The Pleasure of Being a Diamond - Dejuna Rodriguez

In this episode, host Isabel Stasa welcomes Dejuna Rodriguez, who shares her journey through the foster care system and her mission to uplift voices with lived experiences. Dejuna discusses the challenges she faced entering foster care at 14, the impact of her mother's decisions, and the transformative power of finding community and support through organizations like Foster Success. The conversation delves into systemic issues within child welfare, the importance of compassionate leadership, and Dejuna's commitment to breaking generational cycles of foster care. The episode concludes with a powerful message about the role everyone plays in creating a supportive environment for foster youth.