Jimmy Wayne, a country artist and author from Tennessee, joined the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) on Wednesday to take an audience on a journey in the life of a child growing up in foster care.
CASA is a national nonprofit victim's advocacy program for abused and neglected children who are going through juvenile court proceedings.
"These kids need at least one person to tell them that they matter and that they can achieve their dreams," said Kathy Farmer, president of the CASA board of directors.
Throughout Wayne's performance, he shared glimpses of his life about how he felt growing up with a dream to get out of his unstable lifestyle as a poor kid with little resources.
He started the evening with a song titled "Kerosene Kid," which told about the days when he was a kid embarrassed to be himself around other children his age.
He also performed John Oates' "Sara Smile" - a song people use to tell him not to sing but later got him a record deal.
"When you have a dream, it has to be you who believes in it," Wayne said.
Wayne talked about the role models who gave him a chance and never gave up on him - Mrs. Friday, his sixth-grade teacher, and Bea, a woman who became his guardian at age 16.
He explained his interest in writing began when Friday encouraged him to keep a journal. Today, he still remains in contact with her.
"My story is no different from others, I just happen to have a platform to tell it on," Wayne said.
In an interview with the News Tribune, Wayne said the most important thing adults can do to help kids in the foster system is get involved.
"If these kids could help themselves, they would," he said. "Use your resources, identify your talents and give your time."
According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau, a 2014 report revealed almost 19,000 children aged out of the system.
Wayne said this remains a problem because people don't hear about foster kids until they've gone to jail or been through the system. "We hear about them when they're vulnerable with no where to turn, because no one talked to them before it happened," he said.
Wayne learned about CASA during his walk halfway across America. In 2010, he launched a "Meet me Halfway" campaign in support of foster kids. During the campaign, he walked from Memphis, Tennessee, to Phoenix, Arizona.
During his walk, he recalls 100 percent of people he encountered had no clue about how kids aged out of the foster care system.
"I've been doing this (raising awareness) professionally for 18 years, and this is what I like to do," Wayne said. "When I learned of the work being done by the volunteers here in Jefferson City, I knew I wanted to be a part of this because they have these kids' best interest at heart."
Larry Henry, CASA board member, said the impact of this organization has worked wonders for the kids who have been a part of this program.
"The volunteers who work with the kids are what really make this program go, and we look forward to its continued success," Henry said.
"What I've learned is that it takes a very unselfish person to put another person's welfare ahead of themselves," Wayne added. "CASA volunteers inspire me."
Wayne told the audience Bea is exactly what CASA stands for - "She did what she did for me for free and so do the CASA volunteers."
One thing Wayne wanted to note was the need for more men to get involved in the lives of young boys.
"I've been helped, and I'm here to share my story and inspire people to get involved in organizations that identify and help children," Wayne expressed.
Dr. James Kellerman, executive director, said he was proud of the work the CASA program does for the kids in the local community.
"We want to continue to spread the word about our program and all we do for children who wind up in the court system through no fault of their own," Kellerman said.