4 years in Delaware’s Foster Care System
24 years old
She/Her/Hers
Mayda is from Wilmington, Delaware, where she experienced 4 years in the Foster Care System. Despite being a runaway at 15, Mayda did not let that stop her from achieving greatness. Fast forward, she earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in social work from Delaware State University.
She is actively involved in her community, having volunteered for the Division of Family Services. She has also served as a state youth ambassador and mentor to many foster youth in her state. One of her biggest accomplishments is when she worked alongside Delaware State Governor, John Carney, and inspired him to start the initiative to allow Foster Youth to attend college tuition-free. She has also been honored with the “Rising Star” award and the “Destined for Greatness” award.
In college, Mayda was actively involved in her school campus. She was president of a foster care based organization called Companion Champions whose mission is to uplift the mind, body, and soul of foster youth in the community. The organization strives to make an impact in the community and has been named “Best Student Organization” at her school. She was also involved in other organizations such as Theatre Society, Social Work Club, Curls & Coils, G.I.V.E.(Gracefully Igniting Voice Everywhere) just to name a few. She also worked as a childcare provider and summer camp counselor before starting her own business and traveling the country as a motivational speaker. Currently, she works as a Foster Home Licensing Specialist for Children’s Choice, Inc.
Mayda hopes to inspire other youth that they can do anything they put their mind to. Her favorite quote to live by is “Your Past will Never Define Your Future” and she will continue to live by this quote. Her biggest advice for anyone experiencing the system is, “To take any opportunities given to you and never let anyone tell you, you can’t do something.”
