MONOLOGUE SLAM: RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The Collective Advocates for Social Change & Development, Inc. is holding its 1st annual fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 from 3-5p.m. at Brooklyn Music School and Playhouse. It's located at 126 St. Felix St. in Brooklyn, NY.

It will be a very special afternoon showcase and competition of various talented performers.

Each year, 300,000 or more people are trafficked in the United States for sex and labor. Children as young as 5 years old are sold for sex. Newborn babies are sold in exchange for drugs and money. Minor children are prostituted and men and women from around the globe are forced or coerced into labor with little to no pay, no medical benefits, no days off and often, without seeing their families.

These practices are inhumane and many violate human rights laws.

Additionally, so many people a year in the United States go missing. 

Annually, 60% of African Americans and Latinos go missing; some even trafficked; yet their story often does not make it to the airways.

We want to do something about the lack of information that's available which leads people to believe that human trafficking is only an international problem. That's only partly true. It is also a huge domestic problem! 

This industry is the 2nd leading criminal industry behind the illegal sale of drugs and guns. And it has enslaved up to 27 million people; making $32 billion dollars a year for traffickers and its cohorts.

At our Monologue Slam, you will experience the transformation of performance artists and poets into some of the voices of the most challenged communities who have been affected by human trafficking. All works from the performers will be original pieces. And prizes will be given for the best performances!

There will also be a cocktail and networking hour. You can purchase your tickets now at: www.Eventbrite.com/event/8476229631.

If you would also like to make a donation, please feel free to at: www.TheCollectiveAdvocates.com.

We appreciate your support and hope to see you there!

The Collective Advocates

Domestic Human Trafficking

The Collective Advocates has been afforded the opportunity to work alongside some amazing social advocates and organizations this past year, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF being one of them.
In support of the work the End Trafficking Project is doing, to raise awareness about domestic human trafficking, The Collective Advocates is sharing the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's new PSA featuring UNICEF Ambassador/actress, Angie Harmon.

What Do We Know?

Photo by: Marco Bellucci

When did we become scared to tell each other the truth about the way we behave? In so many instances I see people witnessing absurd behavior, sometimes even joining in on the behavior but not doing anything about trying to change destructive behavior. Why?
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Human Trafficking Campaign

This year, The Collective Advocates for Social Change & Development, Inc., is creating a yearlong campaign to raise awareness on domestic human trafficking. We need your support in helping to create nationwide attention and discussion of this devastating social issue. 

As many people know, human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, exists around the globe. But what most people don't know is that human trafficking also exists in a large part right here in the United States. Human beings as young as 12 years old are trafficked regularly into commercial sex trafficking, prostitution, domestic servitude and forced labor. Many people don't make it out of the modern slave trade psychologically or physically well, if they make it out at all. This is where you come in!

You can get involved in our campaign from anywhere in the United States. Simply complete an Advocate form through our website and we will be in touch to share the many ways you can help Take Action! TheCollectiveAdvocates.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2013

January is a month of symbolic anniversaries including the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and now, the 1st annual National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Our president has publicly acknowledged at the annual Clinton Global Initiative conference last September that slavery still exists. During that week POTUS  released an Executive Order that conveys the federal government's commitment to transparency in overseas relations to slave labor. Now, with his most recent proclamation he provides us his concerted efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery on every level.
Read more »

Guns, Violence & Mental Illness--Why Don't They Go Together?

Photo by Michelle Hebert Fashion

Unkempt. Smelly. Homeless. Impulsive. Mumbling and reciting Biblical verses aloud in public places-- all describes some of the things we believe and see about people with severe mental illness. But there's more and if given the time and space you could say what more you know about this. However, my purpose here is not to degrade or demean anyone who is suffering from mental illness but rather to expand the reality of what mental illness looks like.
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When Tragedy Strikes

Photo From Wiki CC

 When I sat down to write this blog I thought about what to title it. In the end, I came up with what you see. Mostly because there is no easy way to talk about tragedy nor get around it. I suppose when any one of us is confronted with this type of devastation a loss of words is not the only thing we're gripped with. Sometimes a loss of rationale trails right behind. At what age does anyone prepare for tragedy? Is there any? And when do any of us have the words to describe how we feel about it when it happens?
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Where Is Your 40 Acres?

Photo by Poster Boy NYC

Election Night I was home trying my best to stay up as several U.S. states lagged behind so many others, counting the votes for our next President. In the end, it was all worth the wait, Barack Obama was re-elected. Four years earlier, a lot of us were more worked up and excited hoping, praying that we would see the first African American president win the election. This time around I think we were still quite excited, but possibly more worried that the win would go to Mitt Romney and not Barack Obama.

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Yes, We Will

Hey Supporters,

They want to silence us. But #WeWill be heard. And, we will vote. But you can't vote, if you're not registered. That's why Rock the Vote makes it easy to fill out a voter registration form online at

www.rockthevote.com.

Whether you need to register to vote for the first time or just need to update your address or change your name, it only takes a few minutes. Already registered to vote? We need your help getting others registered to vote. Send an email to your friends and family asking them to register to vote at  www.rockthevote.com.

Kind of like this one.

Please be sure to e-mail, tweet, post, and share this on Facebook.

Sincerely,

The Collective Advocates

Are We There Yet?

It's been 3 years and 8 months and I ask, "what have you done?" What have "we" done? Barack Obama has been President of the United States for 3 years and 8 months and what have we done as a nation to advance the causes of human rights, civil rights, health care rights and education for the people of this great nation?
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Trayvon Martin: An Open Dialogue

Tonight, The Collective Advocates sounded off on Facebook about their thoughts, reactions and ideas for change surrounding the injustice of free-man, George Zimmerman and the deceased, 17 y.o. Trayvon Martin. We talked about economic boycotts, POTUS's 26 day delay to responding, and much more.

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Trayvon Martin

It's been about 1 month since the murder of 17 y.o. Florida youth Trayvon Martin by volunteer neighborhood patrolman, George Zimmerman. The Guardian, CNN, Anderson Cooper and surprisingly Donald Trump have been giving this story national attention. One name, one face and the nation brings light to historical black annihilation, racial profiling, youth profiling and inter-racial prejudice.
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Think Again, As Politics and My Privates (Still) Lie On The Table

In a revision of the Right to Know and See Act that was passed several weeks ago in VA, women and others who protested the passing of this legislation may now be able to take some credit in the reconsideration of it being reintroduced to the House without the mandate on transvaginal ultrasounds. Though ultrasounds would still be required for any woman planning to abort a TU (transvaginal ultrasound) would not be mandatory. Ironically, a woman who is a survivor of rape or incest and reports it does not have to endure a TU, according to the amendment.

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Politics and My Privates

March has arrived and like any other month lately it’s done so with unpredictable weather, longer days and glimpses that spring is still further away than we had hoped. However, March is also a month filled with anticipatory recognition of trailblazers past and present with Women’s History Month and Social Work Awareness Month.
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