Kira L. Akito
He/Him
18 Years in Care
Kira first entered the child welfare system at age three. By 14, facing ongoing challenges in multiple placements, he made the courageous decision to leave unsafe situations and eventually returned to the care of the state of Oregon. By the time he aged out, these experiences shaped his adaptability, perseverance, and deep understanding of the challenges youth face in foster care.
Kira has leveraged his experience to amplify youth voice in decision-making. He has held leadership and advisory roles on multiple boards, including the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, Continuum of Care, Homeless Leadership Coalition, and both state and tri-county Youth Action Boards. His advocacy contributed to a nearly $2 million grant that has helped house over 30 families, demonstrating the impact of centering youth perspectives in policy and program development.
Kira continues to fight for systemic change at the tri-county, state, and federal levels, focused on reducing youth homelessness and ensuring that every young person’s voice is heard and valued. He believes that youth are worth fighting for, and their perspectives are essential to creating meaningful, lasting change.
