Snaps: Speaking at GEMS and Summer 2011 continues to rock

I realize I didn’t end up blogging on The Lair everyday this week. Oh well. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

AM shows me Park Slope’s gang sign: Baby Mafia

took my bewbies to Washington Square park and met up with Crystal

watching Ash play videogames

showing off my Joker chucks

But the best part of this week was speaking at GEMS, where I was able to share my story with young women looking for mentors, as well as with many other women in media who are now a part of my network.

Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) is the only organization in New York State specifically designed to serve girls and young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. GEMS was founded in 1998 by Rachel Lloyd, a young woman who had been commercially sexually exploited as a teenager.

GEMS has helped hundreds of young women and girls, ages 12–24, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change.

Many thanks once again to Alexandra Roxo, who invited me to participate and made a great film called “Mary Marie” that I saw at NEWFEST this year.