Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd



Meet Rachel Lloyd

There are very few well-written books about Human Trafficking -- This is one of them -- Enjoy!

RACHEL LLOYD earned her BA in psychology from Marymount Manhattan College and her MA in applied urban anthropology from the City College of New York. She is the founder and executive director of GEMS, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, and has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Reebok Human Rights Award.
Lloyd is an Ashoka Fellow and a Prime Mover Fellow, and she was a leading advocate for the Safe Harbor for Exploited Youth Act, which made New York the first state to protect, not prosecute, sexually exploited children. She lives in New York City.

 

GIRLS LIKE US

          By Rachel Lloyd

Girls Like Us is an absolute masterpiece of tragic self-discovery.

Lloyd is a superstar mentor who smashes the ridiculous prostitute nametag of shame to bits, as the shame belongs to the exploiters, not the exploited.

 She ignites the truth buried deep within girls like us and burns up the lies that keep us trapped in the life far too long. 

Not only has she escaped her own trauma-drama, she’s teaching young ladies caught in our massively-crippled justice system self-sufficiency, honor, and self-worth.

Imagine being sent on a missions trip from the UK to America, straight into Spanish Harlem, poorly-paid, alone, and sans a High School Diploma.  No big deal, right? Not for saucy, spirited Lloyd. She takes night classes, obtains her GED and is awarded a full scholarship to college. By age twenty-three the young Lloyd stands at the helm of the wildly-successful GEMS, the only non-profit in New York State designed to serve commercially- exploited girls.

For those of you who still think the fairy-tale ending Julia Roberts experienced in Pretty Woman is the best we could ever hope for, think again!

True success? Real Freedom? Check out Rachel Lloyd,

at the White House shaking things up,

demanding respect and making a real difference

for Girls, Like Us.

Go, girl, Go!

STOP Human Trafficking In California

THE PROBLEM
In California, many vulnerable women and children are held against their will and forced to sell their bodies. The victims are often girls as young as 12 who are sexually exploited for the financial gain of human traffickers. They are afraid for their lives and abused - sexually, physically, and mentally.
Human trafficking is said to be one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world, and it's happening right here on California's streets and online where young girls are bought and sold.
Three cities in California - San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego ¬are recognized by the FBI as high intensity child sex trafficking areas. A recent national study by a victims' rights group gave California an "F" grade for its weak laws dealing with child sex trafficking.


THE SOLUTION
Slated for the November 2012 ballot, Proposition 35 is an initiative that will fight back against human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and children by:

Increasing prison terms for human traffickers. Requiring convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders.

Requiring all registered sex offenders to disclose their internet accounts.

Requiring criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for victims' services.
By supporting Proposition 35, Californians can take a stand and say that we won't tolerate the sexual exploitation of women and children by human traffickers.



JOIN THE FIGHT
Proposition 35 has also been endorsed by organizations repre¬senting over 90,000 rank and file California Peace Officers, advocates for the protection of children, includ¬ing Marc Klaas and the KlaasKids Foundation, and human trafficking survivors.



Add your voice against human trafficking today by supporting Proposition 35. For more information and to join our efforts, please visit www.VoteYesOn35.com.

Review of SPECIAL DELIVERY




Golden Scrolls Nominee



Featured Review







Have you ever dived in to consume a delectable literary effort so enjoyable, you were dismayed when you realized it was coming to an end? That's how I felt about Deliver Me From Evil the first book in the Freedom Series by Kathi Macias. Luckily for me, there were two more equally fabulous books to follow!

The death-skirting excitement continues as Macias unravels her fast-spinning yarn in Special Delivery, Book #2 in the Freedom Series. The detailed journey of Macias' large cast of hypnotic characters unwinds deliciously furthering the opportunity for exposure on such a hot topic. So far, her work has sparked  tremendous interest in the realities of human trafficking.

I applaud Macias' bold approach in exposing the ugly blood-red lining that hems the once-unknown outer edges of our society. Human trafficking is an issue most choose to tip-toe around. I can assure you Kathi Macias isn't like most people, she has her spiritual sleeves rolled up committed to the fight!

Macias isn't shy about proclaiming Christ, her time spent with Him shines through beautifully in everything she touches. She humbly pursues justice for real-life victims in her tireless efforts to abolish sexual slavery. Not a day goes by that she isn't actively fighting for freedom through radio talk shows, television appearances, speaking engagements, or generously sending free copies of her books to women's recovery homes, safe-houses and shelters.

The first book, Deliver Me From Evil, is a finalist for the Golden Scrolls Novel of the Year, the winner to be announced at the Golden Scrolls Award Banquet in Orlando, Florida.

The Deliverer is the third and final episode in the Freedom Series: it releases in August and is already available for pre-order on Amazon, ChristianBooks.com, and Barnes & Noble.

Kathi Macias

Don't miss the other great works from this author at http://www.kathimacias.com/         

Stacey Rudge is a courageous woman with a healing message to share, and I’m honored to partner with her in ministry.

Film Review INDOCTRINATED

On April 29, 2012, the Human Rights Film Festival in Oceanside, California, included the premiere of the documentary film INDOCTRINATED in their three-movie venue.

What could have been a fantastic opportunity to visually showcase the complex grooming process of our youth into the trickery of prostitution fell short, plain and simple.

The word glamorize was mentioned a time or two in the beginning of the film, but the visual shown was of an older homeless girl in scruffy clothes and unkempt hair. Nowhere was the magnetic pull our kids feel to dress in name-brand clothes, wear the trendiest sneakers, and sport designer accessories. Where were the bling-ladden hot, older guys driving slick cars tempting young girls to be a part of the "lux life"?

There's a reason El Cajon Boulevard is peppered with nail salons; sometimes all it takes for pimps to lure their next victim into their stable is a set of fancy fingernails and a few sweet words: "I love you, I'll never leave you, I bought you a cute outfit, a cheap pair of earrings, and oh, by the way, the other homies in my crew are going to lay down with you, but only because we love you and want you to prove your loyalty." Deceiving a child through insincere displays of affection is a cake-walk and these losers know it. Our youth are the most vulnerable members of society, and the gangs are capitalizing on it big time!

Too often, our children are so attention/love-starved, they are ill-equipped to discern the issues of affection, friendship and security. Even if hiding a relationship from their parents feels wrong, the lure of money or freedom entices them to keep lying and soon these creeps convince them to run away. More often than not, they disappear or suffer irreparable damage that may last a lifetime.

I did enjoy the clips of law enforcement, youth advocates and a few of their brave parents boldly sharing their experiences. I was most pleased to see my favorite activist, Rachel Lloyd, featured as well as Susan Munsey of Generate Hope, and other local rescue resources. I love that the issue of psychological bondage was brought up. If society could begin to grasp the masterful manipulation seducing our youth down the lie-ridden path of destruction, then perhaps dialogue with our youngsters would be possible. Unfortunately, as it stands, the sad truth is human trafficking and sexual exploitation are grossly misunderstood.

Nonetheless, I applaud the efforts of those who made this film possible. I will continue to scream and shout about this issue because I'm one of the lucky ones who have not only survived, but have recaptured my voice and refuse to let anyone silence me again.

Do You Think The Angels Giggle When God Slams The Door?

Do You Think the Angels Giggle When God Slams the Door?

I love everything about God, really I do!

I'll admit, at times I think I might prefer Him to shoot me an e-mail, text or tweet me in the right direction; so far He hasn't felt the need to upgrade His guidance preference's.

I'd like to think I'm way easier to deal with from heaven. Here on Earth, even my dog walks around on eggshells.

When God wants my attention he subtly begins to open windows here and there coaxing me to choose a different path.

Opportunities spring up and I rarely see new things for what they are . .  way better.

 God has to slam the door before I comprehend

His merciful message; I bet the angels giggle

when He's forced to slam the door behind me.

Authors Kathi Macias & Stacey Rudge Join Forces In Their All-out War Against Human Trafficking

Kathi Macias

Stacey Rudge

                                                                      

Authors Kathi Macias & Stacey Rudge join forces in their all-out war against human trafficking.

I am so pleased to have met Stacey Rudge and to be able to partner with her in ministry to survivors of human trafficking, as well as to work side by side to see this horrific crime stopped, once and for all. Her courageous spirit is an inspiration to many, including myself, and I look forward to seeing her powerfully written stories in print.

              

Deliver Me From Evil          

by Kathi Macias

A Survivor’s Review

of Book #1 the Freedom Series...

I’ll admit, at first I was skeptical;

I mean how could she possibly know. . .

Imagine my delightful surprise when midnight struck that first night

and I, a grace-card-carrying survivor, was unable to put the book down.

Kathi Macias has the unique ability to weave a hometown issue into the

once-impermeable universal tapestry of human trafficking.

Deliver Me From Evil follows the stories of several different characters in the U.S. and abroad. The author’s riveting separation of characters is mind-boggling. Through each one God’s plan is revealed; raw courage emerges and hope springs up so powerful, it can surpass physical borders and rip apart the ignorant lie that until recently kept us all silent.

Although fiction, Macias’ superb introduction to the tragedy of modern-day slavery is surprisingly accurate. She’s a true pioneer in the abolition of sexual slavery.

After reading Deliver Me From Evil, you will no longer be able to close your eyes and say, “This kind of thing doesn’t happen in America.”

She features a realistic approach to everyone’s biggest question regarding human trafficking.

What can I do?

The Freedom Series can be used as an appropriate ministry tool to inspire teens, parents and individuals who simply want to understand the issues or feel led to become part of the solution.

                                                              

Now that book two in the series, Special Delivery, has also released, I have one question: When can readers get their hands on book three?

The final book of the Freedom Series, The Deliverer, releases in Fall 2012. Don’t miss it!

  http://www.amazon.com/Deliver-Evil-Freedom-Kathi-Macias/dp/1596693061/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331742133&sr=1-1

                                    

http://www.amazon.com/Special-Delivery-Freedom-Kathi-Macias/dp/159669307X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331742133&sr=1-4

www.kathimacias.com

Human Trafficking

If you or someone you care about is involved in trafficking and sexual exploitation and wants out of the life, there is a safe place to go for help. Just don’t give up! Hope is real. Recovery and freedom are still options.

http://www.generatehope.org/                                    http://www.gems-girls.org/

Affirm-Mission Statement

Once you've survived the unthinkable;
life no longer just happens by default or circumstance.                    
Never again. Not to us. We pick. We decide.
By combining an Affirmation with a Mission Statement,
this is what we are practicing to believe about ourselves:

WE ARE the daughters of the King
Standing on the promises of God
Rooted and grounded in love
For Jesus Christ our Lord

WE ARE a new creation
Walking In His Steps
Abiding by His law
Therefore;
Loving others as
Christ loves us

             The Tuesday Sisters
             San Diego, CA