She/Her
1 year in care
Jala Richardson currently lives in Louisiana and holds her family, her dogs, and music
close to her heart. Her advocacy journey began online, where she stepped into the role of a
foster youth leader and discovered the power of using her voice to create change. Outside of
advocacy, Jala enjoys watching horror movies, cooking, collecting vinyl records, and
journaling—activities that help her stay grounded and express her creativity.
Jala spent one year in foster care in Tennessee, where she graduated from West Creek High
School and later entered the Extension of Foster Care program. Her passion for advocacy
deepened when she had the incredible opportunity to meet with Governor Bill Lee alongside
other foster youth.
Before working with FosterClub, Jala was involved with Foster Care Alumni, the
National Foster Youth Institute, Tennessee’s Youth Board Council and a project called Spotlight on Youth. Jala has also contributed to pre-service training for new foster care workers and traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 25th Anniversary of the Chafee Program, advocating for change in education, employment, and other critical areas.
