I met Xiaorong Jajah Wu (Jajah) in 2007, when she attended a law school orientation at the University of Chicago where I was giving a talk about the immigrant child advocacy clinic. After graduating, Jajah went off to practice at a law firm, but a couple of years later, we wooed her back to the Young Center where she became the Deputy Director of our Chicago and Houston offices. She fought for hundreds of children in detention across the country.
One of the many courageous young people Jajah fought for is a young woman from Ghana. At the age of 17, Vida braved thousands of miles on her own, fleeing harrowing violence. Jajah was appointed as her Child Advocate and fought for her every step of the way. She made sure Vida's voice was heard and her courage was recognized by every decision-maker they encountered. In 2019, Vida was granted asylum. Today, she is an advocate for other young people seeking safety, telling her story to inspire, empower, and give hope to people around the world.
At the Young Center, we rarely share the real names of the children we serve in order to protect their right to confidentiality. Even rarer is the opportunity to hear from them directly. This is why I’m excited to hear Vida’s story at our upcoming Spring Soirée on Thursday, May 13. Join me to hear Vida's story and celebrate Jajah and the hundreds of Child Advocates who open doors for immigrant children.
The Young Center works with the most vulnerable unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody, so their voices are heard, and their best interests are protected. We also advocate for an immigration system that treats children as children. To learn more about work, visit theyoungcenter.org or follow us on social media. Click here to donate.
