Op-Ed by CCC staff Toosdhi Jackson and Jennifer Ward Published in the Richmond Times Dispatch May 20, 2026 A loving and stable family home provides a critical foundation for children to thrive and mature into adults. If we recall our own childhoods, a nurturing home environment was central to our development as young adults. Those formative years between 12 and 18 are especially crucial for our growth. Sadly, thousands of children in Virginia are still searching for a permane

In 2024, Eurydice escaped her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to legally come to the United States as a refugee with her parents and siblings. At 20 years old, Eurydice was ready to embrace new opportunities.

"We came here legally, we just want to work and go to school... We are just trying to get a better future."