let me introduce debbie powell. [applause] >> thank you cyndi.i get the honor of introducing our youth speakers today prevent debbie powell the commissioner for the family youth services bureau. we are the federal funder for the runaway homeless youth program. i am honored to introduce these three young people that we have with us today. they exemplify what happens when we work in partnership. first we have jessica mccormick. she's a student at aquinas college in grand rapids michigan and is expecting to graduate in december with a double major in sociology and community leadership leadership. jesse first became homeless in high school and received help from arbor circle a grand rapids grantee of the family and youth services bureau runaway homeless youth program. because of her experiences with homelessness in high school and college jesse had advocated locally and nationally for homeless college students. i will let jesse tell you more about her work and her homelessness. [applause] >> good afternoon. my name is jessica mccormick and i'm here f

i'm debbie powell. we are the federal funder for the runaway homeless youth program.introduce these three young people that we have with us today. happens wheny what we work in partnership with the best. first, we have jessica mccormick. aquinas student at college in grand rapids, michigan and she expects to graduate with a double major in sociology and community leadership. she became homeless in high school and received help from arbor circle, a grand rapids grantee. experiences with homelessness in high school and college, she has advocated locally and nationally for homeless college students. i will let her tell you more about her work and her homelessness. [applause] >> good afternoon. my name is jesse mccormick. in here from aquinas college grand rapids, michigan to share some of my experiences. i became homeless before my senior year of high school. i was assisted by arbor circle, an organization in grand rapids who helped me with case management and ultimately encouraged me to attend aquinas college, where i had been at septage -- accepted. this was crucial. o