When Constance Vanbuskirk stepped onto the stage at the Association of Children’s Residential & Community Services (ACRC) Conference in Chicago, she wasn’t just representing herself—she was representing every young person whose voice deserves to be heard.
As a Peer Youth Advocate at EmberHope Youthville, Constance had the opportunity to give the opening speech for the conference and co-present a workshop alongside fellow Change Agents. For her, the moment was deeply personal.
“It means the world to me to be in those spaces,” she shared. “My career with EmberHope is a huge part of my life. But getting to represent EmberHope while doing my advocacy work is my calling.”
ACRC brings together professionals and leaders from across the country who are committed to improving residential and community-based services for children and families. As a member organization, EmberHope is part of that larger movement—and through leaders like Constance, that work is shaped by voices that have lived it firsthand.
A Message Rooted in Where She’s Been
In her opening speech, Constance grounded the room in both reflection and purpose.
“13-year-old Constance would never believe it if I told her we’d make it to this stage one day.”
That moment wasn’t just about how far she had come—it was about what still needs to change. Her message was clear: lived experience must be included at every level of decision-making.
She challenged attendees not just to listen, but to truly learn.
“Including the voice of lived experience is vital to our work… we need to continue to fight until youth and families all have an equitable voice at the planning and decision-making tables that affect their lives.”
Turning Lived Experience Into Action
That message didn’t stop at the keynote—it moved into action.
During her workshop, “Beating the Odds: Change Agents with Lived Experience Leading with Truth, Data and Policy,” Constance joined seven other Change Agents to lead a powerful conversation that blended personal experience with research and real-world application.
Together, they explored the history of peer support, the data behind its effectiveness, and what it truly means to walk alongside youth navigating complex systems. They also spoke candidly about what it would have meant to have that kind of support in their own lives.
More than anything, the session became a call to action—encouraging organizations to intentionally create space for peer roles and to seek out guidance through initiatives like Building Bridges.
When One Story Sparks Change
The impact of that call to action was immediate.
Following the workshop, one attendee approached Constance with a message she won’t soon forget.
“She said that our workshop had changed her life. She planned to take everything she learned back to her organization and start making changes to include peer supports… she said it was the best workshop she had ever attended.”
It’s moments like these that remind us how powerful one voice can be—especially when it’s rooted in truth.
Why Lived Experience Changes Everything
For Constance, advocacy isn’t just about being heard, but rather, it’s about ensuring the right voices are in the room.
“We have a saying, ‘Nothing about us without us.’ There are tons of amazing evidence-based training models for people in our field. However, no amount of training or education can teach the level of understanding you can only gain from lived experience.”
It’s a perspective that challenges systems to move beyond theory and into authentic understanding.
Leading With Purpose, Not Just Experience
Her journey has shaped not only what she says, but how she shows up.
“God called me to do exactly this. Everything I have been through shaped me to be the exact person the children I serve need. I strive to be the adult I needed as a child.”
That sense of purpose is woven into every space she enters—whether she’s speaking on a national stage or connecting one-on-one with youth.
Building What Lasts: Trust, Connection, and Hope
At the heart of Constance’s work is something that can’t be taught in a textbook: relationship.
Young people who have navigated the system and made it into adulthood carry something incredibly powerful—resilience, insight, and hope.
“There aren’t any stronger relationships than those built on trust, shared experience and understanding… the hope that someone with lived experience embodies for youth in the same situations they came from is unmatched.”
And it’s that hope that continues to ripple outward.
This Is Only the Beginning
For Constance, this moment isn’t a finish line but instead, a starting point.
“I can’t wait to continue my advocacy journey and get ready for next year’s conference to present again.”
Her voice, and the voices of so many others with lived experience, are helping to shape a more compassionate, effective, and inclusive future for children and families.
And at EmberHope, that kind of leadership isn’t just celebrated—it’s essential.
Be Part of the Work
At EmberHope, we believe that every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. We also understand that the people who walk alongside them matter deeply.
If you’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families, we invite you to learn more about our residential services, where dedicated staff provide care, stability, and support every day.
Or, if you feel called to be part of something bigger, explore careers at EmberHope and discover how you can use your voice, your skills, and your heart to create lasting impact.
Visit our website to learn more about our residential programs or to start your career journey!
Will you be the one?
Watch the video below to hear Constance’s inspiring speech:
