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 Fixed

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: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The terrifying, liberating power of putting your personal story out into the world for everyone to see</li>
<li aria-level="1">“Occasional angels” and how they helped young David survive the cruelty of his upbringing</li>
<li aria-level="1">The intersections of mental illness, homelessness, and poverty </li>
<li aria-level="1">Why homeless kids need to see themselves in books and movies </li>
<li aria-level="1">Beyond fostering: how anyone can take action to create the kind of world where kids are safe and loved and cared for</li>
</ul>
 
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:
 
<a href="https://www.davidambroz.com/">David Ambroz</a> 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 href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreaklinks.com%2FBKAuF8sHB08ac2DfTwnGDSBd%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.legacylitbooks.com%252Ftitles%252Fdavid-ambroz%252Fa-place-called-home%252F9780306903540%252F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEFazio%40premierenetworks.com%7Cefc6387f5d294a52c7a908da7a370166%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C637956674241806129%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=DlySJCXckNn9ocUB%2BQZV2V1chUoUoF77njiO07uqi3o%3D&amp;reserved=0">A Place Called Home</a>, 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 <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveAmbroz">@DaveAmbroz</a>, on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hjdambroz">@hjdambroz</a>, and on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidambroz/">LinkedIn</a>
 
Additional resources
 
Just talking about foster care can help foster care. Check out <a href="https://fostermore.org/">FosterMore</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hereafterpod">@hereafterpod</a>
 
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 <a href="http://www.megandevine.co/">www.Megandevine.co</a>
 
For grief support &amp; education, follow us at @refugeingrief on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/refugeingrief/">IG</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/refugeingrief">FB</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/refugeingrief">TW</a>, &amp; <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@refugeingrief">TT</a>
 
Check out Megan’s best-selling books - It’s Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed

Life is full of difficult things, from tiny everyday disappointments to life-altering events. Everyone’s at least a little bit Not OK, something grief expert and psychotherapist Megan Devine knows from the inside out. In wide ranging, insightful, deep conversations, Megan talks with people about their often invisible losses - and what they’ve learned about being seen and supported in difficult times. 

With guests pulled from the front lines of entertainment, medicine, education, and activism, the conversations in It’s OK that You’re Not OK are funny, complex, emotional, and hopeful - maybe not your typical dinner party topics, but none of us are entirely OK, and it’s time we start talking about that.

New episodes each and every Monday, from the author of the best-selling book, It’s OK That You’re Not OK, and iHeartMedia. Find Megan online at @refugeingrief & follow the show @ItsOKPod

Life is full of difficult things, from tiny everyday disappointments to life-altering events. Everyone’s at least a little bit Not OK, something grief expert and psychotherapist Megan Devine knows from the inside out. In wide ranging, insightful, deep conversations, Megan talks with people about their often invisible losses - and what they’ve learned about being seen and supported in difficult times. 
With guests pulled from the front lines of entertainment, medicine, education, and activism, the conversations in It’s OK that You’re Not OK are funny, complex, emotional, and hopeful - maybe not your typical dinner party topics, but none of us are entirely OK, and it’s time we start talking about that.
New episodes each and every Monday, from the author of the best-selling book, It’s OK That You’re Not OK, and iHeartMedia. Find Megan online at @refugeingrief &amp; follow the show @ItsOKPod

It’s OK That You’re Not OK with Megan Devine

A Place Called Home: A Conversation with Child Welfare Advocate, David Ambroz

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b19f557c-3674-445b-b9f2-af1501644320/transcript

Advertisement