Rise Contributors Melissa Landrau (left) and Mariya Kolesnichenko (right).
When CPS showed up at my door, they came in very aggressive. I had just lost my grandmother, who was my caretaker, and had gone through a break-up with my son’s father. Suddenly I was alone. My son and I ended up in a shelter, and I got a case called in for my son missing school. I was scared, confused and very overwhelmed but I stood … Read More
Hello Councilmembers,
Thank you for your attention to the issue of family separation in New York City family court. Although many people across our city and country have been moved by seeing how it affects children and families to be separated at the border, the separations that happen every day because of child welfare are seen differently. These families are seen as deserving separation, even though in many cases, families do not need to be separated—or … Read More
Rise is hiring two full-time positions! Please share this announcement in your networks:
Parent Leadership Program Coordinator: Rise is looking for a committed, detail-oriented Program Coordinator to lead our 4-month Rise & Shine Leadership Training to build the skills of parents to become leaders in child welfare reform. We are seeking applicants with life experience facing the child welfare system as a parent; professional experience working as a parent advocate at a legal or child welfare agency; and project management … Read More
Lindsay Reilly (Read by Nancy Fortunato)
LINDSAY/NANCY
Can I call your attention in the courtroom
To the mother with mental illness
With multiple kids and multiple fathers
Who was raised by a system
That never loved her
By people who never loved her
Who gave birth to 4 beautiful children
Stemmed from a poisonous father each time
Those who promised to love her hurt her
The mother who tried to be loved
So hard she lost herself
Guns, drugs, unlawful imprisonment
But she’s still here
She looks at her … Read More
