Foster Care Youth Mural Unveiling - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Foster care youth of Delaware are celebrating success by telling their story through a mural that's now proudly hanging on the Sussex County Family Courtroom wall.

Local mural artist John Donato and 18 current and former foster care youth collaborated to design and paint a mural representing the journey of foster care. It took them 5 days to create the masterpiece at the Rehoboth Art League. Monday was the official unveiling in Georgetown. "Even though we've endured the foster care system, we all have different stories so this painting really represents us," said Myiesha Miller, former foster care child.

There are currently 774 children enrolled in foster care in the state of Delaware. It's a road that's not easily traveled. "It angered me and it caused a lot of conflicts. Being removed from my mom and my siblings, it was kind of hard to take that all in at an early age," said Eric Lloyd, former foster care child.

Despite all the bumps along the way, these kids show that it is possible to overcome adversity. "I used to get in a lot of trouble and just being really bad. Then after a time, I just got tired of getting into trouble, coming into courtrooms, so I just turned it around," said Lloyd. "Graduation really helped me see that I really can overcome a lot of things regardless of my situation. That was really my point where I said hey, if I can do it, anybody can do it," said Miller.

The message they want to send out through this mural? "If we want to get to our destiny or what we have to get to, we should just persevere," said Billy, current foster care child. "There are endless possibilities to what people can do if they're given a little bit of support and guidance, and are empowered to seek out something that is their authentic voice and what it is they are passionate about," said Donato.