DeOnyae-Dior Valentina (she/her/ella), is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and is passionate about advancing justice for foster youth and other young people who have been impacted by systems such as foster care, housing instability, and the criminal legal system. She dedicates her time to advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and public service while continuing her education in Legal Support and Services.

Believing that those closest to the problems should be closest to the solutions, DeOnyae-Dior channels her passion into action through community advocacy and policy engagement. She is the Founding Executive Director of Strength Over Struggle, an initiative focused on empowering QTBIPOC youth and young adults who are disproportionately impacted by systems. Through this work, she helps create spaces for leadership development, community healing, and policy Advocacy.

Alongside her advocacy and professional work, she is completing her degree in Legal Support and Services and plans to take the LSAT in May as she prepares for law school and a future career in law and public policy.

Outside of advocacy, DeOnyae-Dior enjoys writing poetry, building community spaces for dialogue and healing, and mentoring other young leaders navigating systems. Through the Congressional Leadership Academy, she hopes to deepen her policy advocacy skills, build relationships with leaders across the country, and elevate the voices of foster youth and system-impacted young people in national policy conversations.