June 25, 2008 Wednesday — You just never know…and then CNN calls

You just never know what your role is when you’re trying to create a social movement, or a paradigm shift. These are things that don’t happen overnight, or with one movie, one song, or one person. It’s a widespread effort. There are so many people and projects fighting to recognize the forgotten victims on the streets…the children who are without families, and without any protection. And today we all got a little bit of our payoff.

This morning I broke out of my study routine, and my usually sweat pants and tank top attire, for a CNN interview. Seems that as I have been taking practice exams and hitting the books, the FBI Innocence Lost Project has been working on a crack down on child prostitution rings in the U.S.

Here’s the story: http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/FBI-Announces-Child-Prostitution-Takedown/1$42006

I’ll post my interview with CNN as soon as I have it. (If anyone records CNN it was on at around 1240 p.m. PST.)

The crack down, and the fact that 21 children were brought to safety made me so appreciative for all of you.

THANK YOU for getting this message out.

Like I said earlier, you just never know what your role is when something like this happens, but I think it’s important for all of us to take a moment and realize we can make a difference. It started this week with the FBI saving 21 young lives.

The US Attorney will prosecute most of the cases against the pedophiles, pimps, and adult prostitutes. During the trials the most important job the US Attorney will have is to ensure that the 21 children are properly cared for. The only way to do that is to work with the experts. Rachel with GEMS in NY, Lois with Children of the Night, and a handful of other people in the country who know what they’re talking about when it comes to caring for children that have been victimized by pimps.

Unfortunately, most of the time the children do not have family’s that can work through these issues. Most of the children that are preyed upon are runaways and throw aways. Some are even sold into prostitution by their families.

I will do my best to inquire about the care for the 21 children. We should ensure they are not punished, and that they have a chance at having a normal life. The work does not stop at breaking up the prostitution rings. This nightmare really is not over until the healing process begins, and childhoods are lived out.

So, what will happen after the case is closed?

I think it’s my job to ask the right questions. If there is not a plan, then I’d like to help create one. If there is no money for a plan, then let’s get some. Let’s try to get the $10 million for emergency shelters that was cut out of the Traffic Victim Protection Act of 2005 put back in the budget (I heard sadly it was an easy cut to make to help pay for the war).

Let’s not let these 21 saved lives, or any others, get lost in the system again.

I’m looking forward to getting back to work on this in a big way when I am a licensed attorney. Until then, let’s pray for the children that were saved, and the thousands more that are still out there.

Thanks to all of you for your support, I do believe that we’re making a difference!

Thanks to the FBI Innocence Lost Project, I know they’re working hard to end this nightmare and I support them 1000%!!!

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One more note about the CNN interview that deserves it’s own book. When I was asked how my life turned around, I talked again about Ron Jenkins. I can’t wait to share more about this amazing mentor in my life…it really does belong in a book or feature film.

Ron was my counselor in juvy when I was 13 years old. He was also the first person to ask me what happened to me on the streets. I lost contact with Ron for over a decade, and only reconnected when I was graduating from his alma mater, Fresno State! (GO DOGS!!!)

If you haven’t seen it yet, Ron is the star of the documentary. He’s also the star of my childhood, because he saved it!

All these years later, Ron is still the most positive role model I could ask for. He’s my saving grace, and when you watch the interview, you’ll see me go from somber to lit up when I talk about him. We all need a Ron, and we should all remember it’s not too tough to be a Ron either. You just have to do your job and ask the right questions.

Thanks again for all of YOU and YOUR support!

Carissa

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm and is filed under Press coverage, Weekly Journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.