Cobbled Streets, A Better Together Production, 30 minutes
A panelist of five adults who grew up in foster care dig deep into their experiences in the
conversation showcased in the short film “Rebecoming Me.” The group of professional, highly
successful individuals share their experiences growing up in Colorado’s foster care system.
While many of the statistics and experiences shared in the film center on that state, the stories
aren’t unique to youth growing up in Colorado, and can be applied to the almost 400,000 youth
currently growing up in foster care as well as the millions of individuals of all ages who’ve ever
experienced foster care.
Mitch, Nyomi, Tish, Jae and Brittney explore what brought them into foster care in the first place,
the moments they first entered foster care, the experience of living in multiple foster homes, as
well as group homes and detention centers. They discuss what it took to survive being in foster
care and some of the challenges they faced in the various places they lived. Beyond foster care,
they share their journeys into adulthood and how they have found their way in life, but have
continued to be profoundly impacted by their foster care experiences.
Deep in the conversation the panelists land on the concept of what “rebecoming me” means.
“I’m constantly rebecoming me,” Mitch says. “The person that I was 20 years ago is leagues
away from the person that I am now… Rebecoming me is a constant, constant re-evaluation of
who we are as a person and we’re constantly growing and changing.”
Tish shares that for her rebecoming means acceptance of her experiences and who she has
become along the way.
The stories the panelists share are profound and important pieces for all of those working in the
foster care and youth incarceration systems to hear. From judges and caseworkers to foster
parents and respite care providers, there is much to be learned from the experiences shared.
Cobble Streets, the film production company, is the latest project of Shari Shink who established
the Children’s Legal Clinic in 1985 in Colorado that became the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law
Center, which was the first nonprofit law firm for abused/neglected children.
“‘Rebecoming Me’ is one of the most compelling projects I have been involved in during my
almost 50 years of advocacy for children,” said Shink, executive director and founder of Cobbled
Streets in an email about the film. “Few leaders really understand the foster care system.
Without an understanding that leads to caring, little can be accomplished. This video is the first
critical step into a future of long-overdue change.”
The film is available online at pbs12.org/rebecomingme.
— Reviewed by Kim Phagan-Hansel
