– Photo by John Meiu
On Monday, Jan. 26, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners along with other Oakland County officials took part in the Annual KidSpeak Event in the Board of Commissioners Auditorium in Pontiac. Cherish Thomas (at podium) was one of the three dozen high school and college age students from Oakland County and the surrounding counties who provided testimony about their experiences, concerns, and successes as they navigate their movement into adulthood. KidSpeak is a signature event of the Voices for Michigan’s Children. Since 1993, Michigan’s Children has served as a statewide independent and non-partisan voice for children and has focused on reducing disparities in child outcomes from cradle to career. By engaging public officials, business and community leaders and advocacy partners seek to improve public policies and programs that give all children the opportunity to thrive. The event was sponsored by the Mitsi and Albert Scaglione of Park West Foundation, Voices for Michigan’s Children; Foster Care Alumni of America-Michigan Chapter; Michigan Youth Opportunity Initiative; and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
