Shadow Day 2023:
The NFYI Congressional Leadership Academy
After a decade of bringing former foster youth and congressmembers together to transform legislation and lives, NFYI is taking our Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day program to the next level.
Over the years, NFYI’s Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day has grown from a day-long event to a week-long experience packed with skill building workshops, town hall meetings, networking opportunities, forums with inspirational & celebrity speakers, educational field trips around D.C., and a gala.
That rich experience has led to increased confidence in our Shadow Day youth delegates (ages 18-30), inspiring us to expand our 2022 Shadow Day experience into a ten-month training program — the new NFYI Congressional Leadership Academy!
Delegates have now begun training in for their week-long Capitol visit months in advance, giving them the time to build a national community of foster care advocates and opportunity to apply their news skills to real world issues they are passionate about–all while receiving resources, guidance, and mentorship from NFYI staff.
The 2024 CLA Delegation will be announced soon. Stay tuned!"
Meet our 2023 Congressional Foster Youth Delegation
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Alyssa-Davis-300x300.jpg)
Alyssa Davis
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Amber-Rosado-Esteves-300x300.jpg)
Amber Rosado-Esteves
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Angelica-Rivas-1-300x300.jpg)
Angelica Rivas
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Anthony-Vizcarrondo-265x300.jpg)
Anthony Vizcarrondo
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Rondale-Brown-Jr-300x300.jpeg)
Ashley Carter
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Chaida-Bango-Bango-2-300x300.jpg)
Chaida Bango Bango
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Cierra-Draper-West-300x300.jpg)
Cierra Draper-West
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Emily-Williams-300x300.jpg)
Emily Williams
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Emma-Espinoza-300x300.jpg)
Emma Espinoza
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Ericka-Mickelson-218x300.jpeg)
Ericka Mickelson
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Helene-Haile-300x300.jpg)
Helene Haile
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Huyanna-Clearwater-300x300.jpg)
Huyanna Clearwater
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Ivory-Bennett-300x300.jpeg)
Ivory Bennett
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jacqueline-Robles-300x300.png)
Jacqueline Robles
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Jennifer-Martinez-300x300.jpeg)
Jennifer Martinez
Jennifer Thonrithi
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jesse-Fager-Larsen-300x300.jpeg)
Jesse Fager
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Joseph-Mariscal-Headshot-1-300x300.jpeg)
Joseph Mariscal
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Junely-Merwin-300x300.jpg)
Junely Merwin
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Leroy-4-copy-300x214.jpg)
Leroy Berrones Soto
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lucinda-Langley-300x298.jpg)
Lucinda Langley
Madison Langan
Mary-Lynn
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mariah-smiley--300x300.jpeg)
Myriah Smiley
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Nancy-Konjo-222x300.png)
Nancy Konjo
Natalia Campbell
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Paige-Daniels-295x300.jpg)
Paige Daniels
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Quijai-Johnson-300x300.jpeg)
Quijai “Jay Jay” Johnson
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RaDawn-Austin-300x300.jpg)
RaDawn Austin
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Richard-Liu-300x300.jpg)
Richard Liu
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Saphire-Woodruff.jpeg)
Saphire Woodruff
Sapphire Murphy-Powell
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/selena-bermejo-Romero-300x300.jpg)
Selena Bermejo Romero
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Timothy-Woody-300x300.jpeg)
Timothy Woody
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tina-Harris-300x300.jpg)
Tina Harris
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Xandra-Vaughn-300x300.jpeg)
Xandra Vaughn
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_199.png)
Alejandra Gomez
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_198.png)
Alejandro Candelario
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_208-296x300.png)
Angela Cruze-Boldt
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_194.png)
Annmarie Herrera
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_193-199x300.png)
Bernard Ball
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_201.png)
Cody Van Felden
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/New-Project-2023-06-02T115408.741.png)
Crystal Keeler
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_200.png)
Deanna Lescouflair
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_187.png)
Geneva Harvell
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_207-237x300.png)
Jasmine Solomon
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_202-224x300.png)
Kayla Muzquiz
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_209-261x300.png)
Mercedes Lozano
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/New-Project-2023-06-02T115641.439.png)
Merissa Arias
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_197.png)
Mia Perez
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_203.png)
Micaih Avery
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_195-254x300.png)
Nyamekye V. Reynold
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_190.png)
Ov’Var’Shia Gray-Woods
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_205-201x300.png)
Owen Bros
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_204.png)
Rebekka Behr
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_191.png)
Samantha Hallina
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_192.png)
Savannah Williams-Huynh
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_196-240x300.png)
Sophia Coffey
![](https://nfyi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot_206-216x300.png)