As part of National Foster Care Month, nearly 100 foster care youth and alumni from across the country will travel to Washington, D.C., the week of May 23 to shadow members of Congress and share their experiences in the child welfare system.

The Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Program brings foster youth and policymakers together. Over three days, participants attend young leader training and team-building exercises. They will attend a Town Hall with Rep. Karen Bass to focus on how to effectively communicate with their representatives and discuss federal foster care policy. Finally, they spend a day shadowing congressional members, sharing their perspectives as alumni of foster care and their ideas for improving the child welfare system.

The Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Program ends with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Darryl McDaniels, a founding member of the classic hip-hop group Run-D.M.C.

Watch this inspiring video about how 65 young people took part in the annual event.