of Congress want to be involved and more former foster youth want to seize the opportunity to voice the change they’d like to see in foster care with someone who can influence that kind of change. In year 5 of the annual event, the enthusiasm was as high as ever. First time travelers found themselves in the Capital, seeing things they had only seen in books or TV. They all have different backgrounds. Different numbers for how many homes they have been in. Different traumas they had to overcome. Different obstacles blocked their paths to this place but they made it there nonetheless. For the next few days, they’d all be on the same level playing field.
That field is hallowed ground to advocates. A face to face meeting not only gives you the ear of a decision-maker, it also puts a feather in the cap of an advocate, fuel to keep on advocating. As mentioned, meetings with the brass aren’t easy to come by, it takes persistence, maybe a connection. Here they were; the people who write the laws. With the right conversation, change can happen.
Thinking back to the advent of this event, I’m reminded that some of the foster care legislation of the last five years have come from conversations in the same places this flock of alumni were having their conversations. Some of these advocates may turn out like some of the advocates that have taken part of this day previously. Flash forward to today and some of those in the first Shadow Day group are today’s leaders.
As if coming to D.C. wasn’t an experience enough, as if having time with a member of Congress wasn’t a memory worth keeping, the alumni of care then got the chance to run through the day as a member of Congress. Put your running shoes on, the day of a Congressmember is a day of constant movement.
Shadow Day participants ran the gamut of their Congressional counterparts. They sat in on meetings with constituents from the district of their shadow subject. Then it’s off to a hearing for some committee they sit on. Next it’s back to the office where a lobby of anxious people sit waiting. After four meetings in a row, it’s time for lunch, while being briefed on the upcoming afternoon. Before the food can even digest, it’s off to more meetings, more hearings and even more meetings before closing out the day.
Those who can keep up, stand to gain a lifetime of knowledge in one short day. They can leverage that knowledge into a future in advocacy, leadership or, if they choose, politics. It’s more than can be expected, all of that action. If it suits you, it can be a very beneficial look into a life you want to lead.
On this Shadow Day, a little fun was squeezed in among all the running around and meetings. Daryl “DMC” McDaniels, of Run DMC fame, who just so happens to be an adopted former foster kid, came to speak to those in attendance about his experience. He recounted doing research for his book and stumbling upon the fact that he was a foster kid who was adopted by the parents he assumed were his biological parents. He then talked about the rise of Run DMC and his own dealings with that ascension to stardom. He left the room with the message that they could make a difference in the lives of the current 400,000 kids who find themselves in care today.
And then it’s back to work.
The format of the event was the highlight for one alumni in care who expected a more lecture based experience. Leroy Berrones travelled all the way from southern Texas for the event and was appreciative that the format made the most of his time away from home.
“I actually thought it was going to be more like a lecture and not get enough time to look around. I didn’t expect it to be informative and interactive. I am glad it was interactive because it helped me come out of my comfort zone and participate and learn about my peers.” Said Berrones of the experience. “I also didn’t expect to have heard from high profile people like Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat Whip who showed us they actually cared about our stories and population.”
That sense of mattering to the people who write the laws is one of the main draws for the alumni who come to the event with big expectations. To put forth all that effort only to have your message fall on deaf ears can be deflating. Shadow Day gives these advocates the sense that their voices are not only heard but valued. They go back to their respective homes and jobs with a renewed sense of purpose. They return to their homebases with a new game plan, a different approach to an old problem.
There is little doubt that Shadow Day will continue to grow. As the years roll on, more and more members of Congress will find their way into the mix. More foster care alumni will make an impact on those Congressmembers that they are matched with. Legislation will continue to be written, in part, based on conversations between those who lived a life in care and those that seek to improve the system. Advocates will continue to roll into D.C. with enthusiasm, a plan and the knowledge that with Shadow Day, change will happen.
Owner/Editor - Chris Chmielewski