Board Members of FCAA, MA

Lisa, Alexis, and Kristina Rodriguez:

We were in foster homes off and on from the ages of 4 ½-16 years old.  Our biological parents were in and out of psychiatric hospitals and we did not have extended family that would or could take us in. We were sometimes placed together in the same home, but not all of the time. We grew up feeling extremely alone and scared because we did not know what was happening in our family and no one explained it to us. Thankfully, my mom tried to get us all help with individual and family counseling, but it wasn’t enough to fix our problems. Our parents had a lot of trauma themselves and not enough support to carry on a “normal” life.  Our mother fought real hard to keep us children at home as much as she could. We did not have extended family that would or could take us in they couldn’t take care of us. We only saw them on some occasions except for our uncle (mother’s brother). We couldn’t live with him because he was working full-time. However, he did bring us out every Saturday for bowling, a movie, or the park and he always brought us out to eat.

Lisa Rodriguez: Alumni-Age 39

I am the oldest of 3 great girls. My sister's and I were in foster care because our parents have mental illnesses & did not have the correct support to raise us how they wanted to. Ibecame a member of FCAA in order to meet other people that were in foster care. I want this organization to improve the foster care system and make a positive difference.

I received my Associates in Early Childhood Education in 2011 from Middlesex Community College. My dream is to work as an assistant preschool teacher. I have attended Hope International Church for 19 years. I have been a volunteer music teacher, Lead Sunday school teacher & Co-teacher for many years at this church. Without the support of my family at church, my hard work, and my biological family I would not be the great woman I am today.

I was in foster homes from the ages of 4 ½ - 13 years old.  My biological parents were in and out of psychiatric hospitals and we did not have extended family that would or could take me and my two sisters in. We were sometimes placed together in the same home, but not all of the time. I joined FCAA because I need to be a part of a community that can understand and relate to what I went through during that time. I grew up feeling extremely alone and scared because I did not know what was happening in my family and no one explained it to me.

As a teen mother, it was difficult for me to raise my daughter and finish high school all at the same time but I did. In 1996, I graduated from Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School. As a way to give back and help other pregnant or parenting teens, I became an Advisory Board Member for the MA Alliance on Teen Pregnancy in 2002. At the same time I continued to work on myself, get the training I needed to be a productive member of society and be a power of example to my daughter. On October 21, 2010 I went to a book signing for "Hope's Boy" by Andrew Bridge who is also a former foster child. He mentioned that statistically, girls who end up in foster homes are more than twice as likely to become teen mothers. When I heard him say this I started crying. I am one of these Statistics!
 
In 2003, I received my Jackson Hewitt Tax Certification and shortly thereafter I was hired by Bank of America where I started as a Teller and moved my way up to become a Credit Support Associate in the commercial loan department. I started attending Bentley University in September 2011 to work on getting my BA in finance and minor in Non-profit Management. After that I plan on becoming a Certified Financial Planner to teach people about money management skills and investing in socially responsible funds.
 
I am an active member of Grace Chapel in Lexington/Wilmington and was part of the Toastmasters Speakers Network where I served as the Treasurer until June of 2010 and was a member until September 2011. 

Alexis Rodriguez: Alumni & Secretary-Age 37

I am the middle child of three beautiful girls. I had a very difficult childhood with two disabled parents which put me in foster care for many years. I have a lot of compassion and understanding of feeling abandoned, unstable & confused. I joined FCAA to find my purpose in this challenging world and d to tell people my story so others can get the proper help they need.  If my parents and my 2 sisters had the support from certain people or agencies then things would be different. My parents did try hard to do their best with what they had mentally and financially. I want to see other children in foster care grow up in a positive manner.  One person can be the change in the world to help others. My compassion, strength and love for peace in this world lives deep in my soul. 

Since 2001, I have worked at 4 different jobs and have attended three different colleges. I have had some financial help from my Uncle Ricky with attending my first college and I am still trying to get a degree. My main goal is to graduate, have a family of my own and to travel more. I would like a business of some sort in the future.  

Veola Green, Fundraising, FCAA, MA