News
Radio Rookies: Growing Up in The System
by Shirley "Star" Diaz
NEW YORK, NY February 27, 2008 —Radio Rookie Shirley “Star” Diaz is on the brink of aging out of the foster care system when she turns 21 this fall. Many young people face huge challenges when they leave the system. And, a disproportionate number of New York City’s 17,000 kids in foster care struggle with homelessness at some point in their adult lives.
Bracing for independence, Shirley looks to herself for support.
Shirley’s story was produced by Melissa Robbins and edited by Marianne McCune. Kaari Pitkin is the senior producer of Radio Rookies.
The song was written and performed by Shirley Diaz and mixed by Terry Radigan.
Windows 
Windows 
Windows 
Search current and archival WNYC broadcasts. More
Latest Newscast
- Parsing the Prostate
- Queens National Guard Remembered
- BAM Kicks Off Afro-Punk Festival
- When Sex Stories Trump Real News
- Hot Dog Eating Champs Weigh In
- Nadal Wins Epic Match At Wimbledon
- In Iraq, Diplomatic Stalemate Over U.S. Presence
- U.S. Spying On Iraqi Army
- Nadal ends Federer's 5-year reign at Wimbledon
- Freed Colombian hostages urge hope
- G-8 leaders face rising expectations at summit
- The Leonard Lopate Show: The Lyme Disease Epidemic (July 01, 2008)
- The Leonard Lopate Show: Underreported: Nurse-Patient Ratios and the Future of Health Care (July 03, 2008)
- The Leonard Lopate Show: Give Us This Day, Our Daily Meds (June 30, 2008)
- The Brian Lehrer Show: Before There was Stephen Colbert, There was George Carlin (July 02, 2008)
- The Leonard Lopate Show: The End of Food (June 30, 2008)