Podcast appearances and mentions of david ambroz

Send me a Text Message about the show!May is Foster Care month I could not think of a better person to talk about child welfare, child poverty, and children in the care of the state than David Ambroz.David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.   His best-selling memoir A PLACE CALLED HOME gives us a front row seat to the young life of a gay kid navigating homelessness, extreme poverty and hunger, a mother's mental illness, and a dozen-plus foster homes.David compassionately, eloquently, vulnerably, and credilbly leads me in a conversation about something that requires all of our attention.Find out more about David here:https://www.davidambroz.com/Support the showKeep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westatpod/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@westatpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/westatpod/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westatpod/Twitter: https://x.com/WeSTATpodHave a topic or want to stay in touch via e-mail on all upcoming news?https://www.westatpod.com/Help monetarily support the podcast by subscribing to the show! This is an easy way to help keep the conversations going:https://www.buzzsprout.com/768062/supporters/new

Luke 13:1-9At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'” Did they deserve it? That's the question Jesus poses to the people reporting a recent tragedy under Pilate's rule. Pilate was known for cruelty and contempt toward the Jewish people. In this case, some Galilean Jews were offering sacrifices when Pilate's soldiers slaughtered them, mixing their blood with that of the animals, desecrating the sacred rite. It was as if Pilate declared: these Jews are no more human than the animals they slaughter.The people came to Jesus to confirm what they already believed: “Did you hear about that horrible death? What did they do to deserve it?” They wanted an explanation. Surely, there had to be a reason. The common explanation was sin: divine punishment.That was the belief of the day: suffering was punishment for sin, your own or your parents'. But Jesus pushes back. It's not their sins that caused this, which feels like good news—until Jesus warns them not to think themselves better. To drive the point home, he tells them about a tower that collapsed and killed 18 Jerusalemites. Did they deserve it? Were they worse sinners than others? No, Jesus says, but unless you repent, you will perish just as they did. Is that a threat? A promise? A prophecy? Jesus doesn't explain, just like he doesn't explain suffering. Isn't that hard for us too? We long for explanations for suffering—ours and others'. We're often gentler on ourselves, but when it comes to others' pain, we're tempted to look for fault.When tragedy strikes—a plane crash, a tornado, a terrible car accident—we don't think those people had it coming. We think: tragedy, bad luck, not divine punishment.But what about poverty? What about homelessness? We see a tent compound, trash scattered around. We might not say they deserve it—but we think: if only they made better decisions, if they avoided addiction, if they took care of their health, maybe they wouldn't be in this situation.This year, we've been learning and talking a lot about homelessness, especially here in Indianapolis. Our high school students and I have spent this semester diving deep into the issue as part of their Sunday School curriculum. The advocacy workshop we hosted focused on two Indiana bills addressing homelessness. So I was eager to attend the Spring Faith and Action conference at Christian Theological Seminary, which focused on that very topic.The keynote speaker was an author and activist I hadn't heard of before: David Ambroz. He started by sharing a bit of his own story. Born into homelessness, he, his mother, and two siblings roamed the streets of New York City, living mainly in Grand Central station. He recounted one particularly cold night, Christmas Eve, when David was just five years old. It's frigid and they are wandering the streets for hours, ice forming on their faces, as his mom flees the people she believes are chasing them. It's only after David has peed himself and pleaded profusely that she relents and they go to a men's shelter, where they are given a single cot for all four of them. Laying on that cot, David remembers his mom, the caring mom now, asking him “do you want this”, gesturing to the lost souls in the shelter. “No!” he cried. “I don't want this. I don't want to sit here in my own urine, surrounded by nameless, homeless shadows.” But in the dark, Mom sparks something: hope. I'm five, but I know this—I want a roof, a bed, blankets. I want to protect my siblings. I want to protect Mom from mom. “Good,” Mom says softly. For a moment, she's the mom I dream of. We pile together on the cot, and I fall asleep, held by hope.The story was as powerful as the rest of his keynote. David talked about his time in foster care, he offered solutions, but he ended by asking, “Do you think I deserved to be homeless, to be grinded up in the foster care system? Do you think the people who live on your streets deserve such suffering? No! But until we change our thinking, until we don't believe these people and children in utter poverty deserve this, nothing will change. We have the capability to end childhood homelessness and poverty—we just don't have the willpower, because in our heart of hearts, we still believe they deserve this.”That's exactly what Jesus is getting at. People living in poverty, living on the streets, are not suffering because of divine judgment. Jesus may not explain why suffering happens, but he makes clear it is not a punishment from God for one's sins. That's not to say sin doesn't have consequences; surely it does. But I would ask: What sin is worse—the ones that contributed to being homeless, or having the means and resources to help but choosing not to? And I don't just mean individually, but as a community, as a society.In greater Indianapolis, we have spent over a billion dollars on sports stadiums and parks in the last 15 years, most of it coming from tax increases. Not even 4% of that has gone toward housing and homelessness. If anything, people are suffering more from our sin: from the slow, unjust systems we have created, from having the means as a society and as individuals to help, but choosing not to. From the self-righteous thought that they must be worse sinners than us, that they deserve this suffering.Yet, thankfully, the trying task of deciding which sins are worse, which deserve punishment and which don't, is an unnecessary and unfruitful task—one Jesus is uninterested in.What I hear Jesus saying is: the people you assume are worse sinners than you are not. And unless we repent, unless we change our thinking, unless we turn to help, we will suffer too. As Bonhoeffer said, “We are bound together by a chain of suffering which unites us with one another and with God.” Because God doesn't explain suffering; God shares it. To redeem all the suffering of the world, God did not command suffering to stop but rather became flesh in Jesus and suffered with us. It is by his suffering that we are redeemed and given the opportunity to lessen the suffering of others.We are the fig tree, given another year, another day, another moment to bear fruit, to lessen the suffering of others. In Jesus' eyes, we are not a waste of soil, of resources, opportunities, or time—and neither are those who live in tents, stay in cars, or sleep on sidewalks.What does bearing fruit look like in our time and place? It's simple, but not easy: It means doing what we can and acknowledging the humanity of those suffering around us. If you're wondering how to begin, here are some ways you can bear fruit in this community. Next Sunday after second service, I am taking our high school students to Horizon House, an organization dedicated to helping our neighbors experiencing homelessness get permanent, safe housing. We'll get a tour and make some sandwiches for their guests. You are welcome to come; just please let me know if you're interested.And if that doesn't work for you, consider reaching out to Lutheran Child and Family Services. They run the only long-term housing program for kids aging out of the foster system, many of whom are at the highest risk for homelessness. I learned just this week that their on-site pantry is running low and could use food donations. If you can help, reach out to me, and I'll connect you with the right person.Lastly, I leave you with the same charge David Ambroz gave at the conference: we may not be able to help every person we see on the streets, and he can't either. But he does acknowledge them. He looks them in the eye and says, “I'm sorry I can't help today, but good luck.” If nothing else, we can do that—acknowledge their humanity with kindness and respect. When that happened to David as a child, it let him know, if even for a moment that he mattered, that there was hope. Our neighbors certainly deserve that. And what about us, do we deserve all that God gives us? The second chances, the boundless love, the endless grace with no strings attached? No. But thank God we don't get what we deserve. Amen.

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How do some kids survive a life of poverty, homelessness, abuse, and foster care and eventually thrive? We talk about courage & resilience with David Ambroz who is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate and the author of the memoir, A Place Called Home. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Currently serving as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, Ambroz previously led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and has served as president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission as well as a California Child Welfare Council member. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar College and later earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.In this episode, we discuss:Poverty and Homelessness:His story.SchoolWhat made a difference?What should adults who encounter or work with homeless children/youth know?Foster Care:His story.Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are overrepresented in foster care (Human Rights Campaign, 2015). While approximately 5 percent of the general population is estimated to be LGBTQ+, studies estimate that about 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+. Why are these young people over represented in child welfare? LGBTQ+ youth are 1.5 -2 times more likely to have a foster placement failure.What would you want foster parents to know?What made the difference in your eventually succeeding? (Going to Vassar and UCLA Law School.)The lack of available treatments for mental illness.Why did you become a foster parent?Why did you title the book “A Place Called Home?”Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

We've got a special treat for you this episode! We're featuring a recent Los Angeles GrandSLAM - with hosting, audience slips, music, and of course, great stories. The episode was introduced by Sarah Austin Jenness, and the GrandSLAM was hosted by Brian Finkelstein. The musicians in this episode were Alexander Burke and Ebin SchletterStorytellers:Jess Nurse learns a bit about friendship after your twenties.David Ambroz finds inner strength in a challenging situation.Brian Kett plays disc-golf with some misfits.

David Ambroz was one of three kids raised by a single mother with mental health issues. In his book, "A Place Called Home,"  he describes his Dickensian childhood surviving a flawed parent, life on the streets, and a social services system seemingly designed to deprive his family of the help they needed.   When his mother grew too violent, David was initially relieved to be put in the foster system, despite being separated from his siblings. But things went from bad to worse, until finally he found a family that helped him find acceptance and balance into his young adulthood.  David overcame the odds and went on to become very successful--completing college, and earning a law degree.   Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In the third and final episode of our miniseries on foster care, we hear from David Ambroz, a national poverty and child welfare advocate and author of the memoir 'A Place Called Home'. David shares his first hand account of growing up in the American foster care system, his experience becoming a foster parent, and how he learned to practice forgiveness. This episode is presented by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity that is committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America's foster care systems. For more information visit www.davethomasfoundation.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a childhood of homelessness and foster care, a vision for how to advocate for those in poverty emerged. David Ambroz, Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the challenges of his upbringing from hunger to abuse, and why he's made it his life's work to fight for child welfare. His book is “A Place Called Home: A Memoir.”

In this episode of “Heart of the Matter”, award-winning author David Ambroz joins Elizabeth Vargas to share his incredible journey of overcoming poverty and homelessness and rising to become a successful lawyer and advocate for change.  David's childhood was marked by hardship and a system that failed him. Yet, he defied the odds, achieving remarkable success and using his experience to fight for a better future for vulnerable youth. Tune into this special episode to hear David's inspiring story and his powerful message about investing in our children early on before they fall victim to a broken system. Content warning: This episode contains mentions of death, as well as discussions of substance use. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder, please contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at (800) 662-4357. These programs provide free, confidential support 24/7. You are not alone.  Explore more on topics and themes discussed in this episode: Parental Modeling: The Most Powerful Parenting Tool in Fostering Youth Mental Health and Resilience A Parent's Guide to Raising Resilient Kids Is Your Child at Risk? A Substance Use Risk Assessment Editor's Note: The views and opinions expressed on “Heart of the Matter” are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that's health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion.To learn more:Partnership to End Addiction websiteDonate today to help us provide free resources to families

(Airdate 1/19) We wrap up another week of wild headlines out of Washington and Iowa as we give you the ‘Good, Bad, & Ugly Headlines', where an empowered Donald Trump promises “chaos and bedlam” if he is left off the ballot in Colorado and the White House cancels $5 Billion in student debt (4:00). When we ‘Dig Deeper Into the Headlines' we examine the state of foster youth. Do not miss my one-on-one interview with author David Ambroz as he unpacks his new very personal new book, “A Place Called Home: A Memoir (15:00) and later we get his thoughts on the state of foster care in America by looking at a new policy in the state of Georgia (36:00). In the ‘Quiet Part Out Loud' I have something to say about the breakup of Nikki Haley & Donald Trump over her U.N. role (51:00). And last, but not least, ‘Let Me Finish' by sharing an inspiring story of bravery shown by a quick-acting teen in Oregon who saved a baby from certain death (58:00). Have a great weekend!

How do we live in a world that's at least half terrible, and that is a conservative estimate?If you recognize that line, you already know Maggie Smith. This week on the show, we're talking about writing, marriage, divorce, and why you didn't need whatever happened to you in order to become who you're meant to be: as Maggie says, “trauma does not give you a “glow up.””    If you've ever wanted to write the story of your life - including the messy, difficult parts like divorce, miscarriage, and the loss of identity - this episode is for you.    In this episode we cover:    Why it's ok if your story doesn't have a happy ending (or even a happy middle) Do kids really need to learn about resilience?  Does anything remain after devastating loss?  What's it like having your personal story out in the world for other people to talk about?  Divorce, miscarriage, and why sometimes the lemonade isn't worth the lemons   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons of It's OK that You're Not OK.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Related episodes:  Kate Bowler on the difference between transactional hope and functional hope   Aubrey Hirsch on the power of storytelling    David Ambroz on “A Place Called Home”    Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About our guest: Maggie Smith is the award-winning author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Good Bones, The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, Lamp of the Body, and the national bestsellers Goldenrod and Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change. She has been widely published, appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Nation, The Best American Poetry, and more. You can follow her on social media @MaggieSmithPoet   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief Additional resources: Get the best-selling Writing Your Grief course and join over 15,000 people who've explored their grief - and their identity - through writing. All the details here.   Maggie Smith's website   Maggie's memoir - You Could Make This Place Beautiful   “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? / The world would split open.” - feminist poet Muriel Rukeyser   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scene is 1990's New York City. Young David Ambroz and his two siblings are homeless, sleeping in bus shelters and bathing in public restrooms, under the care of his mentally ill mother. The child he was is still evident in the person he grew up to be: a nationally recognized expert on child welfare, and a staunch supporter of the foster care system. This week on It's OK that You're Not OK, we discuss both the horror and the joy of his childhood, landing on a vision of hope for the future that everyone (yes, you!) can help bring into fruition.    Sensitivity note: this episode explores the realities of being a homeless child, including brief examples of cruelty and non-graphic mention of sexual assault.    In this episode we cover:    The terrifying, liberating power of putting your personal story out into the world for everyone to see “Occasional angels” and how they helped young David survive the cruelty of his upbringing The intersections of mental illness, homelessness, and poverty  Beyond fostering: how anyone can take action to create the kind of world where kids are safe and loved and cared for   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About our guest: David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, coordinating with non-profits and community leaders for social good. David's memoir, A Place Called Home, is a heart-wrenching yet inspiring story, depicting childhood poverty and homelessness as it is experienced by so many young people. Find him at davidambroz.com, on IG @hjdambroz, and on LinkedIn.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Just talking about foster care can help foster care. Check out FosterMore, the foundation David co-founded with his sister, Jennifer Perry.    Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It all started in NYC David Ambroz at an early age observed his mother and siblings ignored by people as they begged for money and food. As time went by he was placed in foster care and made a name for himself. He recently wrote a memoir called  A Place Called Home (Book), that highlights his awful upbringing and how he was able to triumph it all. David Ambroz joins LAconic to talk about his book and how the process went. Also, valuable lessons he has learned. I hope this episode sparks something within you.  More from LAconic: ►Website  http://laconicmedia.com Host: ► Adam Pettijohn https://youtube.com/@laconicpodcast1911 Guest:  ► David Ambroz https://www.amazon.com/Place-Called-Home-Memoir/dp/0306903547/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1696379506&sr=8-1

The problem of childhood poverty has many consequences. These include homelessness, abuse, and children's separation from their biological parents.  Our guest on Love University Podcast, David Ambroz, shared his harrowing and inspirational story of being a homeless child caught up in the system (A Place Called Home; davidambroz.com). Eventually through the love of his mentally ill mother, and his own resolve, David graduated from UCLA school of law and has worked at community leadership positions at Walt Disney and Amazon. He was also recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Here's what we learned about how to help eradicate child poverty and suffering in the US: *There is no roadmap to resilience.  David takes exception to research that points out certain characteristics that can help a child become resilient and overcome trauma (e.g., having a pleasant personality).  He explains how, as a foster kid, he could fake having a “pleasing personality” to get food, but that wasn't necessarily his true nature.  Also, David explains, there's rarely such a thing as “getting over the trauma.” Now in his 40's he still chokes up when he thinks about some of his homeless and abusive experiences as a child (covered in lice; eating cereal with maggots; sexually abused).  He explains: “Vulnerability is a superpower—life is the fire that forges you.” In the end, everyone must follow their individual path to health and healing. *You can choose to have unconditional love. David explains that he chose to have unconditional love for his mother. Due to her mental illness—a form of schizophrenia—she could be alternatively loving and abusive (physically). Yet, deep down, he knew his mother always loved him and encouraged all of her children to “reach for the stars.” David went to law school and his other siblings also achieved rewarding careers.  Now, he has taken care of his mother (for twenty years). He understands her “mental prison” and loves her unconditionally. There is no greater love. *Storytelling is key to growth and wisdom.  During his childhood years, David read a lot. His mother would encourage it constantly and he spent a lot of time in libraries (also to wash himself in the bathroom). Although the new generations are now reading more on their tablets and phones, and taking in information in smaller portions, it is still a good thing to read.  Ultimately, storytelling is the key to learning and growing—a tradition that dates back to ancient times. Although the medium has changed as technology advances, young people and older people alike can be inspired, motivated, and taught by excellent stories, such as the one David wrote in his memoir, A Place Like Home.  *Empathy is crucial to helping eradicate childhood poverty. Ask yourself, how would I feel if my child was homeless? Many people avoid looking at homeless people or giving them money (“they'll use it for drugs”), yet they are human beings just like us. If we put ourselves in their shoes (“For the grace of the Higher Nature—God, spirit, nature—there go I”), then our attitude will change and our hearts will melt. We will want to help in any way we can—by giving money, time, and making a difference at the community and legislative level to improve the condition of the impoverished in this country. We need more effective community programs to end the cycle of poverty, abuse, and violence. As a community activist, David is a strong proponent of city, state, and federal programs to help poverty victims—children and adults—get on their feet and live purposeful lives. He proposes establishing college dorm rooms (free) for foster teens who want to go to college. In addition, to encourage more social workers to enter the profession, he suggests giving them incentives such as loan forgiveness and loan assistance for buying a house. Other plans include offering more wraparound support services to help biological parents financially and psychologically so they can keep their children, as well as offering benefits to bring more good foster parents into the picture (making them federal/county employees; giving their children free college after ten years of service).  By decriminalizing poverty and encouraging more good people to help children—biological parents, social workers, foster parents, adoptive parents—our youth will have a better opportunity to enjoy a secure and loving environment so they can shine their potential. David's message of suffering and hope can be summarized with the phrase, “Our love is all one.”  We are united in our emotions, desires, hopes, and dreams as human beings—regardless of our race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, and so on. The fundamental needs for humans are to have physical and economic security, to love and be loved, and to make a difference or contribution to the world. By working and uniting together, we can help create a brighter future for our children and a loving world for all.

Creating Belonging in an organization is far easier when leadership is onboard. In this episode, Mayor Victoria Woodards exemplifies this throughout her work, background, and her hope for the City of Destiny. (Also, the City of Destiny has got to be one of the coolest nicknames out there) Listen to learn more about the leadership journey that brought her honor to where she is today. The 39th Mayor of Tacoma speaks about her childhood, the military, community organizations, and politics. She also shares what she loves about Tacoma and how to create Belonging in the city. Mayor Woodards finishes the podcast with some shout-outs to events and activities coming up soon. Here's a list with pertinent links: Summer Teen Late Nights - From now till September 1st, middle and high school students have access to places with free food and activities Monday through Friday from 5 to 10pm. Click the link to find one of the locations throughout the city! The City of Tacoma will be kicking-off a community safety strategy conversation this fall. While the date is TBD you can check here to find the latest information. Tacoma Reads - Later this Fall, the city and library will host an author event with David Ambroz. His book, A Place Called Home was selected as the annual book for the city to read together. The author recounts his experience with foster care, homelessness, and sexual identity. Thanks, as always, to Bobby Choy (aka Big Phony) for allowing us to use his music in our intros and outros!

This week on "The Issue Is," Elex Michaelson sits down with California's first partner Jen Siebel Newsom to discuss California's efforts to address childhood mental health, California Senator Alex Padilla on his legislation to help workers from heat-related injuries, and author David Ambroz on his inspiring story of overcoming homelessness and foster care. 

Today, as we continue our “Best of Season 4” series, we revisit our interview with Rob's friend, David Ambroz, author of “A Place Called Home.” David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. In writing about the book, Hillary Clinton stated: “It's impossible to read… and not want to redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for far too long.”David currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.Rob and David have an enlightening conversation about the foster care system, grit, courage and integrity.Story Key Notes:

David Ambroz is a living testament to the power of hope, strength and perseverance in overcoming some of life's greatest challenges. Ambroz's childhood was a harrowing tumult of poverty, homelessness and hunger as he, his siblings, and his mentally ill, abusive mother survived on the streets of New York. His subsequent experience in the foster system as a young gay man was similarly marked by neglect and abuse until he finally found stability. In his recent memoir, A Place Called Home, Ambroz vividly describes his story of survival and ultimately life success. Today, Ambroz is a law school graduate, a leading advocate for child welfare, and a national voice for improved foster care and homelessness policies. He is a head of Community Engagement (Southern California & Western U.S. Region) at Amazon, and has been recognized by former President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Please join us for a conversation with an inspirational person who is using his lived experience to help build a more humane and compassionate nation, and how you can too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Remarkable People podcast, David Ambroz shares his incredible story of resilience and perseverance in the face of homelessness and mental health challenges. He opens up about overcoming his struggles to become a successful entrepreneur.David Ambroz's story is a powerful reminder that homelessness and mental health challenges can happen to anyone. In this episode, he talks about how he ended up on the streets, his battles with depression and anxiety, and how he coped with the challenges of living without a home. Despite the odds, he managed to turn his life around, and his inspiring journey will surely leave you feeling motivated and inspired.****Remember to follow the show so you don't miss upcoming episodes!00:16 to 02:15 - Intro17:25 to 18:32 - Taking a higher level of civic engagement to help homelessness.36:46 to 37:40 - Foster care system ********************Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable. With his decades of experience in Silicon Valley as a Venture Capitalist and advisor to the top entrepreneurs in the world, Guy's questions come from a place of curiosity and passion for technology, start-ups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. If you love society and culture, documentaries, and business podcasts, take a second to follow Remarkable People.Listeners of the Remarkable People podcast will learn from some of the most successful people in the world with practical tips and inspiring stories that will help you be more remarkable.Episodes of Remarkable People organized by topic: https://bit.ly/rptopologyListen to Remarkable People here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827Text to get notified of new episodes: https://joinsubtext.com/guyLike this show? Please leave us a review -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!Thank you for your support; it helps the show!

National poverty, child welfare and queer rights advocate and best-selling author David Ambroz sits down with Billy Shore to talk about the importance of truly caring for all children. Ambroz' memoir, “A Place Called Home,” details his experiences with poverty, hunger, and the foster care system which led him to found FosterMore.org. Ambroz says, “Folks are tired, and I profoundly understand that. But there are 8.4 million children in poverty in this country today, and we can't be tired for them.” Be inspired by his incredible story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Ambroz, author of “A Place Called Home” is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. In writing about the book, Hillary Clinton stated: “It's impossible to read… and not want to redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for far too long.”David currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.Rob and David have an enlightening conversation about the foster care system, grit, courage and integrity.Story Key Notes:

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Roxanna are discussing: Bookish Moments: a joyful poem and bookshelf chats Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: ways to bring joy to winter doldrums through reading The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:50 - Bookish Moment of the Week 1:52 - a poem that brings joy 2:56 -  If I Had a Name Like Rosie Fernandez by Wendy Morton 4:06 - Mindy's Meno Party and book shelf viewing 6:18 - Midlife with Mindy and Meg on Sorta Awesome 8:36 - Current Reads 8:45 - Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown (Roxanna) 10:19 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien  11:15 - Pirates of the Caribbean  11:17 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman 12:28 - Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabaneli (Kaytee) 12:38 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live podcast 16:23 - The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (Roxanna) 16:38 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 22:09 - The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Kaytee) 26:09 - Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth (Roxanna)   29:15 - Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer 29:55 - Invisible Child by Andrea Elliot (Kaytee) 30:16 - CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocate 32:32 - A Place Called Home by David Ambroz     33:53 - Deep Dive: Bookish Help for the Winter Doldrums 35:40 - Light in our spaces (Kaytee) 39:49 - Anwick Book Lamp 35:56 - Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light 36:00 - LED Taper Candles 36:58 - Romp Reading (Roxanna) 37:11 - The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell 37:21 - The Appeal by Janice Hallett 37:41 - Reading snacks (Kaytee) 37:47 - Acai Dark Chocolate Blueberries by Brookside 39:24 - Lots of color in our spaces (Roxanna) 40:04 - Fantasy reading in familiar worlds (Roxanna) 40:24 - A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas 41:03 - A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark 41:12 - S4E41 Tandem Watch + All Things Roxanna 41:13 - A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark 43:14 - Delight reading (Roxanna) 43:27 - The Book of Delights by Ross Gay 45:15 - Inciting Joy by Ross Gay 45:37 - Small doses of reading joy (Kaytee) 45:39 - G'morning, G'night: Little Pep Talks for Me and You by Lin Manuel Miranda 45:46 - The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha    45:47 - Our Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha 46:06 - The Comfort Book by Matt Haig 47:03 - Winter Hours by Mary Oliver 47:58 - Rereading (Roxanna) 48:11 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery  48:17 - Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh 48:25 - The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher 49:10 - Meet Us At The Fountain 49:14 - I wish for a service to send me lines from my favorite book daily (Roxanna) 50:25 - I wish for a book tasting experience for all readers (Kaytee) Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

Join us as we discuss  Between Two Kingdoms, by Suleika Jaouad;   American Notes, by Charles Dickens;  The Guncle,  by Steven Rowley;   The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells, and  A Place Called Home, by  David Ambroz.   We also discuss library and bookstore visits in Arizona.To learn more about the books or to purchase - click below!https://bookshop.org/shop/youvegottoreadthisVisit us on our Instagram Page - Click below!https://www.instagram.com/youvegottoreadthispodcast/Visit us on our Facebook Page - Click below!https://www.facebook.com/Youve-Got-to-Read-This-100997165428924Please note - we receive a percentage of each purchase you make on our Bookshop page that goes to support the production of our podcast.

Just skim the career path of my first guest for Season 2 of Insider Interviews and you'll understand why it was worth the wait of my past year on hiatus: It's Jarl Mohn, former President and CEO of NPR...and E! Entertainment Television, the network he also created! Jarl's career includes being hand-picked by former radio buddy, Bob Pittman (currently CEO of iHeart Media), to be the first EVP/GM of MTV and VH1. He also spent many years on the boards of The Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, the EW Scripps Company and Scripps Networks, and KPCC Southern California Public Radio where he honed his love of public radio. And, while Jarl hung up his pundit placard to focus on hanging art as he and his wife Pamela endow museums and support emerging artists, his 50+ years in media and venture capital have taught him a thing or two about content and management. He shares 35 minutes of brilliance and humility -- from how his years in foster care sparked an escape route to radio, how quality will separate winners and losers in today's content wars, and how art can literally change the way we think. We go head to, literally, toe on the big picture of media, right down to why his face is on my feet. Yeah, you'll have to keep listening for that one. Or watch the video on YouTube, since good content should span all platforms! The following is a highly edited transcript, including a multitude of links to important resources mentioned. Career Path – Radio to Television E.B.: Jarl, you were my first boss in the cable industry. You started E! Entertainment Television and I was there in the Greg Kinnear and Howard Stern days. Can you share a little chronological route to your career? Jarl: I began my career as a disc jockey when I was 15 years old. I ended up ultimately, in New York at WNBC doing afternoons when I was 25 then got into the programming side of the business, became a general manager and  bought some radio stations. Then one of the people I had worked with at WNBC, Bob Pittman, hired me, along with Tom Preston at MTV and VH1. So, I got into the cable TV business. Then in 1986 we created E! Entertainment Television. I did a stint with John Malone at Liberty Media as CEO of Liberty Digital, which was used to invest in internet companies and some interactive companies. Then venture capital /early stage angel investing for about 16 years. And then I had been involved in public radio in Los Angeles as a board member of KPCC and had the opportunity to become CEO of NPR nationally, for about six years. I finished up my tour of duty in 2019 and returned to Los Angeles. Radio as Escape from Foster Care EB: You shared with me that you had been in a group home in foster care .... Jarl: It was a very difficult thing to experience. I spend some time with foster youth and young adults in Los Angeles County now and have a chance to talk to a number of them. Almost every one, using different language, wants to know how we survived our PTSD or our trauma. ...I hated my existence in that children's home so much that I discovered radio and listened to it nonstop and fantasized about being one of those cool disc jockeys. So, when I got out at 15, I had a chance to go to engineering school, get my FCC license and began working at a radio station. EB: Radio is, of course we talk about it as theater of the mind. I just read an amazing memoir called A Place Called Home by David Ambroz, who actually works at Amazon now, and overcame similar challenges. You both remind us how we all need to support youth so much better and try to improve that world. The Art of Listening EB: Jarl, I knew you when you still used your DJ name, Lee Masters...I remember you would regularly walk the halls of E! Entertainment Television, chatting with every employee, every day. That meant the world to everyone I'm still part of the past-employee Facebook group. I even did an episode last season of Insider Interviews with Darren G.

Hundreds of thousands of young people in this country live in poverty or are homeless. Many thousands more face uncertain futures, and even abuse, while navigating (or languishing in) the foster care system. In A Place Called Home, author and child welfare advocate David Ambroz chronicles his life growing up homeless in New York City. He tells Gloria about his experience in foster care, the work he's done to make the system safer for LGBTQ+ youth, and what action is still needed to begin solving the intersecting mental health, homelessness, and child poverty crises.    No One Is Coming to Save Us has been nominated for a Signal Award, which recognizes the work of standout podcasts. But we need YOUR help to win! Cast your vote for No One Is Coming to Save Us here.   This podcast is presented by Neighborhood Villages, and is brought to you with generous support from Imaginable Futures, Care For All Children by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, and Spring Point Partners.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/.   Follow David Ambroz on Twitter @DaveAmbroz and on Instagram @hjdambroz.    Laugh, cry, be outraged, and hear solutions! Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nooneiscomingtosaveus.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do some kids survive a life of poverty, homelessness, abuse, and foster and eventually thrive? We talk with David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate and the author of the memoir, A Place Called Home.  He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Currently serving as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, Ambroz previously led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and has served as president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission as well as a California Child Welfare Council member. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar College and later earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.In this episode, we cover:Poverty and Homelessness:His story.SchoolWhat made a difference?What should adults who encounter or work with homeless children/youth know?Foster Care:His story.Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are overrepresented in foster care (Human Rights Campaign, 2015). While approximately 5 percent of the general population is estimated to be LGBTQ+, studies estimate that about 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+. Why are these young people over represented in child welfare? LGBTQ+ youth are 1.5 -2 times more likely to have a foster placement failure.What would you want foster parents to know?What made the difference in your eventually succeeding? (Going to Vassar and UCLA Law School.)The lack of available treatments for mental illness.Why did you become a foster parent?Why did you title the book “A Place Called Home?”Support the showDo you want more expert-based information? Check out our free resources at CreatingaFamily.org.

David Ambroz says he spent most of his time starving and freezing while growing up on the streets of Manhattan, surviving on old pizza crusts and sugar packets with few people offering him help or support. At 12 years old, after a moment where he says his mother almost beat him to death, Ambroz entered the foster care system. He finally found foster parents to give him the love and support he needed, and was able to break free from the struggles he faced. Today, Ambroz is considered a national poverty and child welfare expert, advocating on behalf of children in the foster care system and those experiencing homelessness.

Zibby is joined by bestselling author and award-winning child welfare advocate David Ambroz to discuss his gut-wrenching and unforgettable memoir (and Zibby's 2022 Book of the Year!!), A Place Called Home. David shares his own courageous story, his thoughts on how listeners can help those in the foster care system, his updates on his siblings and his own life, and how he has managed to stay so positive in the face of crushing challenges. Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: bit.ly/3FjtW51Bookshop: bit.ly/3gSy5n7Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. President Obama recognized him as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, coordinating with non-profits and community leaders for social good. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television and served as the Los Angeles City Planning Commission's President and a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA. A Place to call Home - the book David's Website Foster Care: An Unparalleled Journey Find All Our Links Here https://linktr.ee/fostercarenation Merch! http://tee.pub/lic/RwiARsuuDHs Call the Voicemail Line 413-foster 3 (413) 367-8373 Foster Care 101 Free webinar with NO sales pitch!   Support Our Mission https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fostercare   https://patreon.com/fostercarenation   Website   https://fostercarenation.com   Connect with us on our Facebook Page   https://facebook.com/7timedad   Connect on Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/fostercarenation/

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: snow day reading + scheduled reading time Current Reads: books that blew us away Deep Dive: finding your nonfiction fit The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:32 - Bookish Moment of the Week 6:09 - Current Reads 6:16 - A Place Called Home by David Ambroz (Kaytee) 11:20 - Death and Croissants by Ian Moore (Meredith) 12:36 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 15:04 - Blackwell's UK 15:29 - Plain Bad Heroines by Emily Danforth (Kaytee) 15:37 - The Novel Neighbor 16:45 - Run Time by Catherine Ryan Howard 19:19 - My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing (Meredith) 22:58 - The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill (Kaytee) 23:14 - The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill 23:20 - When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill 27:24 - Bookmarks 27:47 - Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente (Meredith) 30:45 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 31:05 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 32:44 - Fable App 34:54 - Finding Your Nonfiction Niche 36:59 - CR Season 4: Episode 24 38:32 - A Place Called Home by David Ambroz 38:49 - Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry 38:56 - Down and Out in Paradise by Charles Leerhsen 39:16 - Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow 39:24 - You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe 40:13 - Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service by Carol Leonnig 40:33 - The Palace Papers by Tina Brown 41:12 - Happy At Any Cost by Kirsten Grind and Katherine Sayre 44:13 - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin 44:25 - The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell 45:04 - Julie and Julia by Julie Powell 46:00 - Love and Saffron by Kim Fay 46:12 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 46:16 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 46:19 - The Black Count by Tom Reiss 46:37 - The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 47:39 - Meet Us At The Fountain I wish to let everyone know about Everyday Reading. (Kaytee) 47:55 - Everyday Reading blog 48:09 - Everyday Reading Instagram 48:22 - Everyday Reading Christmas Reading Advent Calendar  I wish everyone would jump on the ASMR bandwagon. (Meredith) 0:33 - The Vault of Ambience on Youtube Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcastand www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

Today, David Ambroz is an executive at Amazon, a child welfare advocate celebrated by the Obama administration, and a foster parent. Thirty years ago, David was a homeless, malnourished child being removed from his mentally ill mother's custody after years of neglect and abuse. We discuss his life story detailed in his memoir, "A Place Called Home" where opens up about growing up homeless on the streets of New York City and how he was able to lift himself out of many challenging situations. "A Place Called Home" is available now. David Ambroz https://www.davidambroz.com/memoir Use code LIFE20 for 20% off your Rebel Rabbit orders! https://drinkrebelrabbit.com/ For the best mattresses in the game, Engineered Sleep is your team! Use code LIVE15 to get 15% off your order. https://engineeredsleep.com

Dennis connects via Zoom with author David Ambroz to discuss his memoir A Place Called Home, which David describes as “Forrest Gump meets Hillbilly Elegy with a heavy dose of Precious.” It documents his childhood, growing up homeless on the streets of New York City, struggling to survive with his mentally ill mother and two older siblings, then takes him through multiple group homes and foster families as a teenager, as well as a life-changing year abroad in Spain when he's 17. He survives it all, goes onto college and eventually becomes an accomplished professional, working in community outreach for companies like Disney and Amazon, and advocating for better treatment for homeless and Foster kids all along the way. He talks about the emotional crisis he experienced a few years back which prompted him to finally put his story down on paper and how being perceived as gay early on made his foster experience even harder. Other topics include: his favorite memory of working on Hilary Clinton's first senate campaign, going twenty plus years without crying, becoming a foster father himself, the magic of queer Mickey Mouse ears, and what all of us can do to be part of the solution. www.davidambroz.com

Join Gregg as he welcomes David Ambroz, an award-winning child welfare advocate to discuss David's new book “A Place Called Home”. David writes about growing up homeless in New York for 11 years and his...

Author David Ambroz and his two siblings grew up homeless under the care of a mentally ill mother. Eventually, all the three children ended up in foster care. About that time, David also realized he is gay--which made him even more of a target for others' cruelty. He tells his story in detail in his memoir A Place Called Home.   Today we talk to him about his story of survivng and thriving, his rise out of homelessness, the fostercare system, to become a successful business executive. He is now a national poverty and child welfare expert, advocate and foster dad. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.  Previously  he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing  up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.).   With co-host Brody Levesque

Author David Ambroz and his two siblings grew up homeless under the care of a mentally ill mother. Eventually, all the three children ended up in foster care. About that time, David also realized he is gay--which made him even more of a target for others' cruelty. He tells his story in detail in his memoir A Place Called Home.   Today we talk to him about his story of survivng and thriving, his rise out of homelessness, the fostercare system, to become a successful business executive. He is now a national poverty and child welfare expert, advocate and foster dad. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.  Previously  he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing  up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.).   With co-host Brody Levesque

David Ambroz doesn't remember a time before he was homeless. He, his mother and two siblings spent much of his childhood surviving on the streets of New York City. As a teenager he entered the world of state custody, which came with its own uncertainty. In Ambroz's memoir "A Place Called Home" he tells a vivid story of hunger, welfare, his mother's mental illness and abuse, and how he overcame all of that to build a new life.

David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar College and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.), and was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Join David as he shares his powerful story of growing up homeless on the streets of New York City and discusses the next steps in the fight against poverty. Learn more about about the worthy causes discussed in this episodes and how you can donate and/or help: Covenant House Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Connect with David: Website: DavidAmbroz.com Twitter: @daveambroz Instagram: @hkdambroz A Place Called Home memoir Connect with The Broadway Gives Back Podcast: Facebook: @broadwaygivesbackpodcast Instagram: @broadwaygivesbackpodcast Twitter: @broadwaygives Hosted & Executive Produced by Jan Svendsen and co-produced & edited by Jim Lochner. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Special thanks to Dori Berinstein, Alan Seales, and Kimberlee Garris from BPN; Julian Hills from The Bulldog Agency; and Eric Becker from Broderick Street Music. Social Media Manager for Broadway Gives Back: Olivia Cull. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The scene is 1990's New York City. Young David Ambroz and his two siblings are homeless, sleeping in bus shelters and bathing in public restrooms, under the care of his mentally ill mother. The child he was is still evident in the person he grew up to be: a nationally recognized expert on child welfare, and a staunch supporter of the foster care system. In this episode, we discuss both the horror and the joy of his childhood, landing on a vision of hope for the future that everyone (yes, you!) can help bring into fruition.    Sensitivity note: this episode explores the realities of being a homeless child, which includes brief examples of cruelty, and non-graphic mention of sexual assault.  In this episode we cover:  The terrifying, liberating power of putting your personal story out into the world for everyone to see “Occasional angels” and how they helped young David survive the cruelty of his upbringing The intersections of mental illness, homelessness, and poverty  Why homeless kids need to see themselves in books and movies  Beyond fostering: how anyone can take action to create the kind of world where kids are safe and loved and cared for   Notable quotes:    “It's all out there now. There's no taking it back. And it is the scariest, most beautiful, important thing I've ever done. It's the most self loving thing I could have done. In trying to help other people, I inherently helped myself.” - David Ambroz   “I want you to believe that you can do something. I'm here today because people did. And I want you to believe that you can create another David Ambroz. Together, we could create a system that produces only beautiful children that reach their full potential.” - David Ambroz About our guest:   David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, coordinating with non-profits and community leaders for social good. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.   David is the author of the memoir A Place Called Home, a heart-wrenching yet inspiring story, depicting childhood poverty and homelessness as it is experienced by so many young people. It's at once a gripping personal account of deprivation—how one boy survived it, and ultimately thrived—and a resounding call from the grown-up David, now a nationally recognized child welfare advocate, for us all to move from empathy to action.   Follow David Ambroz on Twitter @DaveAmbroz, on Instagram @hjdambroz, and on LinkedIn Additional resources   Just talking about foster care can help foster care. Check out FosterMore, the foundation David co-founded with his sister, Jennifer Perry.  Get in touch:   Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Here After with Megan Devine. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, send in your questions, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can't be made right.    Follow the show on TikTok @hereafterpod Have a question, comment, or a topic you'd like us to cover? call us at (323) 643-3768 or visit megandevine.co   For more information, including clinical training and resources, visit us at www.Megandevine.co   For grief support & education, follow us at @refugeingrief on IG, FB, TW, & TT Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can't Be FixedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Ambroz is a child advocate, former foster youth, and the amazing author behind "A Place Called Home". In today's episode, we unpack many of themes in his memoir, and David provides us some simple solutions on how to impact change and bring awareness to Foster Care, by simply donating your small talk. You can learn more about David and "A Place Called Home" at https://www.davidambroz.com David is also the co-founder of Foster More. Foster More is one of the largest foster care advocacy groups in the country. To learn more about this amazing organization you can head to https://fostermore.org

Growing up, David Ambroz had a mom with mental illness, and his family experienced homelessness before he moved to the foster care system, which can be especially hard for LGBTQ youth. The City and County of LA are phasing out pandemic-related eviction moratoriums. What will it mean for struggling renters and landlords?

In this episode, Gayle and Nicole give us numerous memoir book recommendations. If you are into this genre you will find this show exciting and surely you will hear some good reads to get on your shelf. The hosts also do the book club discussion about 'Mercy Street' by Jennifer Haigh. As always you can find below the whole booklist they run through during the episode: The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray | https://amzn.to/3Dw2i4v (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9781982163532 (Bookshop) This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan | https://amzn.to/3Dw2i4v (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9781982163532 (Bookshop) All of This by Rebecca Woolf by https://amzn.to/3LrDBrS (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780063052673 (Bookshop) Normal Family by Chryta Bilton | https://amzn.to/3BO8kfC (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780316536547 (Bookshop) Solito by Javier Zamora | https://amzn.to/3Lkwh12 (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780593498064 (Bookshop) A Place Called Home by David Ambroz | https://amzn.to/3xub5js (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780306903540 (Bookshop) Firebrand: A Tobacco Lawyer's Journey by Joshua Knelman | https://amzn.to/3dkaH01 (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780735243811 (Bookshop) The It Girl by Ruth Ware | https://amzn.to/3xul8oA (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9781982155261 (Bookshop) Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Crosby | https://amzn.to/3dhXJjm (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9781250252692 (Bookshop) Razorblade Tears by S.A. Crosby | https://amzn.to/3qLc9Mc (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9781250252708 (Bookshop) Notes on A Silencing by Lacy Carwford | https://amzn.to/3eYcBUI (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780316491532 (Bookshop) Know My Name by Chanel Miller | https://amzn.to/3SeBA4t (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780735223721 (Bookshop) Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha Tretheway | https://amzn.to/3QKx38x (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780062248572 (Bookshop) Reading Lolita In Tehran by Nazar Afisi | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780062248572 (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780812971064 (Bookshop) Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times by Nazar Afisi | https://amzn.to/3xtocRU (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780062947369 (Bookshop) Easy Beauty by Chloe Cooper Jones | https://amzn.to/3eKOoAW (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9781982151997 (Bookshop) Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh | https://amzn.to/3fF9G08 (Amazon) | https://bookshop.org/a/2143/9780061763304 (Bookshop)

ATTENTION: This episode touches on sensitive topics such as poverty, homelessness, parental mental illness and foster care. Listener discretion is advised.  For my guest David and his two siblings, their mother's paranoid schizophrenia brought with it poverty, violence, and instability. They traveled through New York and neighboring areas seeking shelter: they found it in train stations, 24-hour diners, anywhere warm and dry. The first 11 years of his life he was homeless, then he was placed in foster care. At first, it felt like salvation but soon proved to be just as unsafe for him.  As a gay child, David's coming-off age is fusrther marked by anti-gay abuse at the hands of caregiovers and therpists.  David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, coordinating with non-profits and community leaders for social good. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. SOME KEY POINTS What is home? Where is home? What people get right and get wrong about childhood poverty How to create ground-up change in foster care system How to encourage more educated, middle-class families to foster Effective ways anyone can help improve the lives of foster kids GET HIS BOOK A Place Called Home MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Supernormal by Meg Jay, PhD The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry, MD, PhD David's website Follow him on Instagram Follow him on Twitter  SUPPORT THE SHOW, SHOW YOUR LOVE Become a patron on Patreon.com and join 21 exisiting memebers who contribute $121 towards our monthly goal of $500.  Make a one-time donation in any amount to say “Thank you!” Rate or write a review FULL SHOW NOTES www.authenticparenting.com/podcast HOW TO WORK WITH ANNA I would be thrilled to support you in your parenting journey! All listeners get 10% off on my services. Private Coaching Online courses and classes GET IN TOUCH Comments, questions, feedback, and love notes  USA listeners call 732-763-2576 and leave a voicemail. International listeners use the FREE Speak Pipe tool on my website Email: info@authenticparenting.com STAY CONNECTED Instagram Facebook Group-Authentic Parenting Community Thank you for listening!  With gratitude, Anna Seewald Parent Educator, Keynote Speaker, Author www.authenticparenting.com

What Matters Most podcast host Paul Samuel Dolman speaks with author / child welfare advocate David Ambroz about his new book A Place Called Home. The post David Ambroz #1054 appeared first on Paul Samuel Dolman.

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by David Ambroz, author of A Place Called Home. David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MagnificatThere are no real adjectives to describe David Ambroz's life as a child. Words like filthy, abused, and dejected sanitize the experience of what life must have been like for a seven-year-old David, precariously washing his clothes in the bathroom sink of a Wendy's. His young eyes anxiously scanning the locked door, hoping that no one will barge in and interrupt his inconsistent cleansing ritual that for a moment, but not completely, removes the foul stench of poverty and homelessness engulfing him and his siblings. A scarcity wrought by their mother, a complex woman fighting her own demons of mental illness. Trying to unravel a system not interested in lives and uplifting humanity but driven by poll tested phrases like “personal responsibility.” Glib, disconnected slogans shouted by well-heeled officials into echo chambers of comfortable, ill informed, and unconcerned agreement. A system that David describes as a pipeline to prison and generational poverty.This is the gritty and oftentimes unimaginable world of David's beautiful and necessary memoir A Place Called Home. His story is at times heartbreaking. At times grotesque. And then again hopeful even as the thief called doom lurks in the corner, biding his time. And in these stories, we the reader need a totem on which to place our blame. Someone to stand as factor for our fears of what the lives of people like David trapped in these circumstances mean about us. And since the system is too big, and the well-dressed officials too far away, David's mom, Mary, has become the focus of the outrage. This is not Saint Luke's Mary of the Magnificat, rejoicing in the glory and the power of the Lord at her divine and blessed favor. This is the Mary who beats her kids. Risks all their lives. And drifts into an almost catatonic state, chain smoking cigarettes as her children silently starve. Through it all David has a dream, that the hand of God touches his mother's head – the way He touched the other Mary's womb – to still her restlessness and allow the true Mary she is to come through. So he can get to know her. Talk to that Mary. His mom.  Throughout our conversation, the theme of forgiveness is rampant. It is liberal. Especially for Mary. As David says, “I perhaps am too forgiving, but it makes me the hopeful, pragmatic optimist that I am today to believe that we can do better… I will not become numb, I will not become a pessimist, I will continue to believe that we can make the world a better place.”The dedication from David at the beginning of A Place Called Home reads, “To my mother, who taught me to understand and forgive . . . to conquer one impossible thing at a time.” David on IGDavid's WebsitePatrick's WebsitePatrick on FacebookPatrick on IGAt the Podium on IGPatrick on LinkedIn

Jayne Amelia talks with activist David Ambroz. David is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate, and author of a new memoir “A Place Called Home.”  He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. Currently serving as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, Ambroz previously led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and has served as president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission as well as a California Child Welfare Council member.After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar College and later earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.davidambroz.comA Place Called Home

Memories are a tricky subject for David Ambroz. He has no photo albums documenting his childhood, and no adults who he can ask about where he came from. He never marked the passage of time by holidays or school years, and his height was never measured on a wall in the kitchen of a home. Instead Ambroz and his family moved in and out of apartments and homeless shelters and lived a life of poverty, violence, and instability wherever they turned.  Now in his early 40s, Ambroz is considered one of the nation's leading experts on poverty and child welfare. He's also a staunch advocate for improving the foster care system in the United States and bringing attention to childhood poverty and homelessness. On this episode of Paternal, Ambroz discusses a childhood spent battling hunger on the streets of New York, why women largely carry the burden in the cycle of poverty while men are nowhere to be found, and what it will take to encourage more middle class families to become foster parents. Ambroz has a new memoir entitled A Place Called Home, which will be released on Sept. 13. Learn more about Paternal and sign up for our newsletter at www.paternalpodcast.com. You can also email host Nick Firchau at nick@paternalpodcast.com with any comments or suggestions for men he should profile on the show. Make sure you subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening, then keep an eye on your feed for new episodes.

David is one of those amazing people who has built a successful career through his passion for improving the communities that he lives and works in. Currently, David is the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon where he coordinates with non-profits and community leaders to drive impact and social good. David was honored as an American Champion of Change by President Obama. In his upcoming book, A Place Called Home, David shares his story of poverty and homelessness as a child, which ultimately became a driving force in his career. A true inspiration for us all. Guest Bio David Ambroz Head of Community Engagement (West) Amazon David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon, coordinating with non-profits and community leaders for social good. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA. About his soon to be released book, “A Place Called Home” "It's impossible to read A Place Called Home and not want to redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for far too long. In this book, David shares his deeply personal story and issues a rousing call to make this a more humane and compassionate nation."—Hillary Rodham Clinton "A story destined to end in tragedy that magically rewards an indomitable determination to succeed. Beautifully written."—Ted Koppel, veteran ABC anchor and New York Times bestselling author of Lights Out Links To learn more about Lead With Your Brand system, please visit: LeadWithyYourBrand.com To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop at your company, visit: JayzenPatria.com

Kathryn interviews Author Christine Miles.Do you want to make a positive change in your life, work, or business? Do you want to improve your marriage, be a better parent, or drive more revenue to your business? Christine Miles encourages us to examine how we are listening. She helps us to discover that not only are many of the problems in our lives due to not listening effectively, but how listening helps to solve most problems. Miles is a longtime expert in educating individuals and organizations on how to listen in ways that transform how they lead, sell, influence, and succeed in every aspect of life. Christine founded her consulting and training business, EQuipt, to help leaders from medium-sized companies to Fortune 100 corporations grow sales, develop people, and create cultures of understanding. She also created her workshop The Listening Path, a transformational approach to understanding and insight. Kathryn also interviews Author David Ambroz. Award-winning child welfare advocate David Ambroz writes about his first 11 years growing up homeless in and around NYC and his subsequent years in foster care. For David and his two siblings, their mother's battle with paranoid schizophrenia brings with it poverty and instability. When he is placed in foster care, it feels at first like salvation but soon proves to be just as unsafe for him, his burgeoning homosexuality an easy target for others' cruelty. In the face of this deprivation and abuse, he harnesses an inner grit to escape the all-too-familiar outcome for a kid like him. He finds hope and opportunity in libraries, schools, and the occasional kind-hearted adult. Through hard work and unwavering resolve, he is able to get a scholarship to Vassar College, his first step out of poverty. He later graduates from UCLA Law with a vision of changing the laws that affect children in poverty. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change.

Kathryn interviews Author Christine Miles.Do you want to make a positive change in your life, work, or business? Do you want to improve your marriage, be a better parent, or drive more revenue to your business? Christine Miles encourages us to examine how we are listening. She helps us to discover that not only are many of the problems in our lives due to not listening effectively, but how listening helps to solve most problems. Miles is a longtime expert in educating individuals and organizations on how to listen in ways that transform how they lead, sell, influence, and succeed in every aspect of life. Christine founded her consulting and training business, EQuipt, to help leaders from medium-sized companies to Fortune 100 corporations grow sales, develop people, and create cultures of understanding. She also created her workshop The Listening Path, a transformational approach to understanding and insight. Kathryn also interviews Author David Ambroz. Award-winning child welfare advocate David Ambroz writes about his first 11 years growing up homeless in and around NYC and his subsequent years in foster care. For David and his two siblings, their mother's battle with paranoid schizophrenia brings with it poverty and instability. When he is placed in foster care, it feels at first like salvation but soon proves to be just as unsafe for him, his burgeoning homosexuality an easy target for others' cruelty. In the face of this deprivation and abuse, he harnesses an inner grit to escape the all-too-familiar outcome for a kid like him. He finds hope and opportunity in libraries, schools, and the occasional kind-hearted adult. Through hard work and unwavering resolve, he is able to get a scholarship to Vassar College, his first step out of poverty. He later graduates from UCLA Law with a vision of changing the laws that affect children in poverty. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change.

Kathryn interviews Author Christine Miles.Do you want to make a positive change in your life, work, or business? Do you want to improve your marriage, be a better parent, or drive more revenue to your business? Christine Miles encourages us to examine how we are listening. She helps us to discover that not only are many of the problems in our lives due to not listening effectively, but how listening helps to solve most problems. Miles is a longtime expert in educating individuals and organizations on how to listen in ways that transform how they lead, sell, influence, and succeed in every aspect of life. Christine founded her consulting and training business, EQuipt, to help leaders from medium-sized companies to Fortune 100 corporations grow sales, develop people, and create cultures of understanding. She also created her workshop The Listening Path, a transformational approach to understanding and insight. Kathryn also interviews Author David Ambroz. Award-winning child welfare advocate David Ambroz writes about his first 11 years growing up homeless in and around NYC and his subsequent years in foster care. For David and his two siblings, their mother's battle with paranoid schizophrenia brings with it poverty and instability. When he is placed in foster care, it feels at first like salvation but soon proves to be just as unsafe for him, his burgeoning homosexuality an easy target for others' cruelty. In the face of this deprivation and abuse, he harnesses an inner grit to escape the all-too-familiar outcome for a kid like him. He finds hope and opportunity in libraries, schools, and the occasional kind-hearted adult. Through hard work and unwavering resolve, he is able to get a scholarship to Vassar College, his first step out of poverty. He later graduates from UCLA Law with a vision of changing the laws that affect children in poverty. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change.

Kathryn interviews Author Christine Miles.Do you want to make a positive change in your life, work, or business? Do you want to improve your marriage, be a better parent, or drive more revenue to your business? Christine Miles encourages us to examine how we are listening. She helps us to discover that not only are many of the problems in our lives due to not listening effectively, but how listening helps to solve most problems. Miles is a longtime expert in educating individuals and organizations on how to listen in ways that transform how they lead, sell, influence, and succeed in every aspect of life. Christine founded her consulting and training business, EQuipt, to help leaders from medium-sized companies to Fortune 100 corporations grow sales, develop people, and create cultures of understanding. She also created her workshop The Listening Path, a transformational approach to understanding and insight. Kathryn also interviews Author David Ambroz. Award-winning child welfare advocate David Ambroz writes about his first 11 years growing up homeless in and around NYC and his subsequent years in foster care. For David and his two siblings, their mother's battle with paranoid schizophrenia brings with it poverty and instability. When he is placed in foster care, it feels at first like salvation but soon proves to be just as unsafe for him, his burgeoning homosexuality an easy target for others' cruelty. In the face of this deprivation and abuse, he harnesses an inner grit to escape the all-too-familiar outcome for a kid like him. He finds hope and opportunity in libraries, schools, and the occasional kind-hearted adult. Through hard work and unwavering resolve, he is able to get a scholarship to Vassar College, his first step out of poverty. He later graduates from UCLA Law with a vision of changing the laws that affect children in poverty. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change.

David Ambroz and Brondalyn Coleman posit how foster care awareness could utilize tactics used by other social movements like breast cancer awareness who've revolutionized the color pink to become synonymous with breast cancer. How can we better market foster care in order to galvanize the public interest?Welcome back to INNOVATE! for Season Two! This season, host Angela Tucker highlights REFCA Champions who are inspiring a Re-Envisioning of Foster Care in America. These visionary leaders are using their wisdom, expertise and lived experiences in foster care to transform the foster care narrative from Alaska to New York, California to Missouri, the Pacific Northwest to New England.To learn more about INNOVATE!, the Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America (REFCA) Movement and the Treehouse Foundation, go to treehousefoundation.net. As always, be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.***ABOUT THE HOST:INNOVATE! host, Angela Tucker, is a REFCA Champion and a nationally recognized mentor, entrepreneur, educator and consultant. Angela is a transracial adoptee who, having been adopted from foster care by a white family, grew up in a city that was demographically just 1% Black.She is the Founder of The Adopted Life, a child-welfare consulting business where she strives to center adoptee stories and bring clarity and truth to narratives about race, class and identity.Angela has produced The Adopted Life 3-part web series where she interviews transracially adopted youth. She is the host of The Adoptee Next Door podcast where she amplifies adult adoptee voices to showcase the wide spectrum of experiences. Her own adoption experience searching for and reuniting with her birth family is the subject of the documentary CLOSURE. Angela's first book is scheduled for publication in spring 2023 (Beacon Press).***Angela Tucker - Host & ProducerNicholas Ramsey - Editor & ProducerJudy Cockerton - Executive ProducerDistributed by smallhand.us