In this episode, Chardonnay Rosa shares with us the stories and experiences that shaped her childhood. She describes how her early life was filled with chaos, uncertainty, and hurt. When Chardonnay was 14, she learned, through the words of others, that she had a voice regarding her circumstances and she chose to call CPS and enter foster care. From a young age, Chardonnay always had a sense that her life would be different. She clung to that hope until a church, and the message it shared with her, helped to make that hope a reality. Listen with us as Chardonnay shares about the hardship she endured, but the hope that brought her through those difficult moments.

Download the free companion PDF to this series—“Seven Insights about Foster Care from Those Who’ve Been There”–and share these types of insights with others in your community!

Key Quote

I really felt that nobody cared. Nobody saw my worth. And so for her to say, hey, you’re really good person, just in general, like, I see that, I see that without the, the brokenness that you were born into that, you know, you could really become something without that. -Chardonnay Rosa

Learn More

Here are the resources and/or organizations mentioned in this episode:

Nathanael Matanick: https://www.youtube.com/c/NathanaelMatanick/featured

Free Download: Seven Insights about Foster Care from Those Who’ve Been There

Meet Our Guests

CHARDONNAY ROSA
Chardonnay experienced a cycle of abuse, neglect, and unstability for majority of her life. At age 14, she decided to put herself in foster care. She graduated high school and went on to college to earn her bachelors in Counseling and is currently graduating with a masters degree in Organizational Leadership. Chardonnay hopes to see more children provided with loving homes.

NATHANAEL AND CHRISTINA MATANICK
As an award winning filmmaker, Nathanael loves to let the unique perspective of his characters bring the audience into a world that they wouldn’t otherwise know. Nathanael and Christina especially loves telling stories from the viewpoints of children. This is especially true in their viral short films, the ReMoved series – which dive into the world of foster care. They are currently spending his time shared between making films for Brands, continuing to create films that highlight the stories of the resiliency of youth in foster care, running successful social media campaigns related to his projects, and spending time with their four kids in California.

Meet Our Hosts

JASON WEBER
Jason and his wife, Trisha, have been caring for children from U.S. foster care since 2001 and have had the privilege of adopting their five children from foster care. Jason has helped to produce and write several books, bible studies, and other tools all created to serve churches as they care for hurting kids including the newly released children’s book, Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn (BroadStreet Publishing). Jason writes a regular column for Fostering Families Today magazine and is the host of the Foster Movement Podcast, which highlights the stories of former foster youth and national foster care advocates. Jason serves as the National Director of More Than Enough for the Christian Alliance for Orphans and currently lives in Plano, Texas.

DIEGO FULLER
Most teenagers remember the day they got their license, or their sweet 16, or even prom night. For Diego the most prominent day he remembers is In 2002, when he showed up on Bishop Aaron Blake’s steps. Blake stopped Diego at the door and told him to lose any foster care mentality that he has. “You are not a foster child; you are ‘Engrafted’ into my family.” Diego, now a national recording artist, released his second studio album titled “ENGRAFTED” in 2014! Diego is the founder & president of B.I.G Records & Foundation. He and his “Pops,” Bishop Aaron Blake have joined forces and travel the country empowering the local church to create a culture of families prepared to accept the calling of orphan care. Diego lives with his family in the Dallas area.