My name is Ashley Strange and I am currently a senior studying Communications and English at Trinity Washington University. I am an alumni of the D.C. foster care system where I spent five years after the death of my mother. Now out of foster care, I have devoted my time on finishing school and advocating for the lives of disconnected youth, which includes homeless youth, foster youth and former foster youth. I have participated in various activities in order to help create justice for both DC youth and other underserved communities.

My name is Elleny Ayano and I am a rising senior at Bell Multicultural High School. I have managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA and will graduate in June of 2017.  After graduating from Bell I plan to attend college and major in Criminal Justice or International Studies and minor in Business Management. During my spare time I love to read books, watch movies, listen to music and hang out with friends. Currently, I work as a youth advocate for homeless and disconnected youth at the Young Women’s Project. One of my favorite things to do at YWP is blogging.

I am Art Brown and I am a senior who will be graduating from Bell Multicultural High School this year!  Working at YWP has helped me to become focused and understand that there are many youth like me in the city. The rewarding part about being a youth advocate is that I am now in the position to help many young people because of the knowledge I have gained. While I am not at work, I engage in all forms of art such as music, poetry and dancing. My passion of art shows in the work that I do which is probably why I was voted most creative for the class of 2016 in my school.