Crittenton CEO to Speak at YWCA’s 2014 Racial Justice Conference

Crittenton CEO to Speak at YWCA’s 2014 Racial Justice Conference

April 14, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Crittenton Services for Children and Families

Martha Jasso, Director of Communications

(714) 680-6008

mjasso@crittentonsocal.org

SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Crittenton Services for Children and Families (CSCF) is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer, Joyce Capelle, is an invited featured presenter at the YWCA’s, Harbor and South Bay Chapter, Annual Racial Justice Conference on April 30, 2014 from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.

Craft created by Crittenton staff for Crittenton's Anti-Human Trafficking Event 2014

YWCA 2014 Racial Justice Conference to discuss the issue of child sex trafficking in Southern California.

This year the Harbor and South Bay Chapter YWCA made the decision to give the topic of commercial sexual exploitation of adolescent girls continued visibility during its conference. The YWCA is cordially inviting all community members to join the discussion on the global and local impact of human trafficking. 

“It is a mystery to me how long we have been criminalizing the victims of this crime. There is no such thing as a child prostitute – they are children and adolescents who have been sexually abused and exploited. The adults who buy and sell these victims are the criminals,” said Capelle, CEO, CSCF.

For more than 150 years, the YWCA has been a pioneer in social justice on a national and local level, promoting the elimination of racism and empowering women. Its advocacy efforts continue as the organization commemorates the annual “YWCA National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism,” first established in 1992.

A panel of speakers, Michelle Guymon, Los Angeles County Probation; Dan Pratt, Long Beach Police Department; and Joyce Capelle, Crittenton Services for Children and Families, will address human trafficking and the racial justice aspects of this most important subject that affects our community, both directly and indirectly. A survivor will also share their story, experience and continued recovery process. A question and answer session will also follow the panel discussion, and each attendee will receive a packet of information that will include tips on how to avoid being a victim; focus on how to increase awareness; and highlight resources available in the community.

Human Trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal industry in the United States; the fastest is the drug industry. The average age of entry into the world of child sexual exploitation is 12-years-old.

The YWCA Harbor and South Bay chapter are planning to accommodate anywhere from 100 to 150 attendees in it’s auditorium on 437 W. Ninth Street San Pedro, CA 90731.

For additional information and to RSVP, please contact the YWCA Harbor and South Bay Chapter at (310) 547-0831 or email your reservation to racialjustice@ywcaharbor.org

Admission is free but due to space limitations event organizers are requesting all reservations to be submitted by April 25, 2014.

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Crittenton Services for Children and Families of Southern California (CSCF) is a non-profit social services agency whose mission is to heal the wounds of abuse and neglect; strengthen families; and help troubled adolescents reach their full potential. Established and incorporated in 1966 Crittenton has a highly trained workforce operating 24 hours a day / 7 days a week providing comprehensive counseling, medical, and other support services to the clients in our care. We provide a full array of residential, in-home, community based, wraparound, mental health, foster care, and adoption services with a service planning area throughout Southern California that covers Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties.

Visit www.crittentonsocal.org to learn more about our programs and connect with us on  FacebookTwitterYouTubeLinkedInGoogle+ and Flickr.

Topics: Non-Profit, Social Services, Community Based Services, Residential Treatment Services, Youth Shelter Services, Human Trafficking, Commercial Sexually Exploited Children, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victim Services, Commercial Sexually Exploited Children Treatment Program, Modern Day Slavery

Geography: Orange County, Calif., Los Angeles County, Calif., Long Beach, Calif.