Niko S. / “Having community and consistent connection makes you feel supported and seen.”
Niko is building a future rooted in purpose. As he pursues his psychology degree at the University of West Georgia, he’s also drawing from his own experience in foster care to find ways to support others walking a similar path. He shares:
“I have the great opportunity to use my lived experience within foster care to advocate and speak up for systemic changes within Georgia's foster care system through an organization called EmpowerMEnt.”
Someone Who Believed in Him
His path into advocacy began with someone who saw his potential. His former caseworker, Ms. Melanie, knew about his passion for using his voice to help others and connected him with EmpowerMEnt. That introduction became an important first step toward the work Niko is doing today.
“I would've never been able to start doing the work that I do without her thinking about me and making that initial first step.”
That kind of support is something Niko believes every young person deserves, especially as they prepare to leave foster care. He knows firsthand how special it can be to have someone in your corner. Reflecting on his own transition into adulthood, Niko says what he needed most was “someone who told me that my dreams were possible [and] pushed me to work towards them.”
Today, he’s working to be that person for others through work he’s deeply passionate about. He’s also building a life he can be proud of, one shaped by purpose, growth, and the future he envisions for himself. He shares:
“Right now, I am building up to a new version of myself that encompasses a family, a career, better habits and self-care.”
And his vision extends far beyond his own future. Over the next five years, Niko hopes to earn his bachelor’s degree and put it to work through his advocacy. He wants to see the changes he and his team are fighting for take shape across Georgia and eventually, across the country.
“It isn't just children in Georgia who need someone in their ring.”
Changing the Story of Foster Care
Niko’s vision for foster care is rooted in compassion. One of the biggest changes he hopes to see is an end to the belief that children in foster care are a lost cause. He points to the ways diagnoses and medication can sometimes be used to address behaviors without addressing the trauma and circumstances underneath them.
“There is no such thing as a bad child, just bad circumstances that can lead to bad behavior,” Niko says.
He believes young people deserve more opportunities to heal, more therapeutic support, and above all, the compassion to understand what they’ve experienced rather than simply labeling them because their pain is difficult to understand.
He believes the community has a role to play, too. Niko shares that there are countless ways people can show up for youth in foster care, such as fostering, mentoring, becoming a CASA volunteer, donating our time and finances, and creating opportunities for connection and community. Because to Niko, connection isn’t just something nice to have. It can change what a young person believes is possible.
“Having community and consistent connection makes you feel supported, makes you feel seen, and it tells you that your dreams and aspirations are believed in by more than just yourself.”
At the heart of what Niko hopes to share with all is a message he wishes every young person in foster care could hear:
“I know everything seems hopeless right now. I know it's easier sometimes to just lash out or give up and stop trying. Don't let the system walk all over you. You are strong. You are smart. You are wanted and needed, and above all else, you are loved. I see you. I hear you.”
Niko knows that leaving foster care can mean stepping into an uncertain future. But he also knows that where you come from doesn’t have to determine where you’re going. His own journey is proof. He’s pursuing his degree, finding his voice, and advocating for change while creating a future he can be proud of. And along the way, he’s becoming the person he once needed, which is someone who believes in what’s possible and stands beside others until they believe it, too.
Like Niko, you can use your voice to tell your story and help others understand the foster care experience. Share your story here.
