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Attorney Todd Perkins speaks with Alexis Ramsey, Executive Director of We Care Foster Care, about the foster care crisis, the foster-care-to-prison pipeline, and how education, mentorship, and housing can help vulnerable youth build self-sufficient futures.

What happens when children in foster care age out of the system without the support they need to succeed?

In this episode of Perkins for the People, Attorney Todd Perkins sits down with Alexis Ramsey, Executive Director of We Care Foster Care, to discuss the realities facing youth in foster care, and the innovative programs working to change their trajectory.

Alexis shares her journey from a 25-year career in education, including teaching in Detroit, Malawi, Beijing, and Hanoi, to leading an organization focused on helping foster youth build stable, self-sufficient lives.

The conversation explores the challenges many foster children face, including trauma, educational barriers, and housing instability, and the community-driven solutions that can help break cycles of poverty, incarceration, and homelessness.

About Alexis Ramsey:

Alexis Ramsey is the CEO and Executive Director of We Care Foster Care, a Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth in foster care.

Before leading the organization, Alexis spent 25 years as an educator, beginning with Detroit Public Schools and later teaching internationally in Malawi, China, and Vietnam while working alongside organizations such as USAID and the United Nations International School.

Throughout her career, Alexis has been deeply committed to advocating for children's access to quality education and supporting the development of the whole child. Her work now focuses on creating pathways for foster youth to achieve education, stability, and independence.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

The Foster Care Crisis in America

Children in foster care often face significant barriers that impact their long-term success.

Alexis explains that:

• Only 38% of youth in foster care graduate high school, the lowest graduation rate of any special population in Michigan.
• Many youth who age out of the system lack stable housing or career opportunities.
• Studies estimate that up to one-third of foster youth experience homelessness by age 21.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for programs that support foster youth beyond basic placement.

What We Care Foster Care Is Doing to Change the Outcome

We Care Foster Care focuses on helping youth build a roadmap to self-sufficiency through three core initiatives:

Education & Workforce Development

Providing tutoring, GED programs, and career training opportunities that prepare youth for stable employment.

Health & Wellbeing

Supporting the emotional and physical health of youth who have experienced trauma.

Agency & Advocacy

Helping young people develop confidence, independence, and the ability to advocate for themselves.

Connect with We Care Foster Care

Learn more or get involved:

Website
https://www.wecarefostercare.org

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/wecarefostercare

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-care-foster-care

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/wecarefostercare/

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@we.care8

YouTube

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In this compelling interview, Hartford Smith Jr. shares his inspiring life journey, from Alabama to Detroit, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by Black Americans and the ongoing fight for justice. Drawing from history, politics, and firsthand community activism, he offers powerful insight into the roots of inequality and presents practical strategies for meaningful social change. His story serves as both a blueprint for action and a testament to resilience.

Resources:

• Seeds of Discontent Series – https://uwmadison.edu/seeds-of-discontent
• Hartford Smith Jr.’s Lectures and Recordings – https://youtube.com/seedsofdiscontent
• Wayne State University – https://archive.org/details/HartfordSmithJr_Seeds_Ep21
• Morehouse College – https://morehouse.edu
• Law Services: www.perkinslawgroup.net
• email Todd Perkins: tp@perkinslawgroup.net

Watch the Youtube Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@PerkinsforThePeoplePodcast

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction and the Significance of Black History Month
02:35 – Alabama Roots and Early Childhood
07:00 – Poverty, Violence, and Healthcare Disparities in the South
15:35 – Early Motivation to Leave the South and Pursue Education
18:35 – Journey to Atlanta and Morehouse College
20:35 – Studying Social Sciences and Activism in Atlanta
23:02 – Transition to Detroit and Wayne State University
25:05 – Academic and Athletic Pursuits at Wayne State
27:41 – Legal Studies and Work at Wayne County Juvenile Court
32:44 – Innovations in Juvenile Justice and Community Programming
36:44 – Challenges in Implementing Social Programs
41:01 – Progress and Setbacks in Race Relations
43:18 – The Election of Barack Obama and Its Impact
50:57 – Rising Resentment and the Role of Media and Politics
55:55 – Economic Inequality, Wages, and the American Dream
01:01:39 – Hope for the Future and Collective Action
01:08:54 – Strategies for Social Change: Boycotts and Coalitions
01:14:29 – Final Reflections from Hartford Smith Jr.

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This Black History Month, Perkins for the People honors a living chapter of Detroit Black history with Judge Joseph Norvell Baltimore, retired former Chief Judge of Detroit’s 36th District Court.

Judge Baltimore takes us from the Virginia farm where he started working at seven years old to the courtrooms of Detroit, sharing the discipline, faith, and determination it took to build a life in the law when the odds weren’t designed in his favor. He reflects on what it meant to be a Black lawyer in a predominantly white legal system, how those experiences shaped him on the bench, and why respect, compassion, and dignity have to be part of justice.

This isn’t just a career story. It’s a reminder that Black history isn’t something we only read about, it’s something we carry, build, and pass forward.

Judge Baltimore shares:

• Growing up working on a Virginia farm at age seven
• Choosing education when it wasn’t encouraged
• Navigating law school and the legal world as a Black man
• The transition from attorney to judge
• Why compassion and respect belong in every courtroom

Black history isn’t only behind us, it’s living, breathing, and still being written. This episode is proof.

Please contact a trusted attorney if you have any questions:

www.perkinslawgroup.net

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