Overview

As a child David Ambroz was raised homeless in New York City, the home of Wall Street and more than 100,000 homeless children. For David and his two siblings, their mother's diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia sets them in motion for a life of poverty, violence and instability as they travel across New York and New England seeking shelter. For eleven years home for David means living in train stations, subway cars, 24-hour diners, and wherever is safe and warm; bathing in public restrooms; and stealing food to quell his hunger. When he gets into foster care, it feels like salvation, but it soon proves to be just as unsafe for young people--more of his foster siblings are put on a prison pipeline than college-bound. Surmounting violence, continued poverty and physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his caregivers, David harnesses an inner grit to escape the inevitable outcome for kids like him. He takes shelter and finds hope on his own in libraries, schools, and in the occasional adult angel. Through hard work and unwavering resolve, he is able to get into Vassar College, the first significant step out from the yolk of poverty, and later graduates UCLA School of Law. This heart-wrenching and inspiring story about young people pulls back the curtain on homelessness and poverty in the lives of children and shines a pivotal light on generations of kids that have been systematically ignored and overlooked. A Place Called Home is both David's powerful personal account through the lens of a child surviving it daily. And as the go-to child welfare advocate for the Obama administration and major U.S. companies, A Place Called Home is a beckoning call to our national conscience to move from pity to action.

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9781668622865

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A Place Called Home asks us to reflect-on the family we come from and the family we find, the extraordinary courage of a child and the responsibility we all have to make the world safer for those who enter our world unprotected. In a society far too often consumed by division and dissonance, Ambroz writes to us at just the right time, lighting the way for a better world by asking us to give every child a chance.-- Steve Pemberton, author of A Chance in the World You will fall in love with David Ambroz, his beautifully-told, gut-wrenching story, and his great big heart. -- Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author A story destined to end in tragedy that magically rewards an indomitable determination to succeed. Beautifully written. --Ted Koppel, veteran ABC anchor and New York Times bestselling author of Lights Out David Ambroz faced seemingly insurmountable challenges his entire life and emerged with the grace and wisdom to tell the story. His dreams of a better life via education carried him through childhood abuse, homelessness, foster care, and finally to adulthood, where he leveraged his against-all-odds success to advocate for children living in poverty and foster care. This book is an inspiration to anyone who has encountered hardships, encouraging us to tackle them head-on with courage and determination. --Madeline Di Nonno, President & CEO of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media I love a true story where the downtrodden triumph over hardship--and A Place Called Home delivers. David Ambroz, through grit, courage, and integrity, overcomes obstacles beyond my imagination. I found myself cheering for him and the siblings he steadfastly protects, wondering how they were going to survive. David does more than that--he thrives--and then he pays it forward. A Place Called Home is an awe-inspiring story that will lift your spirits and soften even the hardest heart. It's a beautifully told, captivating memoir.-- David Crow, author of The Pale-Faced Lie In A Place Called Home, Ambroz shares his personal journey out of a childhood marked by poverty, homelessness, and years in foster care - a story of courage, tenacity, and the power of education to transform lives. --Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

Author Information

David Ambroz is a national child welfare advocate. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television and served on the Los Angeles City Planning Commission. After growing up on and of the streets along the East Coast, he graduated from Vassar (B.A. with honors in Political Science) and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He lives in Los Angeles, CA. David Ambroz is a national child welfare advocate. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television and served on the Los Angeles City Planning Commission. After growing up on and of the streets along the East Coast, he graduated from Vassar (B.A. with honors in Political Science) and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

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