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What makes someone a leader? Perhaps Deanne Pearn, co-founder of First Place Fund for Youth in Oakland, California, states it best: "Everyone is a leader. Everyone has something to learn and to teach. Everyone holds a piece of the truth and has an obligation to put it forth."

For Pearn and Amy Lemley, her partner in founding First Place, a piece of the truth is raising awareness and meeting the needs of the many foster-children who are thrust out of their homes at the tender age of eighteen and left to fend for themselves. Imagine having just celebrated your eighteenth birthday, when your parents give you a pat on the back, hand you your suitcase and a little (or no) money, and then say good-bye forever. That's it-no option to call if you need money or emotional support. No advice or help with college or finding a job. No help even with finding another place to live. This is what happens to thousands of foster-children across the country when they age-out of the foster-care system, however.

"Many people wonder why the foster family doesn't lend some support," says Pearn. As she explains, however, most older foster children do not live in a foster family. According to Pearn, in Alameda County, for instance, there are only about nine foster families who accept children over the age of twelve. She goes on to explain that most older foster youth live in group homes or with relatives. "The group home often needs the bed for someone younger coming up through the system, and kinship placements may be struggling to make ends meet as it is," she continues. The point she makes is that, although there may be many caring and well-intentioned people trying to help these young people within the system, there simply are not the resources or capacity to ease the transition to independence for foster youth once they age out of the system. Lemley and Pearn wanted to change this reality.

The two met while attending graduate studies in public policy at the University of California at Berkley. They were both interested in direct social services, and each had an interest in the foster care system.

The seed was planted for Pearn at an early age. Her father volunteered at a group home for boys, and he opened his home to one particular boy who spent holidays with Pearn's family. When that boy turned eighteen, Pearn witnessed how difficult his life became.

After graduating from college, Lemley was interested in direct social services and worked at a group home. There, she witnessed first hand how difficult the transition to independence is for foster youth. Her Master's thesis dealt with the subject of San Francisco youth aging out of foster-care. Because of her research, she was not surprised to discover that foster-care youth are much more likely to be living in poverty and in need of social services than are non-foster care youth.

The solution for Lemley and Pearn was to start their own organization. They began First Place Fund for Youth in 1998 in the basement of their graduate school with the help of extra student loan proceeds and a grant from the Echoing Green Foundation. The organization began as a micro-lending program. Its two-year program includes emotional support, but its founders felt the practical support was just as necessary. For example, in order to secure a place to live, participating youth often need money for a security deposit and for the first and last months' rent.

Loan applicants are first required to participate in an economic literacy program. After the training, a group of six applicants becomes a "loan class." The two members with the greatest need are paired and must write up a plan for how they will repay the $1400 loan. The loan is then approved or rejected by the group as a whole. If approved, each individual co-signs the loan, making each person responsible for the other classmates. After four successful payments by the first two applicants, another pair can request a loan.

Lemley and Pearn have also established relationships in the Bay Area with landlords who are willing to grant a lease to young adults without the credit or employment history that most landlords require. In the beginning, participants pay 30% of their income for rent, and First Place pays the rest. The young tenants gradually pay more until, at the end of two years, they are paying the full amount.

First Place also provides other support. The organization employs youth advocates who help First Place participants set goals and resolve any roommate problems. The organization also offers weekly life skills workshops. Each year, First Place houses about 30-35 young people.

First Place has also created an Emancipation Training Center. Recognizing that some youth were not ready for the intensive services offered through the Supported Housing Program, First Place created this drop-in center to give visitors access to computers, phones, and housing referrals. The Center has not even officially opened, but youth are already beginning to utilize the services. "There are ten new youth using the Center's services each month, and about fifteen who use it on a daily basis," says Pearn. There is also a full-time emancipation specialist on staff who works with approximately 10-15 young people who still live in group homes. Pearn explains that, unlike a social worker who has a much larger case load and typically responds only to emergencies, this dedicated individual offers intensive weekly support and serves as a one-on-one advocate for youth.

Lemley and Pearn find it gratifying to know that they are making a difference in the lives of young people. Nothing comes easy, however, and there are always challenges. "The biggest challenge for me," says Lemley, "is that the effects of our decisions are very personal." According to Lemley and Pearn, there are more than 200 young people who age-out of foster care each year in Alameda County. They do not have the capacity to help all of these young people, and that may mean the difference between youngsters having a place to live or being homeless.

There are challenges with managing an organization as well. Lemley says, "We try to transmit the culture and practices of First Place to staff, but it is always a challenge to develop an infrastructure that can transmit that to each member."

Lemley and Pearn seem to be meeting the challenges, however. The capacity of First Place has grown steadily each year since 1998. In 2000, Lemley was one of nine recipients of the Do Something Brick Award. The award is given to individuals under thirty who are exercising leadership to promote positive change in their communities. Winners receive a $10,000 grant, and the grand prize winner receives $100,000 to use toward community building efforts. Their efforts also are helping raise awareness about this issue. "This is the year of the emancipated foster youth," declares Pearn. Indeed, First Place seems to be riding a wave. Last year, federal legislation was passed that doubled the amount states can spend to train emancipated foster children to live on their own. Pearn recently testified before the state assembly in support of a new legislation that would provide support to emancipated foster youth.

First Place also receives many calls from other Californians who are looking for a model program. "The best way to lead," says Pearn "is by example." That certainly seems to be what these two emerging leaders are doing.