This episode of the Igniting Impact Podcast features Cristal Ramirez, Youth Engagement Manager, Nicole Wong, a member with lived experience in the foster care system, and Allison Green, Legal Director at NACC. Their mission is to integrate lived experience experts aged 18-30 into NACC to improve outcomes in the child welfare system. The podcast covers the council’s history, structure, and vision, driven by a commitment to race equity and constituent voice. The NACCLR strives to provide high-quality legal representation and influence policies affecting young people in the child welfare system.

The discussion also includes advice for attorneys representing youth and the impact of a trauma-informed, race-equity lens in legal work. Together, they emphasize the transformative nature of engaging lived expertise. It creates impact and highlights the value of lived experience for bringing authenticity, equity, and unique perspectives to decision-making processes. Their views on impact underscore the importance of intentional actions and systemic changes.

The NACCLR is a council of young professionals who have personally experienced the child welfare system. Their guidance to the Board of Directors, assistance to the staff, and support of the organization’s mission is invaluable. NACC believes that those who have firsthand experience with unjust systems should play a vital role in reform efforts. Individuals with lived experience have a unique perspective that others do not possess, and their insights are crucial when striving for justice, equity, and systems change. The council helps the organization to prioritize the perspectives and priorities of individuals with lived experience, ensuring that they stay true to our values of inclusion, justice, and empowerment.