When I moved to Georgia in 2022, I had already interacted with the juvenile court system from a different perspective. My wife and I worked for nearly a year to bring our nephew, who was in foster care in Las Vegas, to live with us. In September 2023, he finally arrived, and we officially became his guardians. That experience made me realize just how much of a difference a consistent, supportive adult can make in a child’s life. 

I started thinking about ways to give back, to be a vessel for other kids who needed guidance and support. So, I did what many people do when looking for opportunities—I searched online for volunteer programs in Georgia. That’s when I found Cobb County CASA. I had never heard of it before, but the mission resonated with me immediately. I applied, and to my surprise, I received a call back almost instantly. The whole process moved quickly, and before I knew it, I was in training. 

During training, Mari, the Program Director for Cobb County CASA, mentioned how rare it was to have male volunteers—especially African American men. On the first day, she acknowledged me and another gentleman, expressing how excited she was to see us there. At the time, she told us there was only one other African American male CASA volunteer in all of Cobb County. Now, with us, there were three. That moment underscored how important representation is in this work and made me even more committed to seeing it through. 

Now, I’m working on my very first case. I met my CASA child for the first time last year. He was quiet and nervous—understandably so. But when I visited him again, he was much more relaxed and talkative. Seeing how much he had opened up from our first meeting to the second was incredible. That shift showed me just how much it means for all children to have someone show up consistently. 

I don’t have kids of my own, so going from zero to raising my nephew, a teenager, overnight has been an adjustment. There’s a lot I’m still learning, but with both my nephew and my CASA child, I try to be the kind of role model I wish I had growing up. I want to show them a different path, prepare them for adulthood, and help them navigate the challenges that will inevitably come their way. Life isn’t easy, but having someone in your corner makes all the difference.