Laynie Gottsch
What makes Laynie Wildly Capable?
In addition to fostering, Laynie inspired me to become a foster parent and also opened my eyes to the beautiful and incredibly challenging experience of loving another human like your own while extending grace to the biological family’s difficulties.” ALTA PRICE
What makes you feel proud?
I am proud to be a wife, mother, foster parent, student and employee. Some days I look at my schedule and even I don’t know how I do it all. I am proud of my amazing husband who cheers me on and supports my every move. I am proud of my hilarious daughter who reminds me of my flaws and doesn’t let me get away with anything. I am proud to be championing rights for underserved people.
What keeps you up at night?
A lot of things keep me up at night. The sheer volume of children entering DHS custody with no bed to sleep in probably tops the charts. I don’t dream of “saving all the children” but I do dream of a world in which every child is loved and safe. I like to say that God gave me a heart for people who are perpetually injured by the systems that were put in place to protect them. One of my greatest joys this past year has been getting to go into Mabel Bassett to meet and support women who have been continually told their lives are worth less than others and remind them of their purpose. The reality is that these women are not much different from me. There are probably only a small number of decisions or circumstances that separate our lives.
What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community?
My community has more than one big problem I would like to see solved. As my daughter grows up, I hope to see education receive a facelift. As the “foster child” room in my house fills up, I hope to see a day when it is simply no longer needed. As the prisons fill up, I hope to see meaningful reform. If I have learned anything in the past few years, it is that if a system oppresses one, it oppresses all. If I had to pick only one problem to solve, I would find a home, a bed, a family for every child in foster care. No more group homes; no more children sleeping in the DHS office.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Those who are closest to the problem are closest to the solution but farthest from the resources. In order to make meaningful community change, you must engage those who are closest to the problem. I cannot, in my privilege, attempt to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations without listening to their needs first.
