"Let Kids Vote and Let Kids Dream," with Julie Bowditch

This episode aired on 10/23/24 on WICN 90.5FM

Hey Worcester! Josh here back with another episode of Public Hearing. I’m back with Julie Bowditch, the Executive Director of the CASA Project Worcester County, to dive deeper into the incredible work they do supporting youth in foster care. We discuss what advocacy looks like on the ground, how amplifying the voices of young people can make a real difference, and the importance of bringing cultural humility into the work we do. We also explore how our systems often fall short, and what CASA is doing to bridge those gaps and bring dignity and joy to the lives of young people.

We’ll touch on how everything from toys to the legal system impacts the lives of kids in foster care, and why it’s so critical to involve them in decision-making. Whether you’re passionate about youth advocacy, community justice, or just want to learn more about what’s happening in Worcester, this episode is packed with insight.

Key Topics:

• CASA Project’s mission and how they support youth in foster care
• The importance of amplifying youth voices
• Addressing cultural humility and supporting the wants, not just the needs, of foster youth
• Navigating systemic challenges in the foster care and juvenile justice systems
• How community members can get involved with CASA and support local advocacy

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 – Introduction: Recap of last episode and welcome back to Julie Bowditch
• 01:17 – Intersection of Public Hearing and Queer For Cities
• 02:42 – CASA Project overview: What they do and who they serve
• 04:20 – How CASA advocates for youth in the foster care system
• 10:04 – Challenges in the foster care system and systemic failures
• 12:44 – Cultural humility and supporting the wants of youth
• 16:10 – Amplifying youth voices and rethinking how we support them
• 19:34 – Tactical solutions: CASA’s impact on youth outcomes
• 24:05 – How to get involved with CASA and support local youth

Tune in every Wednesday at 6 PM on WICN 90.5 FM or wherever you get your podcasts, and let’s keep the conversation going!

Learn more and follow at QueerForCities.com/PublicHearing

Created & Hosted by Joshua Croke.
Our Audio Producer is Giuliano D'Orazio.