P.E.A.S Magazine May 2013 Edition by Gaetane Borders

Magazine/May 2013 Edition

Parenting ● Education ● Assistance ● Support www.peasintheirpods.com

The Mission of this organization is to allow God to empower us as men , to develop comprehensive programs which can be utilized into a “ rite of passage” for our youth in the areas of socialization , education , and empowerment through a mentorship According to a U.S Census Bureau report, over 25 million children live apart from their biological fathers. That is 1 out of every 3 (34.5%) children in America. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) African American children live in father-absent homes. Nearly 4 in 10 (36%) Hispanic children, and nearly 3 in 10 (27%) white children live in father-absent homes. Scholarships4Dads.com Click Here Father Factor in Poverty - Children in father-absent homes are five times more likely to be poor. In 2002, 7.8 percent of children in marriedcouple families were living in poverty, compared to 38.4 percent of children in female-householder families. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2002, P200-547, Table C8. Washington D.C.: GPO, 2003. - During the year before their babies were born, 43% of unmarried mothers received welfare or food stamps, 21% received some type of housing subsidy, and 9% received another type of government transfer (unemployment insurance etc.). For women who have another child, the proportion who receive welfare or food stamps rises to 54%. Source: McLanahan, Sara. The Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study: Baseline National Report. Princeton, NJ: Center for Research on Child Well-being, 2003: 13. - A child with a nonresident father is 54 percent more likely to be poorer than his or her father. Source: Sorenson, Elaine and Chava Zibman. “Getting to Know Poor Fathers Who Do Not Pay Child Support.” Social Service Review 75 (September 2001): 420-434.

Peas In Their Pods

Parenting ● Education ● Assistance ● Support Website: www.peasintheirpods.com

Janice Lowery Chief Executive Officer

Peas In Their Pods is an incorporated not-for-profit organization that provides a specific ser-

Gaétane Borders President Training Specialist

of the Amber Alert System. We simply pick up where they leave off or never engage due to

Denise Bethune Editor P.E.A.S. Magazine Publicity Manager Paula Whitebear Administrative Assistant Yolanda Butler Business Consultant Vickie Britton Researcher for Missing Children Anita Harris Parent Mentor Marcus Dent Guardian Angel

vice to those who have missing loved ones. The organization is self-funded, and is comprised of a team of volunteers who work diligently to assist families during their time of greatest need. We are here to help parents find their missing children. We do not take the place program criteria. Peas In Their Pods Organizational goal takes pride in helping to find missing children of color, fight against child abuse, and provide information to the public.

If I ran for President of the United States, what would be my agenda for our children and why? 5. Connie Johnson 12. R. Lee Gordon 22. Levern Fitzpatrick * Featured Organizations 10. Dare Dreamers 16. Boys to Men Mentoring 24. Hands 2 Help, Inc. 26. Known as Monique Children’s Book Series Karen Callaway-Williams * Monthly Contributors 8. Gaetane Borders Parenting Corner 20. Author Sharon Fox Comfort Food for the Mind, Body & Soul 14. Pat Holmes Monthly Treat

Nancy Fairbanks Webmaster

"If I ran for President of The United States; what would be my agenda for our children and why?" tion between church and the separation of state. Allow the church to be the church, and allow the church to handle their own affairs. As for the homes, as President I will seek funding towards repairing home foundation and structure and less support of divorces which destroys the foundation of the family. Also, I am Pro-choice allowing mother's to make their own decision on whether to keep their baby or not. God has given us all choices in life but we all know the result of wrong decisions, and those making it will suffer negative consequences both naturally and structurally. Furthermore, we would pass more bills concerning a tough ban on explicit usage of languages & nudity on both TV and on radio. These are negative effects in our children lives. To combat that, establish prayer back in our public education system which will provide safety for our children instead of waisting tax payer's monies hiring more officers in schools and buying more guns for educators. Guns are an very serious safety concern. We must build more recreational facilities in the urban communities that will supply much needed resources for our youth such as employment, after-school activities, cultural & diverse activities, skills building on all aspect, health and fitness for the community, weekend tournaments which can generate revenue for communities. We would suggest churches to work hand and hand with facilities and less government. With a strong foundation and structure of church and family, communities will not have to add on more prison and juvenile facilities. Last but not least, encourage love in all governmental facilities home, & schools which will seek true justice, peace and equality. Without it, our society has what it has as of today as follow: bullying, gun violence, gang violence, corruption, greed, selfishness, envy, jealousy, strife, hatred, malice on every levels. All these are lack of morals and character which is a result of NO FOUNDATION + NO STRUCTURE = NO ORDER! As President, I would Draw up a New World Order. "RESTORING OUR CHILDREN BY FIRST RESTORING OUR NATION THROUGH GODLY PRINCIPLES!"

Connie Johnson

Co-Founder of Taking Back Our Community Ministries Program Manager of Taking Back Our Community Radio on WVOF 88.5FM If I were running for President my agenda for our children would be restoring morality and character back into our community but first having it restored in our nation. Being the president of a nation, let alone the president of any organization, business, board, etc., requires a tremendous amount of skills & leadership abilities. But before skills and leadership abilities, one must truly be gifted and anointed to really be effective. As President, in order to lead effectively, one has to be able to be the example, set standards, take stands on tough issues while establishing principles. The stand of President should always show great moral and character. In order to establish a strong nation, the Executive Office must first set a resounding effort in establishing a strong foundation. I would start by building a strong foundation on biblical principles. My team would consist of not only the best man for the position, but first, those who share the same Godly principles as myself. Children must know how to choose their friends wisely and know that bad company corrupt great morals and character, so I as President, must set the examples on the type of team I build. Next, once the foundation is established, structure must be inevitable. The strong foundation will make sure structure will not waiver. With a solid structure whether storms or opposition may come our way, we should be able to withstand all pressures. Our children also need that same foundation and structure. After a steady structure......ORDER IS IN PLACE! Creating order on my team will be extremely important for our youth to understand it's structure. Boundaries, rules and guidelines has to be formatted for everyone to abide by. Children must be aware early on in life. You see, the enemy's job is to steal, kill and destroy lives. He does it by destroying the foundation of the church and home. With me as President I will allow our country to respect the Constitu5

The Upstate Movement 107 Days of Nonviolence objectives are to collaborate, communicate &/or facilitate events that encourage nonviolence to improve the quality of life in the Upstate. Our mission: "To inspire youth and adults of the Upstate to embrace 107 Days of Nonviolence." Our Objectives: To collaborate, communicate and/or facilitate events that encourage nonviolence to improve the quality of life in the Upstate.

Parenting ● Education ● Assistance ● Support www.peasintheirpods.com

Special Feature: Forgotten Children

Parenting Corner: Forgotten Children Gaetane Borders President Peas In Their Pods A mom cries out in despair that “nobody” will help her find her missing 12-year-old daughter, Aaliyah. Overwhelmed by fear, stress, and anxiety, this mother, only 32, collapses and dies of a heart attack. Reports indicate that Aaliyah had not gone to school, but did call several of her friends that day. However, she seemingly disappeared out of thin air on that early spring morning. With her mother now gone, her father continues to search for his missing daughter, and is upset and frustrated at the system for not having done more to help solve his daughter’s disappearance. One question that persists is why it took so long to have an Amber Alert initiated, and why the media was not immediately notified.

the reporting and search system as it pertains to missing children of color. The first 24 hours after a child is missing is crucial, and can make all the difference in the outcome. Therefore, PITP works closely with families and instructs them on the necessary steps that they should take. In addition, the organization is very active in implementing preventative measures that ensure child safety. This is done through parent and caregiver education seminars, podcasts, and outreach services. Parents and guardians are taught the essential steps to initiate in order to avoid tragedy, and are armed with tips to prevent their child from becoming the next statistic.

Unfortunately, Aaliyah’s story is not at all uncommon. It is because of her story, and that of Tammy Hollis, Rilya Wilson, Anjalah K. Hicks, Bianca Jones, Tarasha Benjamin, Kelly Allen, Hasanni Campbell, Marco Antonio Cadenas, Sabah Nasheed Karruem, Tavia Bentley, Tyler Thomas, and the many others on the cover of May’s edition of PEAS Magazine that we fight so hard to spread awareness. They serve as a reminder of just how often these types of nightmares occur.

Since its inception in 2007, PITP’s message has reached millions of people. The support has grown, as has the staff, which continues to expand. In addition, the organization receives frequent requests to be featured in magazines, radio and television programs, and newspapers. The staff at PITP is often amazed by how much support and interest the organization has received. What started as one woman’s mission has inspired countless people across the world to help make a change. However, more work is needed to enlighten the world of the fact that children, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, should be treated equally when labeled as missing. We thank you for your help heretofore….but humbly ask for continued support. Together we can make a difference, and save our children.

Peas In Their Pods was founded in March of 2007 to help bring awareness about the epidemic rate at which African American children are abducted or endangered. Few realize that a child is abducted every forty second in the United States. Moreover, forty-two percent of these children are African American. Sadly, these children receive the least amount of media exposure when such heinous crimes occur. This negatively impacts the likelihood that they will successfully and safely be reunited with their loved ones. Peas In Their Pods’ goal is to spread awareness and improve

Growing up in the projects in the Mississippi delta, I knew nothing about mentors. Although I had great parents who did everything in their power to teach me the importance of loving God, education and dreaming big; there were no mentoring programs for teenage girls. As I entered junior high school, I met someone who became my first mentor. Mrs. Cecelia Jones was my 7th and 8th grade math teacher and she truly laid the foundation for my passion to pursue helping others. Not only was she an inspiration to me, but she also helped build my self-confidence and self-esteem throughout the years. Due to the mentorship she offered, I aspired to become a teacher and eventually a faculty member and doctoral candidate. I reflected on the relationship I had with my first mentor as I finished a phone conversation with a female teen that I’ve known for years. I began to think about how many young girls with whom I actually had a relationship. Am I actually mentoring these girls and is this my purpose? Several thoughts filtered through my mind as I realized I was a mentor without the actual title. Not long after that day, I met Tamika Hunter. Tamika, a health-care professional, already had several items in place for starting a mentoring program. Tamika and I officially met by chance at a beauty salon. After a detailed conversation, we realized we both had aspirations of starting a nonprofit agency to encourage and support adolescent girls academically. The main difference in our two plans is that Tamika wanted to focus on girls 12-15 and I wanted to concentrate on 15-year old girls to 19-year old young women. We were both working on programs for mentoring young ladies so it only made sense that we combine our wit, success and drive. Therefore, we decided to focus on girls 12-19, took the best aspects of each plan and developed “DareDreamers,” a teen mentoring program. Daring girls to dream and dream big is one of the programs’ goals. Our ultimate goal is to see these girls and young women go to college and become graduates. There are many benefits of mentoring such as: Increased academic performance and attendance Increased self-confidence Decreased probability of drug and alcohol abuse and violent behavior. Enhanced social responsibility. Better relationships with parents. Increased chance of pursuing a higher level of education Oftentimes, young ladies are faced with various pressures such as social acceptance, scholastic achievement, familial responsibilities and/or 10

unfortunate circumstances that were either dealt to them by force or choice; driving them to either forget, postpone or never learn the art of dreaming. DareDreamersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vision is for these young ladies to not only dream, but to turn their dreams into reality. So far, some 35 girls have taken the challenge and are dreaming about what they can overcome and become. The group meets every other Monday at CityYouth Ministries at 4:00. Through various avenues such as one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, empowerment circles, community events, conferences, and college visits, we aim to be a steady source for these young women. We hope to equip them to propel into successful women who will become leaders in their community, daring other young women to pursue their dreams as well. Our mission is to mentor female teens, strengthen their character, and help them pursue their dreams and goals with relentless determination. Although we are in the process of applying for several federal grants, everything to this point has been funded completely by the two of us and donations. The program is seeking corporate and individual sponsors who believe in our youth and our cause. We need donations as it costs money with any project. We want to see positive change occur in the community and make a difference. Please feel free to contact us for more information or to make a contribution. Contact Information DareDreamers P.O. Box 19115 Jonesboro, AR 72403 www.iamadaredreamer.org www.facebook.com/iamadaredreamer www.twitter.com/Dare_Dreamer

A 501c3 Teen Girl Mentoring agency based out of Jonesboro, AR, encouraging young ladies to declare "I am a Dare Dreamer!"

Mrs. Tamika Hunter & Dr. Brenda Randle Co-Founders, DareDreamers

"If I ran for President of The United States; what would be my agenda for our children and why?" If I was a presidential candidate, my agenda for children would include the following Ensure schools in the most economically disadvantaged communities had the most / best resources and teachers. Bring other social needs into schools to treat our children / students holistically via a broader support system. This would include health care, nutrition, counseling, vocational / entrepreneurial development and extra-curricular activities. Assure schools are adequately addressing relevant issues facing our communities of students such as bullying, conflict resolution, social media, so that we, as a society, focus on being more proactive than reactive in overcoming many of the negative aspects and outcomes of these issues.

R. Lee Gordon President UniTee Design, Inc.

More effectively evolve and involve students by developing curricula that is Community Advocate more about doing rather than simply about reading, listening and thinking, as research has proven children learn better when they’re actively engaged in the learning process.

I would ensure teachers continued to improve via professional development and (cultural sensitivity) training, leverage students’ interest in music, fashion and entrepreneurialism to help them better learn how to achieve in school and succeed in life. Since most youth crimes occur between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m., I would make sure schools stayed open till 8:00 p.m., and, if possible, weekends, so that children / students have a safe place to go and grow. Map youth resources in each school district so students and staff were consistently aware of and connected to other youth programs, events and opportunities in their communities. mandate parental participation / involvement in schools. Revamp the “standard testing curriculum” in the public school system, and work to arrive at better, more effective and promising ways to reach and teach today’s students. Establish a peer-to-peer program in which college students would tutor and peer mentor high school students, and high school students would tutor and peer mentor grade school students.

MONTHLY TREAT Pat Holmes

Dutch Letter Bars 1 Cup of butter 1 Can almond paste 2 eggs plus 1 egg yolk (reserve the egg white) 1 Â˝ Cups sugar 2 Cups flour 2 teaspoons almond extract Â˝ teaspoon vanilla extract Sliced almonds Coarse sugar Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter. With electric mixer, mix in remaining ingredients and blend well. Spread in 9 by 13 pan. Brush with beaten egg white. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and coarse sugar. Bake 30 minutes until golden brown. Do not over bake.

Parenting ● Education ● Assistance ● Support www.peasintheirpods.com

Special Feature: Forgotten Children

16 years ago, when my friend Joe Sigurdson and I decided to help a few boys in our neighborhood who were growing up without a dad, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We didn’t know that 33% of boys in the US are growing up without a father. We no idea fatherless boys are far more likely to drop out of school, abuse drugs. That 80% of rapist, 85% of men in prison and 90% of gang members grew up without a father. We just gathered a few of our friends, and started meeting with the boys every 2 weeks, to play some football, and at the end of every meeting, we would circle up and talk about how to be a better man. The boys kept showing up and wanting more, and we could see we were making a difference. When the boys told us they wanted to talk about Man stuff more, and play less, we knew we had something special. Soon single mothers started calling and the boys started bringing their friends. We had to find more mentors, so we developed our community-mentoring concept. That was a big key to our success. We could serve more boys, with less men and it was way easier to get men to step up. Then men started calling from other cities, ask ing us to help them start a program for their boys. Joe and I started flying around the world to show men what we were doing.12 years and 4000 boys later, we had Boys to Men centers in 32 cities on three continents. We didn’t stop there. We continued to improve the San Diego program, and three years ago, we achieved a dream to bring Boys to Men into the schools. We started our first after school program with 6 boys and 3 mentors. 40 boys showed up at last weeks meet16 ing. Bruce Crenshaw, who participates in the group

meetings said “In my 24 years as a school counselor, I have never witnessed a program as powerful and effective as Boys to Men. This program has made remarkable changes in our toughest boys.” We now have 83 mentors serving 385 boys at 10 Boys to Men sites throughout San Diego County.

Our vision is communities of men who teach, support, mentor and encourage boys to become compassionate, accountable men.

The Sad Reality for Fatherless Boys Since 1960, the number of American children without fathers in their lives has quadrupled, from 6 million to more than 24 million.Children without fathers in their lives are 9 times more likely to drop out of school, and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.1 The prison incarceration rate more than quadrupled since 1975.2 5% of the adult male population is in or has been in prison, costing taxpayers $75 billion a year.3 85% of youths in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.4 1 in 6 black men had been incarcerated as of 2001. If current trends continue, 1 in 3 black males born today will spend time in prison in his lifetime.5

16 years in development, Boys to Men offers a better option. No boy dreams of going to prison, getting hooked on drugs or joining a gang. We know because we have asked thousands of boys to share their hopes and dreams. We know every boy hopes to become a good man, yet the statistics above show the sad reality of millions of broken dreams, and broken men. What happens to dash these boys dreams and hopes? Middle school years are a critical time for boys with no positive male role models. With no man to guide them, these boys are forced to figure out manhood on their own. One wrong step is followed by another, and soon boys begin to lose their way. If no man shows up, far too many good boys become lost men. Boys to Men provides these boys with men who show up and care. Not just one man, but a community of male role models who offer the hope, support and guidance boys need to stay on the path to their dreams.

It costs $500 to give one boy a year in Boys to Men. It costs $47,102 a year to incarcerate one inmate in California. "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men" Fredrick Douglass Fighting Poverty and Creating a Bridge to the Middle Class. Barack Obama 2011 Why Are So Many Americans in Prison? Raphael Goldman School of Public Policy 2008 3 The High Budgetary Cost of Incarceration. Schmitt, Warner, Gupta, June 2010 4 Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations. Texas 17 1 2

Miracles of Change, Inc. is a Non Profit Organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of families with chronically ill children through various programs set up through the organization that are implemented throughout the year!

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Series Author Karen Callaway-Williams Illustrated by Patricia A. Carroll In this story, again we meet Gabriella, the clever, precocious and funny little girl who continues to be in love with the sounds of tap shoes. This time she uses her... wit and determination to overcome the obstacles that she encounters as she tries to find the right floor to tap dance on. With the help of her brother Steven and her Aunt Debra, see how she keeps trying over and over again until her dilemma is solved! All books can be found on Amazon.com (left bottom) In this story, Gabriella is a precocious, clever and funny little girl who is intrigued with the sounds of tap shoes. She is determined to duplicate that sound, but is unable to find the right type of metal to place on the bottom of her shoes. With the help of her brother Steven, see how she uses her imagination to produce the sound that she wants to make. Rhythms for Ruby is based on a true story. It is about a little girl (Gabriella) who has had her first tap dance recital and her friend Ruby, who is now in a wheelchair after having just come back to the school classroom after recuperating from being in a terrible car accident and losing her leg. Gabriella's tap dance teacher tells her about the famous, real life, one legged tap dancer Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates and she decides that she wants her friend to have a special leg and be able to tap dance too. The book is for children and this is as graphic as it gets. The blurb on the back of this audio book reads as follows: With prayer, determination and creative thoughtfulness, Gabriella finds a way to help her friend Ruby overcome the obstacles of her disability. Through tap dance and with the help of Mrs. Stevens, Mr. Marsh, and Miss. Karen, her tap dance teacher, The entire book series and cd collection can be purchased at 19

Amazon.com

JAMAICAN MEAT PIES (PATTIES) Pastry: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 Tablespoon curry powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup solid shortening 1/4 cup (1/2 stick or 4 Tablespoons) cold margarine 1/3 cup icy cold water. Meat Filling: 2 Tablespoons margarine 1 small white onion, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon chopped Scotch bonnet pepper 1/2 pound lean ground beef 1/2 teaspoon curry powder 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup breadcrumbs 1/4 cup beef or chicken stock 1/4 cup water 1 egg, beaten For the pastry:: Whisk together flour, curry powder, and salt in a large bowl. Place in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add shortening and margarine. Pulse until mixture is crumbly. Add cold water and pulse just until a dough forms. Do not over-process. Roll dough on a floured wooden cutting board to 1/8-inch thickness. (At this point, you may cover the dough ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Let rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before proceeding.) Cut circles 6-8 inches in diameter. Cover circles with plastic wrap until ready to use.

10 minutes. Stir breadcrumbs and beef stock into the ground beef. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has been absorbed. It should not be watery, yet still remain moist. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or grease pans. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the meat filling in the center of each pastry circle. Moisten the edges of the circles, fold in half, and seal edges with the tines of a fork. Mix remaining water with the egg. Brush the tops of the patties with the egg wash.

For the filling:: In a heavy skillet over medium heat, Bake 30 to 40 minutes until golden. Let rest for 10 saute onion and Scotch bonnet chile peppers in mar- minutes before serving. garine until softened. Add ground beef, curry powder, thyme, allspice, salt, and pepper. Saute, stirring often, until beef is browned and broken apart, about 20

Cooking with Author Sharon Fox Mind, Body & Soul Author Sharon Fox understands the importance of feeding the spirit from the inside. Her love for flavor is more than a culinary experience, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apart of new lifestyle experience. Food Editor for P.E.A.S Magazine, Tru Magazine and Latino Connection Magazine, also named The Official Culinary Artist of the Social Networks

ORANGE VANILLA CHEESECAKE Crust Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups fresh graham cracker crumbs 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup melted butter Filling Ingredients: 3 packages (24 ounces) Philly cream cheese, softened 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 tablespoons corn starch 4 eggs 8 ounces sour cream 2 tablespoons vanilla 2 egg yolks 1 tablespoon orange extract zest of 1 orange 3 drops red and 12 drops of yellow food coloring To prepare crust, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a bowl. Melt butter and stir thoroughly into crumb mixture. Lightly grease a 9-inch spring-form pan with butter. Press crumbs into bottom of the spring-form pan, working them up the sides if desired (press with the bottom of a 1-cup measuring cup). Bake crust at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely. Begin making the cheesecake filling by placing softened cream cheese into a large bowl. Using a wooden spoon, mix sugar and corn starch in a bowl and then add to cream cheese; stir until smooth. (You can also use an electric mixer on the lowest speed, but doing so will add extra air into the cheesecake and increase the chance of cracking during baking.) Add 4 eggs one at a time to the filling mixture and stir, scraping down the sides after adding each egg. Stir in sour cream. Put two cups of cream cheese mixture into a second bowl. In the original bowl, stir in vanilla and set aside. In the second bowl, add 2 egg yolks, orange extract, orange zest, and the food colorings, and stir. Using a 1-cup measure, pour mixtures into the center of the spring-form pan by alternating white and orange filling. (To create a "perfect" swirl, pour batter directly into the middle of the pan. Each additional pouring will form a new circle inside the last.) If desired: When finished pouring fillings into the pan, very slightly swirl the top of the cake with a knife to achieve a gentle marbling effect. Place into preheated oven (325 degrees) and bake for 80-90 minutes or until almost set. Sides should be set with a slight rippling effect at the center of the cake (the cake will completely set as it cools and is refrigerated). Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. After about 1 hour you can remove the outside of the spring-form; you may need to run a knife around the edge of the cheese cake to loosen the sides before removing the springform. After cooled, place uncovered cheesecake in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight before serving. Slice into 12-16 slices. 21

RILYA Alert Criteriaâ&#x20AC;˘ such cases, the available information will be reviewed and verified prior to RILYA Alert.

*The abduction is of a child age 17 years or younger. The parent must have contacted law enforcement to report child missing.

*The law-enforcement agency believes the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

*A RILYA Alert may also be issued if the child is classified as a runaway by the police. If the parent has reported missing child and has convincing evidence that child does not have a history of running away, an alert will be initiated within the 1st hour.

*All children of color meeting the criteria for the Amber Alert will also receive the RILYA Alert If these criteria are met, alert information is assembled for public distribution. This information may include descriptions and pictures of the missing child, the suspected abductor, and a suspected vehicle along with any other information available and valuable to identifying the child and suspect.

*We recognize that at times, not all information is readily available (ie. license plate numbers, name of abductor, or witness to abduction. In

* Rilya Wilson was a foster child of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the centerpoint of an investigation into neglect and mismanagement in the organization.

"If I ran for President of The United States; what would be my agenda for our children and why?" 1). An extended law that could not be reverted for NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. why? So the American children wouldn't fall shorter than the competing Countries 2). Each youth would not be pushed thru school, just because and/or despite their athletic abilities. WHY? Because education would be a fact to move to the next grade so their 3). I would create upscale opportunities that would sustain the focus of each child for them not ever wanting to deter from that may cause them to walk astray. WHY? Because the greater number of youth can be mislead to become a Prisoner or dead at an early age.

Levern Fitzpatrick

Business Owner, Author, Playwight, Advocate

4). Spiritual Conscience Connection would be implemented but not enforced. WHY? For a child to have an idea of Spiritual Connection is a way for them to become close with GOD and the mental power within self. 5). And the term FREEDOM of speech wouldn't be used loosely, of course, a violent mentality wouldn't be tolerated but a conservative confrontation regarding any s ubject with anyone; authoritative fig ure most importantly, would be permitted without any aggressive or inappropriate repercussion. 22

Helping hands, helping communities, helping lives. Camille Jones President/Executive Director come from all walks of life. Our current participants come from juvenile centers, foster homes, or underprivileged poverty stricken homes. Their determination and commitment to better themselves is reflected in their voluntary signing up for the Passage 2 Womanhood program. We engage smart willing young women who are enthusiastic about the Passage 2 Womanhood program, and all have a burning desire to make positive changes in their lives by taking the proper steps now to make a change for their future. Over the years, we have successfully increased our contributions to the community

Hands 2 Help, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, committed to involving individuals and agencies to lend helping hands to build a better community in the South Florida area. We hope to create a place with activities and support services that would cater to the specific needs of children and their families. Since 2003, Hands 2 Help has worked with youth and their families in Miami Dade County. Our mission to build better lives and strengthen communities by providing our youth and their families with the knowledge and skills to be self-sufficient in society is as important today as it was when we began over 7 years ago. Hands 2 Help continues to provide youth with new experiences and the support they need to help them develop and reach their full potential. Preparing youth to meet the challenges required by new opportunities and experiences is an important responsibility for Hands 2 Help. We focus on raising expectations for all of our youth and expanding their vision of limitless possibilities. Our signature program “Passage 2 Womanhood” serves as a resource for young teenage girls living in mostly low -income and poverty stricken communities, is unique in that we establish long term relationships during critical developmental years.

SERVICES: Hands 2 Help, Inc. Our program curriculum includes: Life Skills (Etiquette, abstinence, substance abuse, banking and finance, etc…) Health and Nutrition (Medical check-ups, immunizations, grooming and hygiene, etc…) Career Preparation (Job search, preparing an application, resume writing, mock interviews, and dressing for success) Pregnancy Prevention (Abstinence training, birth control training)

Passage 2 Womanhood Our main goal for the Passage 2 Womanhood program is to educate young ladies on successfully handling many issues that can become obstacles at some point in their lives. What makes the Passage 2 Womanhood program special are the young ladies who

Our mission is to build better lives and communities by strengthening youth and families with knowledge and skills to be self-sufficient and to bridge the gap between poverty and prosperity.

Finding Out……. In effort to raise awareness about National Missing Children's Month, Monique Smith, who was abducted as a child and is now a missing adult has partnered with Security Square Mall to share tips and tools about HOW to keep our children safe. For the entire month of May, Monique will share her amazing story in various bookstores, host fundraising events, as well as provide families with FREE safety tips, participating in awareness activities, and nontraditional ways to understand what your children are up against as it relates to predators. This FREE event is great for children and adults of ALL ages. You will walk away knowing what to do in the event that someone that you love goes missing. Join us and share!!! Visit www.knownasmonique.org for further information. Undeniably the face of missing children everywhere, Symbolie Monique Smith also known as “Monique” is the Founder of Known as Monique Foundation, Inc. – a non-profit organization. After spending nearly thirtytwo years on earth, surviving a childhood of severe abuse, and being blessed with two children, Monique stumbled upon shocking news that would drive anyone to take their life…………she did not exist. Monique discovered that the woman who had raised her was not her biological mother and that she, in fact, may have been stolen from her mother in New York. This 27 news sent Monique on a question frenzy — What was

her real name? How old was she? Where was she born? Who was her biological mother? With so many unanswered questions, Monique spent nearly a decade trying to find out what happened to her and conjure up ways to uncover her true identity. After speaking to every national and federal agency designed to help missing persons and getting nowhere, Monique ended the tireless search for herself. Instead, she decided to focus on leaving a legacy behind for her now four beautiful children. Although she had no family history to share with them, she certainly had to do something to start the family tree with a bang. In 2011, Monique publishing her book titled, “I Am The Ancestor” and for the very first time, she shared her story with her children, friends, acquaintances, book clubs and people all around the world. All proceeds from book sales go to supporting the work of the Known As Monique Foundation and other local and national organizations advocating for exploited and missing children.

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Special Feature: Forgotten Children

PEAS IN THEIR PODS KEEPING OUR CHILDREN PRIORITY