If there was one thing you’d like every teacher, educator, public official to know, what would it be?

That it is far better to believe in someone and risk being wrong than to not believe in them and be right. I think that’s true and important both at the individual and the system level.

As a board member, I take the influence and power I finally have seriously. I know that my input could change the educational path of foster youth. I want New York City youth in care to know that there are people on their side who have walked in their shoes.”

“You might be the smartest student, but you could be lashing out in class in reaction to trauma you are going through alone. Sometimes teachers might just see that disruption and not take the time to learn what’s going on at home,” said Barnwell, 22, now an analyst at Goldman Sachs in Texas. “I’m really excited that there’s going to be an organization to help youth navigate that complexity, especially now.”