3 Queens Teens' Stories of Legal Emancipation, Foster Homes & Group Homes

WNYC’s Radio Rookies

presents

OUT ON MY OWN

Stories of Living Away From One’s Parents

Listen online


Three NYC Teens’ Experiences with Foster Care, Legal Emancipation,and Life in a Group Home

(February 19, 2008--New York, NY) – Most teens dream of independence from their parents’ rules, restrictions and terminal lack of cool. But living away from parents brings a host of other challenges for teens, including feelings of loneliness and trying to find a sense of security and of home where they can.

Radio Rookies, WNYC’s Peabody Award-winning youth journalism program, presents OUT ON MY OWN: Stories of Living Away from One’s Parents, three searing tales of New York City teens growing up in separate places from their moms and dads.

* Monday, February 25: JORDAN opted to become legally emancipated from his parents at 15, wishing to escape an emotionally challenging relationship in order give himself the opportunity to succeed.

* Wednesday, February 27: STAR was living in a foster home when she learned – through a televised news report – that her father had murdered her mother. Years later, the news media has moved on to other tragedies, but Star is still here. She’s about to age out of the system, and she hopes she can overcome her past and chart a new course.

* Friday, February 29: KRYSTLE is living in a group home, but would love to return to her mother…if the circumstances that separated them can be healed.

“I’ve learned so much, and I’m not afraid to state what’s real,” said Star about reporting her story. “Everybody goes through something…If you don’t sugarcoat it, people will be like: ‘Look at that girl, what she’s been through. And look—she’s ok.’”

All stories will air on WNYC during Morning Edition, which airs on 93.9FM, AM 820 and via live webstream at www.wnyc.org from 5-9:30am. They will also be available for on-demand listening and podcasting at www.radiorookies.org.