Amy Royster

When I was 6 years old my father was convicted of murder and arson and sentenced to life in prison, at 33 years old I am now the chairman of COIL (an organization that supports children with an incarcerated parent). I am proof that you are more than a product of your environment. I’ve witnessed firsthand the lack of community, emotional, and financial support for family members of incarcerated people, and understanding exactly how critical that support is, I choose to advocate for teens and youth with no support system. This issue impacts a staggering 11% of children in Indiana—2 nd highest in the nation! As Mrs. Indiana I would use my title to bring awareness to communities and provide programming ideas for youths experiencing the incarceration of a parent.