I met Angela a year ago. We've remained friends because we are both advocates at heart and lose sleep at night over injustice/deception tactics that often infuses the agenda of "majority" politics. This power dynamic silences those who can't speak as loud or as often. So we work advocacy as a lifestyle and OFTEN as an underground operation that eventually breaks to the surface like this event she is doing on Monday. Angela has done incredible leg work--and I've learned a lot from watching her navigate the art of public eventing to promote social change.
When I heard this little girl, Liliana, speak at Angela's event a couple weeks ago--I was in tears/torn/conflicted. In a world full of adults, our children are speaking up for themselves. Nature abhors a vacuum--and silence creates a vacuum that screams for sound to fill the void.
The silence as it relates to child sex abuse, incest, trafficking and everything else that comes along with it---is being broken by our own children. That's been my conflicted part because they shouldn't have to be the ones to settle this score--its not on them, its on us--the adults, parents, grandparents or anyone in authority. But that's in a perfect world--so we are left with the world we actually live in. Liliana and her mom are some of the bravest people to move on behalf of strengthening our community by changing laws. This will be the discussion on Monday--if you have not received a personal invite, please notify me if you want to be in the audience.
Email invite from Angela:
**Just letting you know I have confirmation from ABC News Good For Utah, Former Miss Utah, Rachelle, Rutherford, Provo City Mayor and many legislators!
We are inviting select community members to attend a speaking event this Monday. A ten year old girl, who was my neighbor , will speak about the horrific abuse she endured from her then 24 year old cousin.
We are working to pass a new law for sex offenders, as he served less than one year in jail.
This little girl is beyond brave, and wants desperately to help other kids be able to come forward and for victims like her to feel safe , even if the offender serves a ridiculous sentence as hers did. The law is based off a similar law that passed back east.
She recently spoke at an event I had for Operation Underground Railroad and it was incredible the response.
She later spoke at a Press Conference at Younique Foundation with Tim Ballard last week.
As I got to thinking about this law that I'd like to pass, that will help survivors when the system fails. ( which is all to often ) I asked Liliana, her mother and therapist if Liliana would represent this, she is all for it.
Give me a call at 801.644.4000or reply to this email to confirm if you are able to attend. There is space for 40 community members only . You will need RSVP & show ID at the Production Studio upon entry. We have invited the press as well.
We are live streaming it from my non-profit page Facebook Page " Time To Rescue " but would love to stream it live from other pages as well.
We will take questions I select online only ( through the live stream )
Look forward to hearing back.
I know it is short notice, But I am going off this little girl. Attached is the video from the conference on Friday last week and the flyer for the event this Monday .
