From Foster Care to CEO: How First Place for Youth is Redefining Futures
At the heart of every powerful movement lies a story that inspires transformation. One such story began with a young woman who, after aging out of the foster care system, earned her commercial truck driver's license. She worked tirelessly across various trucking companies, saved up, bought her own rig, and started a trucking business. But she didn’t stop there. Her journey became a bridge for others—she began training other foster youth to follow in her footsteps, creating a ripple of empowerment and opportunity.
This story embodies the spirit of First Place for Youth, a national organization committed to helping foster youth transition into adulthood with stability, dignity, and purpose. We recently had the honor of speaking with Thomas, the CEO of First Place for Youth, on the Are You Happy? podcast.
Building a Lifeline for Foster Youth
Thomas shared that First Place for Youth has been operating for over 26 years, supporting young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 as they age out of foster care. With its roots in Oakland, California, the organization now has a footprint across five major counties in Northern California, Southern California, and seven other states across the country.
“Our mission,” Thomas explained, “is to walk alongside foster youth until they’re able to walk on their own.” This support includes life skills training, education, and workforce development—all crucial tools for building independence.
A Calling, Not Just a Career
What drew Thomas to this work? He had been serving foster youth for over two decades and long admired First Place for Youth as a national leader in the field. So when the opportunity arose to lead the organization, he didn’t hesitate.
“It was an opportunity to finish a job that should have been finished decades ago,” he said. Of the estimated 200,000 young people aging out of foster care nationwide, around 150,000 could greatly benefit from this kind of support. For Thomas, that’s a manageable number—one that fuels his drive to put his “foot on the gas” and push for real, lasting change.
The Real Question for Foster Youth: “How Will I Become Myself?”
During the conversation, Thomas shared a profound insight. While most children are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”—often leading to career-oriented answers—for foster youth, the deeper question is, “How will I become myself?”
It’s a question shaped by uncertainty, lack of stability, and the need for belonging. First Place for Youth addresses this by not just providing services, but by offering consistent human connection—coaching, mentoring, and advocacy that helps young people navigate adulthood with confidence.
A Future Worth Fighting For
Thomas’s passion is rooted in urgency and hope. He’s not just running a nonprofit—he’s leading a movement to ensure no young person is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
Stories like the young woman who became a trucking business owner are not rare anomalies; they’re the outcomes that First Place for Youth strives to make common.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for an organization that’s not just talking about change, but creating it—First Place for Youth is one to watch and support. Whether you’re a policymaker, donor, or someone who simply cares about youth equity, their work proves that with the right support, foster youth can thrive—and even lead the way for others.