Laura Singer
TOPIC
Rethinking Resilience: Changing the System, Not Just Beating the Odds
Less than 1% of former foster youth earn a graduate degree – a statistic Laura Singer knows intimately as a “statistical anomaly” and a product of the New Jersey foster care system. Her talk, “Rethinking Resilience,” exposes a devastating truth: the foster care-to-prison pipeline disproportionately funnels traumatized youth into incarceration instead of graduation. Laura challenges us to rethink courage not as just surviving adversity, but as the systemic bravery required to dismantle harmful practices. Discover her tangible, research-based solutions for educators and policymakers alike, proving that success for foster youth isn’t an exception, but a right that can be built into the system.
ABOUT
A product of the New Jersey foster care system, Laura Singer is a passionate advocate for children and systemic reform. She is a proud graduate of Syracuse University and Georgetown Law, and is currently a doctoral candidate at American University, where her dissertation focuses on policies and interventions to eradicate the foster care-to-prison pipeline. By day, Laura is a corporate attorney, but her dedication to children’s rights extends beyond the office. She works tirelessly as a volunteer attorney with DC Children’s Law Center and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), ensuring vulnerable youth receive the support and advocacy they deserve.