GEMS: News

Even if You Only Have One Minute, One Hour, or One Day . . .

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Dear Friends,

Greetings from GEMS! As we head into the fall season, I’m happy to report that we’ve made a critical partnership with Free the Slaves, mtvU, and Polaris Project for the “Against Our Will” campaign. I worked closely with them on a PSA on johns that captures the reality of the life in just 60 seconds. I hope you will check out this video–and the several other videos and resources–and circulate this campaign info widely. The campaign shows that even if you only have one minute, one hour, or one day, you can make a real difference in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking!

On the home front, I am thrilled to tell you that our Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Tiffany Rivera . . .

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Newsletter: Victim, Survivor, Leader

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Dear Friend,

Exciting things are happening this summer! First off, GEMS has premiered a new and entirely survivor-written Victim, Survivor, Leader training curriculum. We’ve been highlighting the great work that direct service providers can provide to victims of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking, and the trainings have been going really well. I feel incredibly proud to be co-facilitating a totally survivor-written curriculum about our Victim, Survivor, Leader model with two incredible survivor leaders.

Last month, we celebrated the achievements of GEMS members who are participating in our Educational Initiative program. It was such a moving night, and I’m so proud of all of our girls who are furthering their education. . . .

Tags: Betty Shabazz, curriculum, Educational Initiative, End CSEC Day, Family Court Advocacy, Kalima DeSuze, Karen Zaremba, Katherine Mullen, Lawyer's Manual on Human Trafficking, Leader, Malcolm X, NeNe Ali, Sheila White, Survivor, Tiffany Rivera, True Poetess, Tysheena Rhames, Victim, VSL, Youth Leadership

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Newsletter: Major Strides and Calls to Action

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Dear Friend,

Summer is almost finally here! I had an amazing time in L.A. reading from Girls Like Us with Annette Bening, Minnie Driver, and Taraji P. Henson for Human Rights Watch–talk about a pinch-myself moment!–but I’ve got to say it’s good to be back home with the GEMS team.

Allies in the anti-trafficking movement have made major strides in bills and laws across the nation. Let’s congratulate Missouri, Vermont, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia for comprehensive human trafficking laws! Also, Georgia and Tennessee’s new laws have critical Safe Harbor components.

Be sure to sign the petition to help Hawai’i get its very first human trafficking laws, and take a few seconds to…

Tags: AKA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, American Folk Art Museum, commercial sexual exploitation of children, Community, Community Outreach, Cornell, CSEC, Diamond of the Month, Dignity U Wear, Domestic Trafficking, GEMS, GEMS Newsletter, Inc., Ithaca, Judge Toko Serita, Manhattan ADA, New York Vacating Convictions Law, News, Newsletter, Outreach Team, Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award, SASSY, Yelling to the Sky

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Newsletter: Survivors Seeking Change

Monday, June 6th, 2011

Dear Friend,

Greetings! April has been a whirlwind month! I am sending this message from the west coast, where for the last week I have been having conversations about the importance of survivor- and community-led organizing and activism. These conversations have reinforced the GEMS principle that the only way to end the commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of girls and young women is to address the issues that perpetuate them, including racism, poverty, police brutality, and other forms of violence and oppression. And we must ensure that the most impacted, the most marginalized, are leading the fight!

I’m happy to report that at the end of last month, GEMS members and staff met with NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to talk about importance of…

Tags: Bronx District Attorney’s Office, Bronx Women’s Bar Association, commercial sexual exploitation of children, Commissioner Kelly, Community Outreach, Craigslist, CSEC, Domestic Trafficking, GEMS, GEMS Newsletter, Good Housekeeping’s SHINE ON: Celebrating Women Making History, Mary J. Blige, National Crime Victims’ Week, National Women’s History Museum, Newsletter, Sinead O'Connor, Survivor Leadership, The Bronx County Gender Fairness Committee, The Gender Fairness Committees of New York County Courts, Women of Achievement Award, “This Is to Mother You”

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Newsletter: A Brand New View

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Dear Friend,

Happy Spring! Despite the snow (!) we’ve been getting in NYC the last few days, everyone here at GEMS is filled with hope and excitement about the upcoming months and several of the great changes we’ve recently made.

After a thorough renovation, our new office is up and running! For the last 10 years, the GEMS office has been a home for the girls and young women we serve, and we are excited to bless the revamped space with new memories and the people who make the office a home. Through the generosity of Perkins + Will Design firm and our many in-kind donors, GEMS’ drop-in space perfectly reflects the great beauty and worth of every young woman and girl who walks…

Tags: commercial sexual exploitation of children, Community, Community Outreach, CSEC, Diamond of the Month, Domestic Trafficking, Dorchen Leidholdt, Educational Initiative Ceremony, GEMS, GEMS Newsletter, Girls Like Us, Homeless and Runaway Youth, Museum of American Folk Art, News, Newsletter, Nicholas Kristof, Perkins + Will, petition, Poetry 4 Power, Renovation, Sanctuary for Families, Very Young Girls, Women's Media Center

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Girls Like Us

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Samantha Choy
212.207.7582
samantha.choy@harpercollins.com

GIRLS LIKE US

Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself

RACHEL LLOYD

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January Newsletter

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Dear Friend,

January has been another inspiring and productive month here at GEMS!

I recently conducted a special survivor-focused train-the-trainer training for GEMS’ Youth Outreach Workers. As survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking, GEMS’ Youth Outreach workers are…

Tags: BigBrothers BigSisters, commercial sexual exploitation of children, Community Outreach, CSEC, Domestic Trafficking, GEMS, GEMS Newsletter, HIV/AIDS Awareness Week, News, Newsletter, Outreach Team, Poetry 4 Power, Valentine's Day

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December Newsletter

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

Dear Friend,

Christmas is just a couple of days away! As you know, this holiday can be tough for the girls and young women we serve. A day that emphasizes gathering together to celebrate with friends and family can be…

Tags: Clemency, commercial sexual exploitation of children, CSEC, Domestic Trafficking, GEMS, GEMS Newsletter, Holiday, Member Accomplishments, Monthly Supporters, Newsletter, Sara Kruzan, Shoe Revolt, Target Wishlist

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November Newsletter

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Dear Friend,

This past month has been another exciting one for GEMS! We welcomed GEMS’ new Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Ada Vasquez, a scholar and psychologist who has dedicated her professional career to political and community activism. I look forward to…

Tags: At Risk: A Symposium on Human Trafficking & Modern-Day Slavery, commercial sexual exploitation of children, Community Outreach, CSEC, Deputy Executive Director, Domestic Trafficking, GEMS, GEMS Newsletter, Jay-Z, Member Accomplishments, News, Newsletter, Rachel Lloyd, Thanksgiving, Training

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