Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee
  • Home
  • About CalSPAC
    • Member Leagues
    • Delegates
  • Legislative Priorities
    • Sponsored Legislation
    • Position Statements
  • Stay Up to Date
    • Blog
  • Contact

Junior Leagues of CA State Public Affairs Committee Continues Fight Against Human Trafficking

10/30/2014

 
Picture
Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) is committed to ending human trafficking in all its forms. SPAC supports policies and programs that stop human trafficking, advocate for victims, and educate the community at large. For the past three years we have sponsored and supported legislation related to human trafficking.

This legislative year we co-sponsored AB 2035 with CAST-LA authored by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (Arcata). AB 2035 passed both the California State Senate and Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support. It would have protected both labor and sex trafficked youth including providing training and support to group home administrators since so many of these vulnerable youth are susceptible to trafficking.

Despite an overwhelming grassroots campaign from our member leagues and coalition partners - Governor Jerry Brown ultimately vetoed the bill. He issued a statement acknowledging that this year's budget provides funding for minor sex trafficking victims and directed the Department of Social Services to convene stakeholders to "curb the tragedy of young people forced to work under illegal and unacceptable conditions". Conversions with DSS have already underway and we remain committed to continuing to advocate, educate and work to stop human trafficking.

Virginia Chambers, Co-Chair of the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee said, "As we move forward, we are encouraged by the Governor's commitment towards serving minor trafficking victims. Our delegation is committed towards coming to a collaborative solution with key stakeholders to protect this vulnerable population. We want to recognize and acknowledge the over 10,000 Junior League members across the state of California that engaged in and are committed to this important cause."

Caroline Bruister, Co-Chair of the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee said, “We are proud to stand united with Junior Leagues across the nation against human trafficking. Bringing together stakeholders, contributing to task forces, educating members and the community are just some of the ways our member leagues are involved in this fight.” 


Member leagues are engaged locally in human trafficking education and awareness activities in addition to AB 2035 support. Highlights include the following:

●     Junior League of Bakersfield (JLB) educating members at monthly membership general meetings.

●     Junior League of Fresno (JLF) held a human trafficking forum at a membership general meeting.

●     Junior League of Long Beach (JLLB) scheduled Opal Singleton, CEO of Million Kids, to speak at their October general membership meeting to educate members on current trends in human trafficking. The membership will support Long Beach's Human Trafficking Task Force in January at their Youth Exploitation Safety Symposium (Yess!) by assisting kids in breakout sessions.

●     Junior League of Napa-Sonoma (JLNS) is a member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force, a multidisciplinary team working to raise awareness, advocate for victims, and end human trafficking in our community. As a member of the Task Force, JLNS helps to organize periodic forums and rallies on the topic, and has supported other awareness campaigns in our community such as local billboards. JLNS shares information with our members about human trafficking and the efforts of the Task Force at General Membership Meetings on an annual basis.

●     Junior League of Oakland East Bay (JLOEB) hosted a human trafficking forum with Oakland Deputy Mayor Sandré Swanson, Deputy District Attorney Chad Mahalich of Contra Costa County, and Venus Rodriquez of MISSSEY: Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth.

●     Junior League of Orange County (JLOC) progresses ahead with further education to the Orange County community its membership and on the anti-trafficking movement.  In September, the JLOCC hosted the beginning of its Survivors' Speak Series with Jim Carson, Orangewood Foundation's Rising Tide Community Coordinator and two survivors. The first of the series was designed to raise awareness and educate attendees in what local human trafficking signs to look for, how females are lured into "the life," and what we can do as a community to help prevent other young women from falling prey.  Additionally, the JLOCC supported a graduation ceremony for local survivors who completed a two year training on recapturing a "normal" life. During October, the JLOCC will be participating in and sponsoring two impactful movements. On October 18, JLOCC is taking part in A21's Walk for Freedom where teams across the globe will be rallying together to raise awareness with a 3.6 mile walk. All participants will wear black shirts and tape as a mouth covering, representing the 27 million victims of human trafficking who do not have a voice. Together, we will walk silently in a single file line and pass out informational flyers to explain human trafficking at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. On October 24, the JLOCC is co-sponsoring with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, the Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T Concert and Rally at Chapman University in Orange. This will be an all-day symposium with food trucks, informational booths, and a free rock concert all in an ongoing effort to fight against Human Exploitation and Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) in Orange County and across the globe. In the coming months, the JLOCC will be hosting human trafficking featured documentary, Tricked at Big Newport movie theater in Newport Beach and will be embarking on multiple efforts during Human Trafficking Awareness month.

●     Junior League of Sacramento (JLS) is educating its members and collaborated with Courage Worldwide Inc to put on a film screening of “In Plain Sight” to raise awareness and educate the community about human trafficking.

●     Junior League of San Jose (JLSJ) hosted a movie night to educate members on the issue of human trafficking, screening a documentary film entitled Carissa on a human trafficking victim, Carissa Phelps, which tells her story by traveling back to the places where it all happened when she was a youth.  SPAC also wrote articles throughout the League year for JLSJ’s FLAIR Newsletter that highlighted SPAC’s efforts related to human trafficking at the state level.  Betty Ann Boeving, Founder & Executive Director of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC), provided an anti-trafficking awareness training at their October general membership meeting, which will allow our members to be ambassadors and further raise awareness on human trafficking in our community.  Additionally, JLSJ SPAC plans to assist BAATC with airport trainings in the Bay Area and participate in the 2015 Freedom Summit.

●     Junior League of San Diego (JLSD) is an active member of the San Diego County Human Trafficking Task Force which strives to take a collaborative, cross-cutting effort on anti-human trafficking efforts in San Diego County. They frequently attend the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition meetings and partner with San Diego Youth Services - Surviving Together, Achieving and Reaching for Success (STARS) which provides support to empower the youth to escape sexual exploitation. JLSD also hosts an annual Human Trafficking Awareness Rally on January 11 to bring together community members to bring awareness around this important issue. Additionally, they host annual community impact forums to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking and the relationships to youth in the foster care system. JLSD regularly communicates and educated their membership on the issue of human trafficking, important legislation and ways to get involved.

●     Junior League of San Francisco’s (JLSF) Advocacy Committee has trained members via multiple film screenings showing Not My Life and a documentary featuring a SF trafficking survivor, and panels featuring trafficking advocates and resources in the bay. JLSF members supported a city/county ordinance targeting massage parlors where trafficking can occur. Members participated in efforts to make sure AB 1193 (which required anti-trafficking poster with hotline info to be posted in specific businesses) is being properly implemented in coordination with the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. JLSF is a sponsor of the Enough Abuse campaign - a movement to prevent child sexual abuse in the bay area with the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Council.

●     Junior League of Santa Barbara (JLSB) is educating its membership via monthly SPAC updates at general membership meetings and speaker trainings.

Follow our work and issues via twitter & Facebook


Junior League of San Joaquin Joins CalSPAC!

6/17/2014

1 Comment

 
The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee SPAC) is proud to announce the Junior League of San Joaquin County (JLSJC) has voted to join its other 16 member leagues as a provisional member in the 2014-2015 league year! 

Since 1971, CASPAC has represented the interests of its member leagues and their community projects to policymakers on the national and state levels. SPAC advocates for legislation in areas related to its member leagues’ projects and issues in the following four focus areas: health, education, family support, and violence prevention. 

“We are ecstatic to welcome the Junior League of San Joaquin County who bring their unique regional perspective and member involvement to the collective voice of our statewide advocacy efforts,” said 2013-2014 SPAC Co-Chair Kristen Del Simone. The Co-Chairs worked with JLSJC leadership throughout the year, including having several members from San Joaquin County attend SPAC’s Spring Conference in Sacramento this May. 2013-2014 CASPAC Co-Chair September Hill added, “JLSJC recognized the importance of combining direct service, capacity building and advocacy in order to create greater community impact in their region. We are thrilled to have JLSJC as a provisional member of our delegation.”

Focused on improving the health, education and welfare of women and children, The Junior League of San Joaquin County (JLSJC) serves as a much-needed volunteer resource and as a catalyst for positive change through partnerships with many nonprofit organizations locally. Since 2009, the League has implemented direct service programs to raise the literacy level in their adopted Kindergarten-8th grade schools. JLSJLC has created training programs for its members to be effective volunteers, and has become a source of leaders in government, private enterprise, and the non-profit community. 

“Our membership’s decision to participate in SPAC marks a continuation of our own local community advocacy efforts and will amplify the impact of our volunteers’ contributions,” said JLSJC President (2013-2014) Nicole Goehring. CASPAC is comprised of two delegates from each of its 17 member leagues. The members of the CASPAC delegation advocate for specific legislation relevant to its member leagues’ issues; educate their home Junior League members about advocacy and public policy; and coordinate the exchange of information from community-based league projects to policymakers. Since 1992, SPAC has sponsored six bills and co-sponsored three bills that are now California Law; sponsored one California Resolution; and co-sponsored one Congressional Resolution. SPAC is currently sponsoring AB 2035 (Chesbro), which creates  a statewide framework to protect trafficked youth in California. 

For more information on the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee please follow us on Twitter & Facebook.
1 Comment

The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee honors Senator Marty Block with its “Legislator of the Year” award

5/6/2014

 
Picture
The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) honored Senator Marty Block (D-San Diego) with its prestigious “Legislator of the Year” (2013-2014) award during their Day at the Capitol event May 5, 2014.  Every year, SPAC grants this award to legislators who are working on issues which reflect its mission and focus issue areas including – health, education, violence prevention and family support and its current priority issue – human trafficking. 

Senator Marty Block is a champion on the issue of human trafficking.  He has authored multiple human trafficking bills that have taken creative and unique approaches to combating the issue, including: classifying human trafficking as a public nuisance; addressing the increased link between human trafficking and gang activity by adding human trafficking to the list of gang related crimes, thus allowing prosecutors to go after whole gangs; and he is currently working to educate our youth through sex trafficking and sexual abuse prevention education.   This year he also introduced another bill which would streamline prosecution of human traffickers and reduce the trauma of victims who are witnesses in those trials.

“Senator Marty Block has been a great partner to the Junior League of San Diego, speaking at both our Human Trafficking Awareness Rally on January 11th and also sending a Field Representative to speak to our league members on the topic of human trafficking,” said Virginia Chambers, SPAC Senior Delegate from San Diego.

Upon receiving the award, Senator Block said, “I am humbled and honored to receive this award from The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee, an organization whose members are committed and concerned citizens.  The Junior League has been one of our biggest allies in the fight against human trafficking.”

The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee is a non-partisan, all-volunteer organization, which has been involved in legislative advocacy for more than 40 years.  It represents a coalition of 16 California Junior Leagues comprised of more than 10,000 women statewide.  SPAC supports the Junior League’s mission to improve communities through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.


California Human Trafficking Resources

1/6/2014

 
Polaris Project is a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Named after the North Star "Polaris" that guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking, in the U.S. and globally. By successfully pushing for stronger federal and state laws, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (1-888-373-7888), conducting trainings, and providing vital services to victims of trafficking, Polaris Project creates long-term solutions that move our society closer to a world without slavery.

Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee is proud to work with the Polaris Project, including on SB 738 which would create a statewide framework for treating commercially sexually exploited youth as victims not criminals. Below are some important resources from the Polaris Project.

Human Trafficking Overview:
http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview

2013 California State Report:
http://www.polarisproject.org/storage/documents/California_State_Report_2013_08_01_16_51_38_377.pdf

Local Organizations:
http://www.polarisproject.org/state-map/california

January 2014 Human Trafficking Awareness Month

1/6/2014

 
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation calling for communities and organizations to recognize the vital role everyone can play in ending all forms of slavery. Governor of California Jerry Brown's State Proclamation recognizes the need for both enforcement against perpetrators and aid for victims.

Here in California we have been making progress but much room for improvement remains. The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee is committed to ending human trafficking in all its forms. We support policies and programs that stop human trafficking, advocate for victims, and educate the community at large.

The Junior Leagues of California has worked with state leaders and advocates on legislation which enables trafficking victims to rebuild their lives. This year we are proud to team with CAST LA and author Senator Leland Yee sponsoring SB 738 which creates a framework for treating commercially sexually exploited youth as victims not criminals.

You can help us join the fight for freedom. Here are some ways to do that:

  • If you suspect someone is at risk, report it: The National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or The U.S. Department of Justice Hotline 1-888-428-7581
  • Sign on as an official supporter of SB 738 (email SPAC Legislative Liaison at carolinebruister@gmail.com)
  • Find California resources including local organizations listed at: http://californiaspac.org/2014/01/06/california-human-trafficking-resources/
  • Help us spread the word on Twitter (https://twitter.com/calspac), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CASPAC) with the hashtags: #CAPubAffairs #EndSlavery #HumanTrafficking #SB738
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    November 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    October 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


Copyright © 2022 Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee. 
All rights reserved.