Her life growing up was filled with the hardships of drug abuse in the family and homelessness. But Roni Flakes Foster is pulling herself out of poverty, thanks to a UALR education. And she is using that education to help girls in similar situations.

Foster, a UALR studio art major and American humanics minor, has been invited to speak at the national American Humanics Management/Leadership Institute conference in Indianapolis Jan. 4 to 7.

She will talk about her experiences as an intern working with Simone’s Home, a nonprofit organization committed to girls in foster care.

“Roni is trying to help other girls in her situation also find ways of improving their lives,” said Dr. Juliana Flinn, the interim chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.