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Growing up, Cj experienced the foster care system, where he
was exposed to multiple cultural backgrounds. By the age of
four, he had already been placed in ten different homes. At
seventeen, he was kicked out by his adoptive parents for being
gay. When he tried to reconnect with his biological mother, her
struggles with substance abuse made stability impossible.
In 2019, hoping to find support within “family,” Cj instead faced
a traumatic experience that left him feeling unsafe and isolated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he discovered The Night
Ministry, which connected him to La Casa Norte’s Solid Ground,
a transitional living facility for men. While there, his peers
elected him Resident President, marking the beginning of his
advocacy journey.
As the pandemic worsened, many Chicago shelters became unbearable. Cj made the difficult decision to leave,
relying on the money he had saved. In 2020, he secured his first apartment on the South Side of Chicago. He
learned to navigate life independently.Managing bills, school, and full-time work. Despite being promised Post care
services until age twenty-three, he quickly realized that resources were limited, particularly for young adults living
on the South Side.
Now, at twenty-five years old, Cj resides in a stable home on Chicago’s South Side. He acknowledges that achieving
stable housing required discipline, saving, and navigating housing resources on his own. While he no longer faces
homelessness, those experiences continue to shape his perspective and daily reality.
As the Founder of Break The System Project, Cj is dedicated to empowering system-impacted young adults
whether aging out of foster care, the juvenile justice system and who are experiencing homelessness or instability.
His mission is to bridge the gap between survival and success by equipping young people with the tools they need
to thrive. He envisions a world where no young adult has to navigate life alone after the system.
Since launching in February, Break The System Project has spread its mission to over 200 system-impacted young
adults and 25 households on Chicago’s South and Northwest Sides. Through housing referrals to local shelters and
targeted programs, we provide young adults with a safe space to grow, heal, and build community.
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