Kaylee Blanco is from Los Angeles, California, but currently resides in New York, New York. She received her Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and French from UCLA in 2023 and now works as a Paralegal at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Passionate about public 

Believing that “every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them”, Kaylee is motivated to amplify the voices of foster youth through NFYI, focusing on housing access, mental health resources, and extending financial support to foster youth beyond the age of 18. Outside of NFYI, she is also involved in a program called “Simply Friends” through the Foster Care Legal Network, where she mentors foster teens in group homes to achieve their goals and overcome challenges. She also interned at the Alliance for Children’s Rights, where she served as the first point of contact for caregivers and foster youth in a crisis needing emergency assistance. She worked with attorneys to create a plan to help them access mental and medical healthcare, educational services, benefits, housing, and more. 

Beyond her advocacy work, Kaylee enjoys baking, spending time with family and friends, and lives by the motto: “be the change you wish to see in the world”. Through the Congressional Leadership Academy, she hopes to develop her leadership and advocacy skills to influence child welfare policy at the local and federal level.