The most violent and troubling stories become part of our national consciousness about foster care.

My husband and I vowed that after we married and settled down, we would become foster parents - a vow we kept and one that has enriched our lives greatly.

I've worked with homeless kids, kids in foster care, and I've never met a kid who couldn't be reached.

I founded Camellia Network with my dear friend Isis Dallis Keigwin. The mission of our organization is to create a national network that connects every youth aging out of foster care to the critical resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive in adulthood.

I have spent a lot of time with foster children over the years - kids for whom I have not necessarily acted as a foster parent.

It is stories - both real and fictional - that can captivate hearts, change minds and, in the most powerful examples, spur action.