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Tiffany’s experience as a foster youth has made her resilient, aware, humble, empathetic, as well as a fierce advocate for children and families who have experienced situations similar to hers. After many years, she ultimately learned that what happened to her goes beyond having a mother with a criminal record and a drug problem, but rather, it is an indication of institutional racism and systemic harm. Because of this, Tiffany’s lifework is to dismantle the very systems that shattered the bond between her mother, herself, and her siblings. She considers it an honor and privilege to arrived at a point in life where she views having been a ward of New York State as a source of strength and not a hindrance.