afuturenotapast.org
Today is the last day to register and get the $20 early bird rate for our 7200 Steps to Stop Demand 5k!
Join us this Saturday, October 1st at at 8:30am at Mary Lin Elementary in Candler Park.
Register today and get your Steps to Stop Demand t-shirt and help raise your voice to speak out against those who seek to purchase sex with adolescent girls.
A Future. Not A Past. Advocate Keisha Head shares her story with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution…
Child prostitution victim becomes role model
By Andria Simmons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Keisha Head
In her role as counselor and mentor for young girls, Keisha Head is poised, polished and polite.
But she need only look in the mirror to be reminded of a troubled past. The name of her former pimp, “Sir Charles,” is literally branded across the top of her back in a dark, swirling script.
On a recent morning, the 31-year-old settled into a chair in a cheerfully decorated room at the Fulton County Juvenile Justice Center where she helps girls identified as being at risk for child sexual exploitation.
Head didn’t wait for questions before letting her life story unspool. It is a story of hitting bottom — hard — but then lifting herself above her past to become a positive role model.
Born to a schizophrenic single mother, Head was sent to live with a family member at age 4. The new home was far from a safe haven, though. She was sexually abused for the next eight years by two older male relatives.
By the time she was 12, Head was acting out so much that she was sent back to her mom. The situation was untenable from the start, with her mother wandering the streets at all hours and being committed several times to a state mental hospital.
Child protective services intervened when Head stopped going to school and placed her in emergency children’s shelter. For the next four years, she bounced among 42 foster or group homes. That is, when she wasn’t trying to run away.
At 16, she got pregnant and was so ill-equipped for motherhood that she gave custody of her newborn daughter to the father.
“After that I was very brokenhearted,” Head said. “I became very numb.”
Head was suicidal, dirty and hungry when she turned to a friend for help. Her friend said “I know somebody who can help you.”
That was the night she met “Sir Charles.” He seemed well-dressed, considerate, nice.
He set her up in his house with seven other girls who welcomed her like the family she never had.
He also told her that if she wanted to take care of herself, she needed to strip at a nightclub where several other of the girls worked. But that job lasted only three days before Sir Charles gave her a new task: prostitution.
He took her to Stewart Avenue (now Metropolitan Parkway) in downtown Atlanta and gave her a quota of $1,000 a night. If she didn’t comply, Sir Charles threatened to harm her daughter.
For the next six months, she wore high heels and skimpy outfits as she worked the corner of 14th Street and Crescent Avenue in Midtown, carefully following her pimp’s rules to avoid violent beatings.
During that period, Head said she was raped 15 to 20 times. Once, she was forced to jump from a car traveling 60 mph to escape from a john who tried to kidnap her.
“I saw a lot of girls getting in cars, and you never saw them again,” Head said. “I knew if I stayed on that track, I would die.”
To read the rest of Keisha’s story, please click here.
To learn more, visit A Future. Not A Past.’s website.
#13 Run or walk with us at our 7200 Steps to Stop Demand 5k.
www.afuturenotapast.org
Did you know that 7200 men purchase sex from adolescent girls each month here in Georgia?
Run or walk with us on Saturday, October 1st at 8:30am in Candler Park as we raise funds and awareness to stop the prostitution of children by focusing on disabling demand.
Register and get your Steps to Stop Demand t-shirt and help raise your voice to speak out against those who seek to purchase sex with adolescent girls. Registration is $20 before September 26th. You can register online, complete the mail-in form, or raise pledges online.
Join us and TAKE YOUR STEPS as we raise awareness to stop the demand for prostituted children in Georgia.
Join us at 8:30am on Saturday, October 1st for A Future. Not A Past.’s 7200 Steps to Stop Demand 5k at Candler Park.
Prior to the start of the race, all attendees will be asked to participate in a mass “planking” in opposition to human trafficking – viewed as modern day slavery.
Planking – the popular fad of lying face down in various locations – is not directly related to slavery, however, it is a fact that slaves were sometimes transported on ships and positioned on “plank beds” – lying face up, chained side-by-side and tightly compact (see drawing).
This is the position A Future. Not A Past. will ask attendees to assume to show opposition to child sex trafficking and to support the estimated 400-plus girls prostituted in Georgia each month.
www.afuturenotapast.org
“Though the fad of face-down ‘planking’ is not directly related to slavery, as rumor has it, we will be using an alternate planking position, which was, in fact, commonly used to transport slaves on ships – tightly packed, side-by-side and face up,” says Kaffie McCullough, Campaign Director for A Future. Not A Past.
“As slavery was a terrible crime of the past, modern day sex slavery – which many young girls experience at the hands of pimps and buyers – is a crime that must be fought by all today.”
Kaffie McCullough, A Future. Not A Past. Campaign Director
“Our hope is this event will increase awareness about penalties men can incur, thus decreasing the estimated 7,200 men buying sex with young girls each month,” says McCullough. “By walking or running, participants will contribute to decreasing demand – and ultimately will save minor victims of sex trafficking.”
For more information on the event, please visit A Future. Not A Past.’s website or email info@afuturenotapast.org.
Jennifer and Keisha pictured with Ga. Governor Nathan Deal
JJF’s Jennifer Swain and Keisha Head (A Future. Not A Past.) are busy of late.
Don’t miss their interview on PBA as they discuss the various ways they are raising awareness about the prostitution of children, and the new initiative to curb demand for it.
Hosted by Angela Robinson, “Living Hell: Child Sexual Exploitation” airs on WPBA-TV 30 this coming Sunday, August 21st at 9:00 am.
Through various international collaborations, IN CONTACT has traveled around the globe to bring viewers culturally relevant shows on South Africa, Jamaica, Barbados, the islands of Turks and Caicos, and Kenya.
Sharon Simpson Joseph (far R) moderates panel. Keisha Head (2nd from L) answers a question from Sharon.
This past Monday, Aug. 1st, 450 Georgia citizens from all aspects of professional and private sectors met to gain insights into how Georgia can end human trafficking at the U.S. Attorney’s Human Trafficking Summit. JJF was proud to provide three speakers, Sharon Simpson Joseph, Kaffie McCullough and Keisha Head.
Surivors of child sex trafficking gave heart rending accounts of what they endured, while legal experts clarified the nature and reality of the illegal prostitution of children. Summits like this one are critical building blocks to fight this exploding industry.
Governor Nathan Deal
Governor Nathan Deal opened the event, stating that trafficking was a top priority.
A view shared by Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal, she spoke with Kaffie McCullough and Martha Turner at the summit.
Sandra Deal and Kaffie McCullough
“I’m learning more and more about it, and I’m interested in how I can help.”
Mrs. Deal is a true advocate of children who are caught up in the nightmare of exploitation. Watch her 3 minute video.
Traffickers are increasingly organized and effective, but as their methods are revealed and understood, prosecutors become more successful, and though convicting pimps won’t end trafficking, it does spearhead society’s move in taking pimps off the streets.
U.S. Attorney Sally Yates. Behind her is JJF's billboard to stop demand.
There are many issues involved in the trafficking presence in the world, and many of them are being addressed by grassroots advocacy groups made up of concerned citizens.
Others are in the domain of law enforcement and the courts.
The Juvenile Justice Fund is involved in all aspects of trafficking, from training law enforcement, training concerned citizens (A Future. Not A Past.) lobbying for legislation (We Urge You), directly aiding survivors of exploitation (A Future. Not A Past), and prevention (Voices Project).
In further segments later this week we will feature stories and videos from other participants in the summit, including Tony Maddox of CNN and The Freedom Project, Eric, father of a deceased girl, GBI director Vernon Keenan and more.
#10 Become a Mobile Mentor for the Voices Project.
Voices Project Staff
The Voices Project, our new initiative under the Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation, is a direct service program which empowers adolescent girls against the vulnerabilities of child sex trafficking. Our chief affirmation, “Yesterday I found my voice – Today I’m here to shout about it!” fuels our mission to empower girls and provide opportunities through healthy and holistic education.
Unfortunately, the girls that would most benefit from the Voices Project are also the girls that have the most significant barriers preventing their involvement.
One Voice Can...
Safe and consistent transportation is not readily available for every girl. Her caregiver often relies on costly public transit or friends and family to get to work, get groceries, and do other daily errands. Becoming a Mobile Mentor to help an at-risk girl is a small way to stay connected with your community and make a difference in someone’s life.
If you, or your group, are interested in being a Mobile Mentor, please contact Jennifer Swain at 404.613.4555 or jennifer.swain@fultoncountyga.gov.
Sharing a Hug
We are aware that the above request may not be designed to fit your exact schedule or volunteer availability, but if you are willing – we invite you to call for more details as we may be able to adjust requirements to fulfill your need.
Please see the information sheet for more information. You are also invited to join us for an information session to learn how you can join the fight to prevent a young girl from becoming a child sex trafficking victim.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
6:00p.m.
Fulton County Juvenile Court
395 Pryor Street SW
1st Floor/Room 1132
Atlanta, GA 30312
Grace Schouten, Jennifer Swain and Keisha Head with Tina's Dipped Delights
As a 6th month marker, JJF’s Voices Project threw a summer celebration with their girls, aged 12-17, each of whom was allowed to bring a guest.
Darlene Lauth sketching a portrait
A fabulous Pop Cake was donated by Tina of Dipped Delights, and caricature artist Darlene Lauth made free portraits for each of the girls, which were framed and presented at the party. (See bottom of page for more information.)
“In the months the girls have been with us”, said Grace Schouten, Voices Project Coordinator, “we’ve seen the girls begin to take more internal initiative. There may not be anyone in their life who tells her she needs to come to group, but now I’m hearing girls say ‘It’s on me to get to group, and I’m going to find a way to get there.’”
They hear stories, do activities, learn about life skills: communication, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, and physical workouts. Grace mentioned one particularly meaningful exercise called the “burning bowl” where the girls wrote down one thing they wanted out of their life. They then mixed them up in a safe outdoor container o and lit it on fire, and just watching it all go up in smoke.
Grace Schouten reads Voices Interactive Poem
The party is actually one of the building blocks Grace uses to give the girls a sense of continuity and grounding — ways to connect with all the participants who make up the Voices Project, and to bond as friends in a healthy way.
“Teaching them to trust us is critical to making inroads into addressing the larger issues in their lives. When the girls come to us and are open about their lives, that’s when we can help them.”
Another highlight of the party was an interactive poem One Voice Can… , with everyone taking turns filling in lines to complete the thought:
One Voice Can…
inspire another
change a life
change your mind
say too much!
make you smile
save a life
heal a soul
lift you up!
change the world
The girls are also coming to JJF to perform community service hours, learning invaluable skills in the workplace.
Keisha Head, Voices Project Advocate especially enjoys the connection with the girls, having grown up in and out of the juvenile justice system.
Keisha Head, Advocate
“I see that the girls are able to use their voices more and more in ways that I wasn’t able to. I used my voice in anger. I wasn’t part of any program; I’m not sure programs like this even existed, and I knew of no way to improve my life and make changes.
“If you don’t have other people in your life to show you how to resolve problems, then it’s one of those emotions that you grab first because it comes easy. Having people in your life, like the Voices Project, helps you place everything. You get other life skills, and you learn to seek other emotions. You learn from the group and from each other.”
Did anyone reach out to you in this way, such as the Voices Project?
“No, and so this is just phenomenal. It’s very important that we’re here for the girls, and they’re seeing that people care for them.”
How does it feel working with the girls? Do you find yourself remembering yourself at their age?
“Yes, (laughs) you see their youthful faces, and they are so full of life. It gives me hope for our children, and for this generation. ”
Did you ever think when you were their age that you’d be here now?
Laughing hard. “No, I was completely self absorbed, and wasn’t thinking about anybody but myself. But now I’m glad I had that experience of going through the juvenile justice system. The changes in the system are good.
“The girls are at a place where they don’t know what they want. They are still just learning to ask questions. They are starting to think about things and about their future. Working here is an eye opener.
“I asked one of our girls what she wanted to do when she got out of school and she said she didn’t know. So we backed up and had to talk about what she liked. She hadn’t really gotten a chance to know herself yet.
“This is what our work is all about—is getting the girls to know themselves and begin to hear their own voice.”
Grace Schouten and Keisha Head discuss The Voices Project
Grace Schouten is pleased with the progress made in the past 6 months. “I definitely feel we’re meeting our objectives to deter these girls from become victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
“They are far more alert and aware about how they are talking to people, and how people are talking to them. This is a safe place for them to talk about what they might see at a party or at someone’s house. We give them another perspective on it.”
Next up for members of The Voices Project is a trip to see the Atlanta Braves in action. “The Cal Ripkin Jr. Foundation has offered a grant to use their curriculum, and they are kicking it off with free tickets for a Braves game. For many of the girls it will be a first experience in going out for summer fun in a safe, healthy group experience.
Enjoy pictures from the Voices Summer Celebration.
Thanks again to our friends who gave so generously of their talents to make the Voices Summer Celebration truly spectacular.
Darlene Berry Lauth, Georgia Grown Art
wahatchie@gmail.com
Donated Service: Caricatures
Value: $250
—————————————————
Tina of Dipped Delights
catinamusic3@yahoo.com
Donated Service: Cake Pops
Value: $120
Martha Turner is the Communications Officer for the Juvenile Justice Fund
by Martha Turner
Gov. Deal signs Human Trafficking Bill
Governor Nathan Deal officially signed into law House Bill 200 at My Sister’s House at the Atlanta Mission today 1:45 p.m.
Describing the mood of the event, AFNAP Statewide Coordinator, Jennifer Swain said “People were happy. Happy with where we are, and happy to look at where we are now and how far we’ve come. This bill is calling attention to the ones who are purchasing our kids.”
Four years ago A Future. Not A Past began the task of doing something about the existing Human Trafficking Bill which they felt didn’t go far enough to help victims of prostitution, and didn’t do enough to punish those demanding services. They proposed Senate Bill 304 in 2010, a bill which did not pass in the end. Today’s bill makes many improvements on the former law, with fines as high as $100,000 and longer prison terms.
Gov. Deal, Keisha Head, Kaffie McCullough
“It feels fantastic” said Kaffie McCullough, director of A Future. Not A Past.(AFNAP) “This bill is providing a more compassionate response to the problem of sex trade. Attorney General Sam Olens helped to write the bill, Senator Renee Unterman sponsored it, Rep. Ed Lindsey introduced it, and we are getting the State’s strongest leaders stepping up to the plate to provide a more powerful legal framework to address the prostitution of children.”
Swain hopes for a rise in arrests, and observed “We are trying to disable demand by holding people accountable. The penalties have increased, and the bill contains a mandate of law enforcement training.
Jennifer Swain, Gov. Deal, Keisha Head
“Three years ago it was much harder to get into law enforcement and get training programs to help alert officers to the problem of sex trade. Now that awareness has risen, we are hoping the arresting officer will have compassion for the girls (and boys) who are victims. And we hope they will have outrage at the men who historically have gone free.”
AFNAP Advocate Keisha Head is a survivor of child exploitation, and told me “It felt liberating, because the bill is a start in stopping adults from preying on our children. I was in awe. Unbelievable is the word I would use to describe, because if you had told me five years ago I would be standing with the Governor signing this bill into law, I would have laughed at you.”
When asked what it was like meeting the Governor, Keisha laughed and said “He was so nice and personable. He was very polite. I told him how important it was for me because I was a survivor, and that it meant so much not only to me but to the other children who are victims. He told me that I was beautiful, and was like a butterfly who had come out of this ordeal. It was cool.”
McCullough notes that the focus of her campaign has shifted from the victim to attention on demand. “Now that we are providing better services to victims of trafficking, we are interested in reducing the number of victims by reducing demand. Without demand, the industry of child sex trafficking dries up. She says the bottom line on stronger laws is the message being sent to men wanting to purchase sex with children:
“If you go after our kids, we’re going after you.”
Thanks Governor Deal for moving us in the right direction.
Click here to send your thanks to Gov. Deal.
