Aging Out of Foster Care: A Beautiful, Tough Story of Trauma & Resilience

"I have been to hell & back & now it's my time." And now in his inspiring voice!
Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: The Antonio Levert Story. 
Antonio Levert has a mission to educate and inspire advocacy for children & young adults in foster & adoptive care.  His story is tough to digest but vital for conveying the gravity of need to protect & support our young people and the people who help them matriculate through life.  Antonio bounced between over 10 placements including an adoptive home, numerous foster care settings, inpatient & residential stays and various levels of county and therapeutic interventions.  He endured interpersonal disruptions, emotional and physical abuse, neglect & a scripted narrative that “he wasn’t good enough to be loved.”  Even through these obstacles, glimmers of his value surfaced – he was a gifted & bright student, kindred & loving, eager, loyal, spiritual, strong willed & driven.  But it would not be an easy path.  At 30, he has evolved into a ‘phoenix rising from the ashes’: a rare & unique success story built on a shaky & sometimes cruel foundation.  He teaches that what you learn to take away from your journey by having faith, addressing mental health, connecting with a community and finding grace and forgiveness will set you free and keep you ‘Rising!'


Chapters:
(00:00) Intro: Antonio Levert
(01:15) History of Placements & Story
(05:00) Statistically Unique
(05:56) Sullivan Deckard Scholarship
(07:20) Need for Community
(08:19) A Brother & Mrs. Cross
(10:43) Disrupting & Being Labeled
(12:21) Neglect, Abuse & Acting Out
(14:01) Generational Impact / BioMother’s Story
(17:16) Faith’s Impact & Chapters in Life
(19:10) ‘Mixed’ Families & Authenticity
(21:10) Trusting In Self After Being ‘Given Up’ & Judged
(24:15) Resilient Spirit v. Being a Victim
(25:35) Residential Treatment & Learning Self
(26:10) Mr. Lavelle: “You Can Make Something of Yourself”
(29:05) Ongoing Impact As Adult: Trauma, ADHD, Relationships
(31:05) Antowne Fisher Movie: Finding Value & Setting Boundaries
(33:00) Community of Hope / Open Table
(34:25) Chad Raymond & Family
(35:00) Forging Career & Medicine Pathways
(38:20) Challenges of Adulting w/o Parents
(40:56) Desires for Own Family
(41:45) Normalizing Making Mistakes (for anyone!) (42:27) Working through Trauma Ongoing
(44:15) Keeping His Hand on the Plow
(46:08) An Abuse Story & Lack of Oversight (Sensitive Content)
(56:00) Challenges of Foster Parenting
(57:51) Advocacy & Education
(01:01:30) Give Love a 2nd Try
(01:04:35) Resilience: A Phoenix Rising out of the Ashes
(01:05:31) Wrap Up
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Foster Care Aging Out Support:  The Sullivan-Deckard Scholarship Opportunity Program | Cleveland State University

https://www.csuohio.edu/prattcenter/sullivan-deckard-scholarship-opportunity-program

Academic Services | Foster Love
https://academics.fosterlove.com/