We believe that all children have the right to food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, property and personal privacy.
Florida’s laws, policies and practices respect, prioritize and protect children and youth impacted by the child welfare, juvenile justice, and disability systems.
Florida Youth SHINE is the organization whose members are youth who grew up in foster care and are dedicated to improving the lives of those who are also in the system. This year, as they celebrate 20 years of advocacy, they had a recent appearance in the White House for the signing…
Serenity Miller was in foster care as a baby and was adopted by a wonderful, loving family. She is now a leader with Florida Youth SHINE, a group that advocates for others in the foster care system so they can receive support, including to continue and to complete their education…
A 90-minute training series on the 3rd Wednesday of September through March covering issues that affect youth in care…
Geori Seldine has dedicated the majority of her career to fearlessly advocating for children and youth, ensuring that they are prioritized in policy decisions….
As a Canadian American of many years, I thank Keith Christensen of Fort Lauderdale for his letter to the editor about the friendship between our two countries. The president keeps saying that Canada takes advantage of the U.S. Is he aware….
“Borrow and Spend” Congressman Greg Steube of Sarasota says the One Big Beautiful Bill – which was recently signed into law – will cut taxes for Americans. And it’s true if you are lucky enough to earn more than $450,000 a year. You will get a nice tax cut…..
A new Florida law, effective July 1, 2025, provides critical housing support for potentially thousands of kids in our state as they age out of state care. The law prioritizes individuals from foster care…
A former state attorney says the system designed to protect children may have failed 7-year-old Nia Williams, who died earlier this year in what investigators are calling a homicide…
A bill to boost housing access for young adults who have spent time in the foster care system was unanimously advanced by the Senate Education Postsecondary Committee Monday…
Tierra Lamore, who was in foster care from age 6 to 15, suddenly found herself homeless on her 18th birthday. The high school senior started couch surfing and worrying about where she would stay next….
Each year, a group of young people who have been in foster care comes to Tallahassee to lobby during the legislative session. They’re called Florida Youth SHINE, they’ve been around since 2005…
Tierra Lamore, who was in foster care from age 6 to 15, suddenly found herself homeless on her 18th birthday. The high school senior started couch surfing and worrying about where she would stay next….
Sophia Coffey knows foster care in Florida as only a foster kid can — and she is determined to change it. Growing up in the system…
Each year, AAJ presents the Trial Lawyers Care Award to a trial lawyer who contributes to the greater good…
On November 14, 2024, nearly 250 guests gathered at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Mary Porter Ballroom to celebrate the generosity of nine outstanding local donors…
FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach/Miami)
Alexia Nechayev, from Miami, Florida, is a dedicated advocate for youth with lived experience in foster care and with homelessness. After being placed in foster care as a teenager, Alexia experienced firsthand the stigma surrounding the system, as well as the challenges of navigating a system that didn’t provide support for her to advocate for herself. This experience motivated her to create change, ensuring that other youth in care have the tools and resources she lacked.
She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, and upon graduation worked as a Hope Navigator with the Department of Children and Families which allowed her to assist clients through individualized care plans, further deepening her commitment to improving the lives of marginalized youth. Alexia is now applying to law schools with the goal of advancing her advocacy work through a legal career. As the Events and Meetings Chair for Florida Youth SHINE (FYS), she creates opportunities for foster and homeless youth to collaborate and push for meaningful change. She is also an active member of the Policy and Initiative Team for Florida Youth SHINE, where she helps create and shape policies that directly impact youth in foster care. One of her proudest accomplishments is helping to develop the Foster Care Bill of Rights, a law that she feels would have made a difference during her own time in care.
In addition to her work with FYS, Alexia serves on the Board of Directors for the parent organization of FYS, Florida’s Children First. In this role, she contributes to strategic decision-making while advocating for the rights and welfare of children statewide.
Every year, she travels to the state capitol to advocate for bills she and her peers have helped shape, including key pieces of legislation that benefit foster and homeless youth. However her advocacy extends beyond her state, as she represents Florida Youth SHINE at national conferences such as the National Leaders 4 Change Conference.
Through her internship with the National Foster Youth Institute, Alexia continues to refine her advocacy skills, preparing for a future where she can contribute meaningfully to both policymaking and the legal system. Guided by the belief that “the blue sky is always there,” she remains committed to ensuring that every youth in foster care has the power and support to advocate for themselves.
