Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter’s President Kate Farrell says:

Dear WNBA- SF Chapter Members,

Breaking News: SF Chapter will co-sponsor a fabulous award event this coming Sunday!
Almost all the nominated authors will attend. Join us at the SF Main Library and enjoy the ceremony, readings, and free reception.

33rd Annual

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARDS

celebrating books published in 2013 by Northern California authors

 

Sunday, April 27, 2014

San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin, Civic Center, San Francisco, CA

1:00–2:30 pm: Awards Ceremony featuring readings & remarks by the award-winning authors

2:30–4:00 pm: Book signing & Reception follows in the Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room

Awards and reception free and open to the public; nominated books on sale by Readers Bookstore

 

FRED CODY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Adam Hochschild, Berkeley author, journalist, historian

 

NCBR RECOGNITION AWARD

City Arts & Lectures

 

FICTION

At Night We Walk in Circles, Daniel Alarcon

Sorrow, Catherine Gammon

The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, Andrew Sean Greer

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Anthony Marra

Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, Peter Orner

 

POETRY

Seasonal Works with Letters on Fire, Brenda Hillman

Black Crow Dress, Roxane Beth Johnson

Spiral Trace, Jack Marshall

The Palace of Contemplating Departure, Brynn Saito

Here Come the Warm Jets, Alli Warren

 

TRANSLATION

Fiction

The Mongolian Conspiracy, by Rafael Bernal, translated by Katherine Silver from the Spanish

The Mehlis Report, by Rabee Jaber, translated by Kareem James Abu-Zeid from the Arabic

The Art of Joy, by Goliarda Sapienza, translated by Anne Milano Appel from the Italian

Poetry

Poems of Consummation, by Vicente Aleixandre, translated from the Spanish by Stephen Kessler

Colonies, Tomasz Rozycki, translated from the Polish by Mira Rosenthal

Landscape with Yellow Birds, by José Ángel Valente, translated from the Spanish by Thomas Christensen

 

GENERAL NONFICTION

Down by the Bay: San Francisco’s History Between the Tides, Matthew Morse Booker

League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru

Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety, Eric Schlosser

Carol and John Steinbeck: Portrait of a Marriage, Susan Shillinglaw

An Atomic Love Story: The Extraordinary Women in Robert Oppenheimer’s Life, Shirley Streshinsky and Patricia Klaus

 

CREATIVE NONFICTION

Gary Kamiya, Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco

Anchee Min, The Cooked Seed

Rebecca Solnit, The Faraway Nearby

Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani, Beyond the Possible: 50 Years of Radical Change at Glide

Gordon Young, Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City

 

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

Younger Readers

Marissa Moss, Mira’s Diary: Home Sweet Rome

Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, pictures by Matthew Myers, Battle Bunny

Lemony Snicket, illustrator Jon Klassen, The Dark

 

Young Adult

Kristin Elizabeth Clark, Freakboy

Katherine Longshore, Tarnish

Annemarie O’Brien, Lara’s Gift

The Northern California Book Awards are presented and sponsored by Northern California Book Reviewers; Poetry Flash; Center for the Art of Translation; Red Room (redroom.com); PEN West; Mechanics’ Institute; Women’s National Book Association, SF Chapter; San Francisco Public Library; Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and Readers Bookstore at the Main.

For more information: Poetryflash.org, 510.525.5476, NCBR@poetryflash.org

Facebook event page: search Northern California Book Awards



Cheers from

 

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW. Click here for print edition. Click here for Kindle edition. “Reach out, not stress out.”

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog” Click here to start.

 

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Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here to wish all writers time to write, read, and support other writers.

 

I wrote a review for author Mary B. French.  She had sent me the link to her YouTube and Amazon pages.

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching Children How to be a Good Friend, Go after Their Dreams, and Love Themselves

Mary B. French‘s children’s book about Compass (a teddy bear who has special talents) and his human friend Molly (whose parents are separated) teaches readers (young and old) how to be a good friend, go after our dreams, and love ourselves. Also, I learned a few things about English customs, and, how one would go about meeting the Queen. A sweet story!
Cheers to the author of Bear-ly There With Compass and all the protagonists in the story!
Sincerely, 22-day writing and fanbase-building coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

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 I am reading entries to “Immigrant Experience Writing Contest” which I am sponsoring for the San Mateo County Fair Literary Arts Division and California Writers Club SF Peninsula Branch. Thank you, Bardi Rosman Koodrin, CWC, and everyone who support the many writing contests. Thank you, Professor Sheryl Fairchild, for being co-judge to the contest I’m sponsoring. Bravo to all contestants, for polishing your pieces and submitting to the various contests.

Advice to writers who will be entering their works to any writing contest:  follow guidelines to increase your chance of receiving an award. If the contest’s theme is battling mental illness, write about that; if the contest’s theme is about adopting a pet, write about that.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Last performance The Year of Magical Thinking will be Sunday April 27, 2014.

Authors Mary E. Knippel, Lynn Scott and I are going to see the play The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (based on her memoir of the same title), directed by Craig A. Miller, starring Grace Kingsley.  Thank you, director Lennie Dean, for emailing this message:

“If you have a chance see this incredible one-woman play….so well acted and beautifully written . . . .  Call the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, CA 707-523-4185

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SPRING ARTS FAIR — Art show, live music, and refreshments. Free and open to all!
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 3:00-6:00pm
(readings are from 4:00-5:00pm)
at
Congregation Beth Sholom
1301 14th Avenue (near Clement), San Francisco, CA
Pamela Reitman says: ”I am honored to be one of several readers. My current project is based on the life of Charlotte Salomon, who created Life?or Theater?, according to University of Leeds art critic and professor Griselda Pollock, “one of the twentieth century’s most challenging art works.” Charlotte Salomon was a German-Jewish artist in hiding in the South of France, who struggled with the tragic legacy of multiple suicides in her family, to complete a monument to her life in paintings in a race against time before captured by the Nazis.  Hope to see you there!”  www.pamelareitman.com
   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Co-Creators of San Francisco Writers Conference Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen announce that they will be at Book Expo America http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Show-Info/Event-At-A-Glance-Hours/  Wednesday, May 28 – Saturday, May 31, 2014 at the Javits Center, NYC.  And, tell your writer-friends about San Francisco Writers Conference February 12-15, 2015 http://www.sfwriters.org/  Thank you, Elizabeth and Michael, for inviting me to present every year at your fabulous writers’ conference.
   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
June 7-15, 2014 Meet California Writers Club members at Bardi Rosman Koodrin‘s Literary Arts Stage, Fine Arts Galleria, San Mateo County Fair. June 7, 2014 Writing Contests Awards Ceremony;
Tuesday June 10, 2014 Teresa LeYung-Ryan with other playwrights will deliver short works, hosted by Darlene Frank.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Saturday, June 21, 2014 Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan will present “Build/Fortify Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase” at California Writers Club – Tri-Valley Branch in Pleasanton, California. Thank you, Paula Chinick  and Blake Heitzman, for inviting me!

 



Cheers from

 

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW. Click here for print edition. Click here for Kindle edition. “Reach out, not stress out.”

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog” Click here to start.

For other posts in my blog, please go to: https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog

If you’re looking for my blog posts pertaining to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity… https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog  look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”.  Please click on that category to get those posts.

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TheLongBlueRoom Cover 198x300 Books cosmo joan2 Bio
Hearty congratulations to Joan Gelfand!  Her new book The Long Blue Room (published by Benicia Literary Arts) has poems which have won awards, including: Poets 11 judged by Jack Hirschman, Poet of the Month from PoetryMagazine.com, Honorable Mention from Pen Women/Roanoke, First Prize from Osmosis Sanctuary and Honorable Mention from the City of Benicia. Her poem, “Transported,” was nominated for a Pushcart prize. Thirty poems in this new collection have been nationally and internationally published in Literary Journals, anthologies and webzines!  http://joangelfand.com/books/
Joan will be in NYC and Boston in April 2014!  http://joangelfand.com/joans-calendar/
http://joangelfand.com/joans-calendar/
2014
April 5 | Environmental Poetry from five Northern California Poets w/ Genny Lim, Drew Dillinger, Mary Mackey, Kurt Lumpkin and Al Young, Poet Laureate of California Emeritus, Rockridge Public Library, Oakland, CA @ 2pm

April 9 | Honoring National Poetry Month, Norwalk Public Library, Norwalk, CT, Noon – workshop on publishing; 7pm – reading and book signing

April 12 | Reading with Raymond Nat Turner – Live jazz, Nuyorican Poets Café, NYC, NY @ 2pm

April 13 | Sunday Evening greatweatherformedia.com Series, Parkside Lounge, NYC, NY @ 7pm

April 17 | Reading with poets from the Women’s National Book Association, Boston, MA, venue TBD

May 4 | Congregation Beth Sholom: New Arts and Literature Festival @ 4pm

May 21 | U of W Bookstore reading & book signing, U District Store, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle, WA @ 7pm

Writing Coach Teresa says: “ Celebrate Joan Gelfand, her new book, the environment, our souls, and National Poetry Month!”

**  **  **  **  **  **  **  **

Saturday, April 5, 2014, 2:00-400pm Environmental Poetry for the Soul -   Oakland, CA

Presents
Environmental Poetry for the Soul
Saturday, April 5, 2014, 2-4 pm
 Free to the Public
The Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Public Library is located at 5366 College Avenue in Oakland, CA.  This event celebrates April, National Poetry Month.
Featuring Poets:  Judith Cody, John Curl, Drew Dellinger, Sharon Doubiago, Joan Gelfand, Genny Lim, Kirk Lumpkin, Mary Mackey, Claire Ortalda, Jeanne Powell, Floyd Salas.  For more information, contact Kim McMillon at (510) 681-5652.

 

 

**

Cheers to Joan Gelfand, all poets, National Poetry Month, our Environment, and our souls!

Sincerely,

22-Day Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com 

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW.  She helps clients identify their themes and archetypes.   “Reach out, not stress out.”

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”  Click here to start.

 

 

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**

Writing Coach Teresa says: “2 events to celebrate the environment, our souls and National Poetry Month!”

Saturday, April 5, 2014, 2:00-400pm Environmental Poetry for the Soul -   Oakland, CA

April 9, 2014, 7:00pm Less Stress and More Success – Climbing the Sacred Ladder!    San Rafael, CA

**  **  **  **  **  **  **  **

  http://www.penoakland.com/

 PEN OAKLAND
Presents
Environmental Poetry for the Soul
Saturday, April 5, 2014, 2-4 pm
 Free to the Public
The Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Public Library is located at 5366 College Avenue in Oakland, CA.  This event celebrates April, National Poetry Month.
Featuring Poets:  Judith Cody, John Curl, Drew Dellinger, Sharon Doubiago, Joan Gelfand, Genny Lim, Kirk Lumpkin, Mary Mackey, Claire Ortalda, Jeanne Powell, Floyd Salas.  For more information, contact Kim McMillon at (510) 681-5652.
TheLongBlueRoom Cover 198x300 Books cosmo joan2 Bio
Hearty congratulations to Joan Gelfand!  Her new book The Long Blue Room (published by Benicia Literary Arts) has poems which have won awards, including: Poets 11 judged by Jack Hirschman, Poet of the Month from PoetryMagazine.com, Honorable Mention from Pen Women/Roanoke, First Prize from Osmosis Sanctuary and Honorable Mention from the City of Benicia. Her poem, “Transported,” was nominated for a Pushcart prize. Thirty poems in this new collection have been nationally and internationally published in Literary Journals, anthologies and webzines!  http://joangelfand.com/books/
Joan will be in NYC and Boston in April 2014!  http://joangelfand.com/joans-calendar/

**  **  **  **  **  **  **  **

    Shulamit Sofia of Soul Strength SeminarsClimbing The Sacred Ladder

Less Stress and More Success

learn how by Climbing the Sacred Ladder!

April 9, 2014 , 7:00 PM

OPEN SECRET Book Store

923 C Street  (between 3rd & 4th)

San Rafael, CA 94901

Shulamit Sofia MSW, social entrepreneur, college professor, artist and writer is dedicated to support you to have more Love, Joy, Peace and Purpose in your life. After  establishing a program to help over 250,000 children in orphanages and war zones find more safety and security, she founded Soul Strength Seminars to teach the same principles to people wanting to reach their soul goals.

http://www.soulstrengthseminars.com/ or call (415) 448-6041

**  **  **  **  **  **  **  **

Cheers to Everyone, National Poetry Month, our Environment, and our souls!

Sincerely,

22-Day Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com 

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW.  She helps clients identify their themes and archetypes.   “Reach out, not stress out.”

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”  Click here to start.

**

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WOMEN WRITING IN THE REDWOODS      

 A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community

THIS WEEK!  April 3-6, 2014 Thursday-Sunday

 

SAY YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS OFFER THROUGH ME (Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan), and the fee is just $395. (vs. $525!)

To secure this special rate, call Michael Larsen or Elizabeth Pomada to REGISTER BY PHONE AT 415-673-0939. THESE PLACES WILL SELL QUICKLY, SO ACT NOW.

Give yourself the gift of time this weekend in a beautiful mountain setting to write, reflect, and get feedback on your work in a beautiful mountain setting. Become part of a caring community of writers.

 Onsite mentors include:

•    Heather Lazare former Crown/Random House editor, freelance editor

•    Donna Levin, UC Berkeley Extension, novelist, and author of Get That Novel Started and Get that Novel Finished

•    Elizabeth Pomada, agent, Larsen/Pomada Literary Agents

•    Michael Larsen, agent/author How to Get a Literary Agent

 

Venue: Pema Osel Ling Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center, 2013 Eureka Canyon Road, Corralitos, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains outside of Watsonville, CA www.polmountainretreat.com

Weather report: No rain Thursday, chance of showers Friday, totally sunny Saturday and Sunday.

Registration:Includes three nights shared lodging and three breakfasts, lunches and dinners (vegetarian available) with wine and marshmallows by the fire. Mentoring by the staff and more! QUESTIONS?

Please call Elizabeth Pomada at 415-673-0939 or email her at   SFWriterscon   @aol.com.

If you would like to carpool to the retreat, contact DALE KING AT DALEEKING  @ATT.NET or call her at 510 534-3630

Cheers!

22-Day Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
http://writingcoachTeresa.com
the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”  Click here to start.

 

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Dear Writers,

Thank you for getting my workbook and doing the exercises.

Here’s a question that is often asked by writers:

“Do I really have to blog?  I have a regular website, facebook page and Twitter.”

Here’s my response:

“You do not have to do anything that you do not want to do.  The ‘tags’ in blog posts function as index cards on cyberspace – those tags help new fans find you – enjoy the exercises in my workbook – you’ll see the power of consistent blogging for yourself.  Reach out, not stress out.”

Cheers!
22-Day Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
http://writingcoachTeresa.com
the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”  Click here to start.

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan answers question: "Do I really have to blog?"

 

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Click on underscored text in this post to get to related websites . . .

Dear Writers who attended our sessions at San Francisco Writers Conference 2014,

Thank you so much for attending:

“From Hooks to Books: Grabbing the Attention of Agents and Editors with Your Talking Tagline & Platform” with Elisa Sasa Southard & Teresa LeYung-Ryan
OR
“Be Your Own Editor: Inject the 5 Ws and Core Theme Into Your Manuscript” with Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Mary E. Knippel
OR both !

 

Thank you for filling out our evaluation forms!

Writing Coach Teresa Recommends Contests, Meet the Agents and Editors, Conferences, Retreats, and Resources for Writers

 

Please help your writer-friends by sharing these events and opportunities:

  • Writing Contests   3 groups of contests – through California Writers Club-Sacramento Branch, Literary Arts Division of the San Mateo County Fair, and WriterAdvice

sponsored by San Francisco Chapter of Women’s National Book Association -  Space is limited! Cost: $65 WNBA members, $75 non-members
Mary E. Knippel & Catharine Bramkamp will be coaches at this event

  • Redwood Writers “From Pen to Published” is an all-day writers’ conference on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA.  Craft, Genre, Publishing, Marketing: Select among four tracks with sixteen sessions.
  • If a friend would like a CD or MP3 of sessions at SFWC – Go to VWTapes

 

I’m cheering for you!

Sincerely,

22-Day Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com 

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW,  She helps clients identify their themes and archetypes   “Reach out, not stress out.”

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog”  Click here to start.

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  • Click here for Writing Contests  through Literary Arts Division of the San Mateo County Fair – many genres (including novels, memoirs, short stories, fantasy, science fiction, essays, poetry, children’s, immigrant experience) – open worldwide – $10 per entry -  online entries due April 1, 2014   5:00pm Pacific Standard Time. Cheers to Literary Arts Director Bardi Rosman Koodrin, sponsors, judges, all contestants!

 

 

Check out my blog post  “Coach Teresa says: Who or What is the Antagonist in Your Story?“  before you send your manuscripts to agents, acquisition editors, or writing contests.

Remember that a story, even a short one, has a beginning, middle, and end.  A “snapshot” of an event is not a story.  A story must have a main character, even if that character is the only character.

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cheers for Writing Contest Creators, Sponsors, Judges, and Contestants!

 

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan   aka  22-Day Coach Teresa helps clients identify their themes and archetypes; she is the author of:

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (workbook for all genres)

Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby (novel used in college courses)

“Talking to My Dead Mom” monologues

Creator of The Immigrant Experience Writing Contest

Coach Teresa’s website http://writingcoachTeresa.com

To subscribe to Coach Teresa’s Blog , please click here.

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Registration open to both men and women!   Pitch Your Books!

 Pitch-O-Rama 2014 Meet the Agents and Editors
Saturday, March 29, 2014, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

sponsored by Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter


Meet our experts: Peter Beren, Amy Cloughley (Kimberly Cameron), Rachel Neumann (Parallax Press), Georgia Hughes, (New World), Brenda Knight (Viva Editons), Laurie McLean (Foreword Literary), Pooja Menon, (Kimberley Cameron), Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomada (Larsen-Pomada Agency), Alan Rinzler, Andy Ross, Brooke Warner (She Writes Press) Click here for full listing.

The event includes a FREE pre-pitch session and mentoring throughout the morning in our Green Room, an adjacent classroom to the main event in the Audre Lorde Room (both on the second floor) with Catharine Bramkamp, Patricia V. Davis, and Mary E. Knippel.

Immediately following the two-hour pitch session is a lively panel discussion on the controversial topic, Categorizing “Women’s” Fiction: Helpful or Hurtful? moderated by member/author Rayme Waters, with Book Club expert and blogger, Marsha Toy Engstrom, and acclaimed historical fiction author, Anita Amirrezvani.

TO REGISTER:  http://wnba-sfchapter.org/pitch-o-rama-2014/               

Space is limited! Cost: $65 WNBA members, $75 non-members

I wish everyone lots of fun!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan   aka  22-Day Coach Teresa helps clients identify their themes and archetypes; she is the author of:

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (workbook for all genres)

Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby (novel used in college courses)

“Talking to My Dead Mom” monologues

Coach Teresa’s website http://writingcoachTeresa.com

To subscribe to Coach Teresa’s Blog , please click here.

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Today is International Women’s Day and we celebrate women and girls!

Yet, this kind of atrocity is happening all over the world, even in our backyards.

On a bus this morning, I saw this poster:

“Human Trafficking in Contra Costa is Real!  12 – 14 YEARS OLD.  AVERAGE AGE OF U.S. CHILDREN BEING FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION”

The words on the sign that the young girl is holding says:     “12 – 14 YEARS OLD.  AVERAGE AGE OF U.S. CHILDREN BEING FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION”

How do we stop these crimes on children? How do we spread awareness?

For the full story, click on Martinez News-Gazette

Excerpts from the article by Darya Esipova January 19, 2014

DA says human trafficking exists in Contra Costa County

District Attorney Mark Peterson told about 30 participants at the conference of the significance of human trafficking, and mentioned there are 16.5 million people throughout the world that become victims of labor exploitation every year – 65 percent of which are women used in slave labor.

Contra Costa County Prosecutor Nancy Georgiou said that since January 2011, the problem of trafficking started to become more and more obvious. In 2011 she had four cases to review, and in 2013, 32 cases, with a prosecution rate of 100 percent. In 2014 there are 10 cases on the waiting list.

Police officers and probation officers are trained to rescue human trafficking victims.

“It is vital for the general public to know the dynamics of human trafficking,” she said, “and to know that behind every girl there is a person that controls her: manages her transportation – where does she have to go, what clothing to wear and when to work. In 2013, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors created a Human Trafficking Coalition, where community members, health service providers, law enforcement agencies and others collaborate with each other and exchange the information they have.”

Devorah Levine, Chair of Zero Tolerance for Human Trafficking, stated that their main message is that the public has an obligation not to tolerate trafficking as a kind of modern slavery in our county.

“If you are a victim of trafficking or if you suspect that someone may be being trafficked, we believe you and want you to come forward and to speak to people who can help, and the first step is to call hot-line number 211. There are many people standing behind that number that are ready to help – violence police officers, health services providers and many more,” explained Levine.

*********

Look Beneath the Surface - Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery. A victim of trafficking may look like many of the people you see everyday.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/anti-trafficking

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Program (ATIP) identifies and serves victims of human trafficking, assisting foreign trafficking victims in the United States to become eligible for public benefits and services to the same extent as refugees.  The program also raises awareness of human trafficking through the HHS Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking campaign.

Together we can help make this world a safe place for all children.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Advocacy-For-Mental-Health-Resources-for-Women,-Girls,-Boys,-Teens,-Men,-Families.html

aka  22-Day Coach Teresa helps clients identify their themes and archetypes; she is the author of:

Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby (novel used in college courses)

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (workbook for all genres),

“Talking to My Dead Mom” monologues

Coach Teresa’s website http://writingcoachTeresa.com

To subscribe to Coach Teresa’s Blog , please click here.

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