It has been quite the week (and a while since I have posted anything). I don't actually know where my week ends and my week begins but either way...
I volunteer for a group called Branded: A movement against the sexual exploitation of children (http://brandedphx.com/). I'm learning alot and for the first time in a really long time I have felt completely drawn to something that I can't convince myself to leave. It would be so easy to walk away and shield myself, my heart, and my mind from the things that I have seen, the things that I have heard, and the things that I will inevitably come across. But turning away is exactly what we need to not do. It's selfish. The entire thing is incredible!
On Monday there was a court hearing that involved a young girl who had spent time on the streets, forced to do the things we can't imagine and shouldn't have to imagine. Unlike most girls who are in her situation she was taken off the streets, given a place to stay, people to protect her, and the chance to overcome the fear so she would give her pimps name and location so he could be prosecuted. This is not something that happens often because it takes on average 30 days for a girl to give this information and there just isn't the time and resources (YET!) for her to feel safe enough to relinquish that information.
So the day finally came for his sentencing and although I think that the death sentence would have been appropriate, the law states otherwise and justice was served: 18 years of hard time and 5 years of intense probation. It is exciting to see this process all the way through and to see that these people can be taken off the streets and to see that justice can be served.
I am proud to be involved with this group and can't wait to see the future work that can be done. I am impressed that this organization is supported and works together within the community and works with VICE (often times the first contact with these young girls) all the way to those of us sitting around a table brainstorming new ways and new ideas to education and protect.
This is only the success story of one girl. There are many more who are out there, waiting...
4 comments:
Thats really inspiring!!!
it is so good to hear that there are good things happening in this world, and the people helping bad things happen are finally being punished.
Yeah Jessi! I am so glad you arr involved in this! I think that maybe this may be a certain calling you have in this life. YOU ARE RIGHT you could turn away and not deal with this, but you are drawn to it and not everyone can be because of what you will see and what you will learn. These people are so lucky that people like you are on this earth to TRULY be passionate about something that has a REAL cause. I love and admire you so much. You are always such an example in my life and THIS is just one of the many and constant reasons. I love you
PS WE NEED JLCC! Call me whenever and I will call you too
Jess, It is amazing to see that you are putting your energy out there for helping these girls. You could have gone into detail about what you have to deal with, but you have put the energy out to the universe that more girls will be helped and I think they will be helped as well. Now that is 2 of use putting out to the universe!!! What power.
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