Press Release

Los Angeles- Women Wonder Writers  (WWW), a girls mentoring nonprofit grown out of the Inland Empire by women in the criminal justice system, has partnered with The United State of Women Summit and California’s Forgotten Children to moderate a discussion panel following a screening of a documentary film shining light on and combatting child sex-trafficking. The screening and panel discussion is set to take place this Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles from 2:30-4:00 p.m. in the Rose Hills Auditorium.

About Film & Panel Discussion

California’s Forgotten Children is a feature award-winning documentary about child sex-trafficking, recounting true stories of girls and boys who were commercially sexually exploited in California and are now survivors and courageous leaders fighting for the rights of victims worldwide. The film is a call to action, leaving viewers with knowledge and tools to combat child sex-trafficking.  This Los Angeles screening follows screenings at the Newport Beach Film Festival and Riverside International Film Festival last month, where Women Wonder Writers moderated the film discussion also.

Following the film screening of California’s Forgotten Children, a panel discussion will take place moderated by Debra Máres, a veteran prosecutor, Co-Founder of Women Wonder Writers and Co-Creator of The Write of Your L!fe, a proven, trauma-informed and resiliency-building curriculum for teen girls. Ms. Màres is also the author of The Mamacita Murders, a legal thriller tackling domestic violence and child sex-trafficking.

Discussion panelists include Rachel Thomas, the Co-Founder of Sowers Education Group promoting survivor empowerment, Kay Buck, the Executive Director of Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST), Nola Brantley, CEO of Nola Brantley Speaks!, a survivor consultancy empowering women and girls, Amber Davies, the Director of Clinical Programs at Saving Innocence and Melody Miller, the film director of California’s Forgotten Children.

WWW Co-Founder Executive Director Debra Máres stated, “We’re thrilled to team up with Director Melody Miller, California’s Forgotten Children Movement, The United State of Women Summit and our Panelists.  WWW’s focus is building resiliency in girls and this film speaks to us as so many of our students are foster youth, impacted by trauma or incarcerated, factors which make them among our most vulnerable.  It’s important to stand united as champions for children within their micro and macro systems, including media, government, health, family, community, and education, so these children will be protected, not forgotten.”

About United State of Women Summit

The 2018 United State of Women Summit is a two-day gathering in Los Angeles, which featured at the opening ceremonies today Special Guests including Former First Lady Michelle Obama, California Senator Kamala Harris, Actor and Activist Jane Fonda, Farmworker, Laborer and Children’s Activist Dolores Huerta, Founder of the #MeToo Movement Tarana Burke and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Today Saturday, May 5th, women, girls and allies were hosted at The Shrine Auditorium, inspired by mainstage sessions followed by issue-breakouts, opportunities to connect with leading fellow changemakers, and an interactive center with organizations and women-owned businesses.

On Sunday, May 6th, attendees will fan out across Los Angeles to attend skills-based trainings and community teach-in’s hosted by a range of organizations focused on gender equity in Los Angeles. More information about The United State of Women Summit and tickets can be found at Eventbrite.

The first Summit of its kind took place in 2016 in Washington D.C. with Special Guest Past President Barack Obama and addressed topics including economic empowerment, equal pay for equal work, women’s health, women’s education, violence against women, entrepreneurship and civic engagement.

About Attending the Film Screening

The film screening of California’s Forgotten Children followed by a panel discussion is set to take place Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Mount St. Mary’s College located at 10 Chester Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90007 in Los Angeles from 2:30-4:00 p.m.  The event is FREE and open to the public and media.  Seats can be reserved by visiting EVENTBRITE.

L-R Rachel Thomas, Kay Buck, Nola Brantley, Amber Davies, Melody Miller, Panelists for Panel Discussion set May 6, 2018 following California’s Forgotten Children Film Screening at The United State of Women.

WWW Cofounding Executive Director Debra Mares, Panel Moderator.

California’s Forgotten Children Promotional card featuring Julianne Collins, Activist, Martial Arts Blackbelt and Actress, playing young Carissa Phelps.

L-R Debra Mares (WWW Exec. Director & Panel Moderator), Melody Miller (California’s Forgotten Children Director) and Genice Jacobs (Associate Producer) taken at Riverside International Film Festival Gala April 21, 2018.

Film Director Melody Miller on stage of Fox Theater for Film Screening at Riverside International Film Festival April 17, 2018.

 

Panelists on stage of Fox Theater for Discussion following Film Screening at Riverside International Film Festival April 17, 2018. Panelists included Melody Miller, California’s Forgotten Children Film Director; Niki Barnes, Junior League of Riverside State Public Affairs Committee; Debbie Martis, Rebirth Homes; Norma Vasquez, Operation SafeHouse; Pastor Daniel Bishop, The Grove Community Church; Krista Langford, Inspire Life Skills; Opal Singleton, Million Kids; Terry Boykins, CEO Street Positive and WWW Marketing Director; Allison Donahoe-Beggs, Riverside Department of Public Social Services; Genice Jacobs, Abolitionist Mom, Julianne Collins, Activist, Martial Arts Blackbelt and Actress, playing young Carissa Phelps.