Join us for Lobby Day, this Wednesday at at the State Capitol. This event is hosted in part by the Juvenile Justice Fund’s A Future. Not A Past.
Hear Atlanta’s most powerful voices take their stand against demand for child sex trade.
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
Attorney General Sam Olens
Senator Renee Unterman
State Rep Ed Lindsey
See you at the Capitol on Wednesday at 8:00am
There is still time to register and we hope you’ll join us. We will gather at Central Presbyterian Church located directly across from the Capitol at 201 Washington Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 at 8AM. Please wear all black and you will get your purple scarf when you sign in at registration.
Special Presentation
This year, we are excited to have indie rock artist, Janie Chu, perform her single “Dear John” from her album, The Human Condition. Get more info and purchase your copy at www.janiechu.com today.
Don’t forget to register, it’s free and easy!
This is a fun and easy way to make a difference in the lives of exploited children. Invite a friend or make friends once you get there – our children are depending on it.
"Broken People, Broken Dreams" forum on human trafficking at Riverdale High School (Jeylin White, Clayton News Daily)
“When you hear the word ‘prostitute,’ what is the first word that comes to your mind?” Jennifer Swain asked a room full of teenagers at Riverdale High School.
The question by the deputy program manager for the Juvenile Justice Fund led one boisterous teen to yell, “Ho!”
Other pupils were more reserved, and responded: “Someone who sells their body for sex.” Their replies led to an in-depth discussion about a subject that is getting a lot of attention right now, because of a rise in sexual exploitation of young girls and boys –– human trafficking in Georgia.
Swain, of the Juvenile Justice Fund, was at the school for a two-day forum called “Broken People, Broken Dreams,” which aims to inform the community about the issue of human trafficking in society, and in the local community.
“I think that the [students] were honest,” said Swain. “I think, maybe, some of the teachers were shocked and mortified, by the students’ responses.”
The members of DECA, an association of marketing students, at Riverdale High School are hosting the forum which ends today ( Thursday).
Students who spearheaded the project include: Jocelyn Stargell-Zachery, 18, Emmanuella Ibekwe, 17, and Johel Avila, 17. Beverly Holyfield, a DECA teacher, is the group’s advisor. The project was sponsored by Lighthouse Partners, Inc., Riverdale City Councilmember Kenny Ruffin, and several other businesses and officials.
The Voices Project would like to send a special thank you to Busy Bee Cafe and owner Tracy Gates for being an ongoing supporter of our CEASE program.
In the past, they donated dinner to our girls at Angela’s House for their annual Holiday party and this year they catered a four course dinner and donated coats and gift baskets to our Voices girls for their party.
#17 Bookmark the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The CyberTipline was created by Congress in 1998 and serves as a national 911 for reporting suspected child pornography and other sexual exploitation crimes against children. Google recently helped to redesign the reporting form to make it easier to use.
If you suspect that a child is being sexually exploited, do not hesitate to use the online form or call the 24-hour call center at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
For more information, check out this article from PR Newswire.
We want to give a special thank you to all of you for the ways in which you supported us and our work in 2011–by attending events, raising funds, using your voice, donating, lobbying for legislation, supporting the unification of families, and fighting to end child sex trafficking. You are an essential part of our efforts to serve the children and families in Atlanta’s juvenile justice system.
We would like to ask you to join us in our Annual Giving Campaign. This year’s campaign focused on our work to end child sex trafficking. Below is an excerpt from our Annual Letter:
“Sometimes I wonder why this happened to me, living in the streets. Why couldn’t I have a real family? Forced to prostitute, to just get by, I look up to the sky and ask, ‘God, why?’ But there’s no answer from the one above, so I go from man to man, looking 4 love. But it’s nothing to find, so I feel I’m not worthy of love in my mind. So I don’t care if love makes the world go around, and I’m without it, don’t I look like a clown? So I walk around town, with nothing but a frown. I smoke some, I drink some, then go to strip, so I don’t feel, the men that will be near me, or the pimp that is going to beat me, why couldn’t I just have a real family?” (from a child survivor)
Our Annual Giving Campaign is your opportunity to make a substantial difference in the lives of children and families across the region. We know that every person has value. Every person has something to contribute. Every person has dignity. We know that every person deserves a chance and we are dedicated to playing an important role in helping children and families overcome challenging circumstances in order to become productive and vibrant members of the community.
Besides our work to unify families, we are also dedicated to ending child sex trafficking and making sure that no child ever becomes a victim of this horrific business. We are making strides each day, week after week, in realizing this vision. However, there is still a lot to do and challenges that need to be addressed. Our work continues and we’re fighting each day for Georgia’s children, and you can join us in this fight.
Now is a great time to donate before the new year is upon us. You can donate online or by sending a check or cash to the
Juvenile Justice Fund
395 Pryor Street, Suite 2117
Atlanta, GA 30312
Thank you for supporting the Juvenile Justice Fund.
The Juvenile Justice Fund is proud to be a part of the Fulton County Juvenile Court’s annual celebration of National Adoption Day. Check out this article and video from Fox 5 about this year’s event:
For one day every year, courtrooms all over the country have a reason to celebrate – the joining of waiting children with forever families.
Having a loving and supportive family is so important to developing into a healthy adult, but so many children are waiting in foster care – hoping to have a chance at a good life.
To sisters Serenity and Abigail, Michelle Webb is known as mommy.
Serenity was 9-days old and Abigail was 10 months when they came to me. They don’t know anyone else but me,” said adoptive parent Michelle Webb.
Webb is their adoptive mother. Years ago as an intake worker for the Department of Family and Children Services she says she felt nothing but compassion for the children entangled in the system. She started fostering some of those children and has had more than 50 in her home over the past five years. She decided to adopt Serenity and Abigail.
“I saw the need and I was available to fill it,” said Webb.
Judge Belinda Edwards says now more than ever these children need permanent homes to provide the stability their birth parents couldn’t.
“Unfortunately, the cases that come through our courtroom are the cases you see on the news. They’re the cases where the child has been abandoned, they’re the cases were the child has been abused. They’re cases where the parents are on drugs,” said Chief Judge Belinda Edwards of the Fulton County Juvenile Court.
This weekend, Fulton County Juvenile Court will celebrate its 10th National Adoption Day – a day to recognize adoptive families and raise awareness about the process. Both Edwards and Webb hope more people will want to provide the happy ending some kids need.
“It’s always amazing and remarkable to us to be able to take a bad situation and turn it into a positive situation and give these children an opportunity to have and live the American dream – to have a family, to have support,” said Edwards.
“The most important thing on my mind right now is giving these children the opportunity to be productive citizens and learning how to love and giving love and sharing and caring,” said Webb.
Stay tuned for more coverage of last Saturday’s National Adoption Day Celebration!
Join us on Monday December 12th to get the latest on what’s happening with child sex trafficking and to hear what A Future. Not A Past. is doing to stop demand!
Featured speaker Attorney General Sam Olens will share remarks on keeping Georgia’s children from becoming child sex trafficking victims, followed by a panel discussion with Senator Renee Unterman and other prominent champions who fight to keep our children safe.
The Shared Hope International Protected Innocence Initiative will be releasing its report card at the end of this month measuring each state’s legislative framework for stopping child sex trafficking. We will detail Georgia’s grade and our initiatives for improvement.
Monday, December 12th
7:30am Breakfast
8:00am Discussion Panel Begins
North Avenue Presbyterian Church
603 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
This is a free event, but SPACE IS LIMITED! Please RSVP no later than December 9th to info@afuturenotapast.org.
We are currently accepting applications for a Voices Project Intern for the Spring 2012 Internship Session. While the position is open to all college students (undergraduate and graduate), we are looking for someone with a background in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related field.
This is a part-time, unpaid position. The internship session lasts from January to May 2012 and will require a minimum of 10 hours per week. We would like the Voices Project Intern to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The deadline for applications is Thursday, December 1st. If you are interested in applying, please fill out the JJF Internship Program Application. If you have any questions, please contact me by phone at 404.612.4628 or by email at allisonhood@juvenilejusticefund.org.
Allison Hood is the Internship Program Coordinator for the Juvenile Justice Fund.
Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth is a documentary about domestic minor sex trafficking and the movement to fight it. The team is currently traveling the country screening the film and hosting awareness raising events.
Join them tonight in Tull Hall at Emory University’s School of Law from 6:00pm-8:30pm. Our own Kaffie McCullough will be speaking on a panel about ways the community can get involved.
The Juvenile Justice Fund’s Annual Giving Campaign is your opportunity to make a substantial difference in the lives of children and families across the region.
We know that every person has value. Every person has something to contribute. Every person has dignity.
We know that every person deserves a chance and we are dedicated to playing an important role in helping children and families overcome challenging circumstances in order to become productive and vibrant members of the community.
Join us in serving the children and families in Georgia’s juvenile justice system. Please consider making a donation to support this important work. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
We know that times are difficult and we want you to know that your gift is greatly appreciated and welcomed by everyone at the Juvenile Justice Fund, and most importantly, by the children and families we serve.
Together, we will continue to have a positive impact on children and their families in our community.
You can donate online or by sending a check or cash to the
Juvenile Justice Fund
395 Pryor Street, Suite 2117
Atlanta, GA 30312
Thank you for your support of the Juvenile Justice Fund.
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