Meet our next Youth Traveler: Marisa Rodriguez

I'm from SoCal and have Mexican roots. My "Abuelitos" (grandparents) are my inspiration- they were farm workers and the hardest working people I know. I'm a foodie, obsessed with reality t.v and engaged to my boyfriend of nine years. Growing up and transitioning out of foster care, my focus was on survival. I began traveling through study abroad programs in college and it quickly became a passion of mine. It is my dream to travel all of Latin America and continue to educate myself about the history and culture of other Latino countries. Joining FYCE this year in Peru will bring me closer to making this dream a reality, and for some of my peers it may be the start of a similar dream. I've received my Bachelor's in Social Work from CSULB. I want to broaden my understanding of community building, and learn from and grow with this experience, so it can inform my advocacy within the U.S.’ foster care system. Often times the U.S. is seen as the “model” country but other countries also make meaningful programs and interventions for youth that are disenfranchised/vulnerable and I am excited to learn more about them!

Meet our next youth traveler: Cheyenne Rogers

Cheyenne Rogers, whose foster care case originated in Los Angeles, is currently a student at UC Riverside in her final year. She is studying Political Science and Public Policy while raising her 6 year old daughter, Layla. She is passionate about foster youth rights and advocacy. Her ultimate goal is to work for foster youth in some way to give back to her community as well as to change the outcomes for foster youth.

Meet Extraordinary Organizer: Rebecca Louve

Rebecca Louve is a Social Worker for Solano County and enjoys working with foster youth. She graduated with her Master in Social Welfare from the University of California Berkeley in May 2016 and is currently working on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Previously she worked for California Youth Connection as a Regional Coordinator from 2008 to 2014. Rebecca sat on the California Redesign Taskforce in 2002, was a Congressional Intern with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in 2006. Rebecca volunteers as a mentor for young women in her community and travels with current and former foster youth with Foster Youth Cultural Exchange annually. She is passionate about advocacy, youth leadership development, cultural and travel experiences. Rebecca is a former foster youth from San Diego, California and has dedicated her career to empowering foster youth to create change in their communities.

Meet the 2018 Organizers... Starting with founder, Jamie Lee Evans

My name is Jamie Lee Evans.  This is my 5th trip with FYCE and in July we will travel to Peru.

 I am the daughter of Gloria Evans and Guey Wong Lee.  

My father was an immigrant from China, My mother is of Welsh heritage.  My father died young and my mother had issues, so I spent some of my childhood in foster care.  I grew up in Gardena, California and never believed people like me would have the chance to travel.  At 43 something burst open inside and the world changed.  I started traveling. First to Thailand.  And as soon as I experienced the air, the people, the difference... I wanted to bring that experience to other former foster youth.  That is how Foster Youth Cultural Exchange began. I made a little story about it.