This December, Youth Voice Amplified heads to Delano, California, for a heartwarming holiday special featuring the beloved "Foster Youth Fairy Godmother" herself—Tina Tyler Smith.

As the Director of Student Support Services and Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison for Delano Union School District, Tina shares how she and her team create joy, connection, and belonging during the holidays for students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care.

In this inspiring conversation, you'll hear how student voice, trauma-informed care, and community partnership come together to brighten lives as well as how Delano's holistic approach is achieving powerful results, including the lowest chronic absenteeism rate for foster youth in all of Kern County!

Whether you're looking to start your own school-based holiday event, support students in your community, or simply soak in a little extra hope this season, this episode is for you!

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Liam Silva and Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer

💬 Have thoughts on this episode? Text us and share your take!

In this powerful Homeless Youth Awareness Month episode, we sit down with members of the Youth Action Board (YAB), a group of young leaders with lived experience with homelessness who are driving real change in Kern County. From survival and stigma to policy and peer support, this roundtable dives deep into the realities of youth homelessness, what needs to change, and how youth are using their voices to reshape the system.

Whether you’re a policymaker, community member, or someone looking to understand youth homelessness more deeply, this conversation is real, raw, and rooted in hope.

Resources & information mentioned in the episode:

• National Homeless Youth Awareness Month
• Kern County Youth Resource Guide
• Kern Youth Action Board Instagram (@KernCountyYouthActionBoard)
• Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative
• Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.
  
  Connect with Youth Voice Amplified
• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Liam Silva and Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer

💬 Have thoughts on this episode? Text us and share your take!

We pick up right where we left off...at Pablo's turning point. After years of bouncing between foster homes, group homes, and incarceration, he shares what helped him break free from the cycle. In this episode, Pablo talks about his college journey, his work supporting other students, and the advice he would give to youth who feel stuck like he once did. He also speaks directly to educators, social workers, group home staff, and policymakers by offering heartfelt wisdom on how to do better for youth who’ve been through trauma.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up or want to understand how to better support youth who’ve lived through hard things...this is the episode for you!

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Liam Silva and Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer

💬 Have thoughts on this episode? Text us and share your take!