Allow Me to Introduce ... Heather Tripp

Heather has been both a Hotline and F2F Advocate since the spring of 2007. She has been making me smile ever since!

What led you to volunteer with CRCC?

I came of age as a Riot Grrrl and had been volunteering with NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and various political organizations before I joined the CRCC. The riot grrl thing was mostly a result of looking around a realizing that over half the women and girls I knew had experienced sexual assualt to some degree, and this was before I was even old enough to drink legally. I thought if I got involved politically it would be more beneficial but it turns out I hate politics.

The CRCC gave me a direct way to connect with my community and get involved in a way that I find way more meaningful than arguing about petitions or getting things thrown at me. Don't get me wrong those things are important too and I am extremely grateful for all the folks out there that have the committment and drive to do them!

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with CRCC?

I love telling people that I volunteer, and the ensuing dialogue that always results. Busting myths about sexual assualt is really satisfying especially if it helps empower other women.

What do you do when you're not volunteering?

I'm a student and I also work full-time, but my baby is Heavy Metal Science Club. It's exactly what it sounds like, by the way. Imagine "Jackass" but for nerds. Website should be up and running by the end of next week in the meantime you can check us out on Facebook. Currently the first ever Heavy Metal Science Club Science Fair is being planned hopefully for the end of the summer, and I'm looking for volunteers to collect data at metal shows all summer long. If anyone knows any ladies who are really into heavy metal, send them my way! We're doing a study on female heavy metal fans!

Otherwise I'm listening to metal, drinking and yelling at the TV (mostly sports), pretending that I know how to play guitar, sometimes drums, hitting things (baseballs, punching bags, drum kits, I recently discovered golf balls)

If you had a TV show, what would your theme song be? What would the show be about? Who would play you?
Hmmm, I'm a big fan of Mastodon's "Blood and Thunder" but I don't know if my life really has anything in common with all the dramatic turns of a man battling a giant white whale, so...maybe Yo La Tengo's "Little Honda" would be more accurate. For an entire year, people told me I looked like Alyson Hannigan; I don't get it, but maybe if "How I Met Your Mother" gets cancelled she'd be down.

If you had a magic wand and three wishes, what would those wishes be?

Equal rights for everyone.
A natural ability to play musical instruments without ever having to practice.
3 PhD's and a sweet job like Dr. Temperance Brennan on "Bones" and that unicorns were real.

If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

Stupidly. I would blow way more money than necessary on stero equipment, records, tattoos, new clothes and season tickets for the Cavs. If I was smart I would invest some of it, buy a truck and a bunch of land in Tennessee, and donate the rest to orphans. And the CRCC!

Favorites

Movie: There's a ton of movies I love. I really like horror movies, Mel Brooks, and the classics, like "His Girl Friday". I recently saw "The Runaways" and unless you want to see an hour and half long underwear ad featuring little Dakota Fanning, save your money.

Vacation spot: I'm a big fan of Austin, TX although Nashville, TN, Savannah, GA and Chapel Hill are also fun. I love NYC, but who doesn't? Venice Beach in LA is also pretty amazing. The picture above is me and my brother plus travel partner, in Santa Fe. Which sucks by the way.

Meal: My Grandma's fried chicken

Spot in your house: I had a tent in the living room for most of the winter. I live with a bunch of dudes, so I told them it was like the Red Tent, and then they left me and my stereo alone. True story.

Anything else you'd like to share?

A big thank you to all my fellow volunteers and everyone at the CRCC. I am continually impressed and amazed by all of you.

Hey, all you golf fans!

from United Way

The fairway’s calling!

TICKETS Fore CHARITY

August 3-8

Be there to watch as golf aces* like Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els (*subject to change) compete to drive their way into a victory at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational on August 3-8 at Firestone Country Club in Akron.

This is your chance to experience the best of professional golf and support United Way of Greater Cleveland at one of the PGA TOUR's premier tournaments. United Way has partnered with the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational TICKETS Fore CHARITY program.


The program will allow golf fans to purchase a Good Any One Day Gallery Ticket for $35. United Way will receive 75% or $26.25 net proceeds from each ticket sold through this program! These Any Day tickets are good for use on any one of the tournament days from Tuesday, August 3 through Sunday, August 8.

Buy your tickets now! and enter the promotional code: BIUWUM

Questions? Please contact Dan Chelel at 201-444-5356 or mailto:%20DanielChelel@pgatourhq.com.

from CurrentTV

According to national statistics, one in three Native American women will be raped in their lifetimes. Vanguard correspondent Mariana Van Zeller travels to Rosebud reservation in South Dakota to investigate the alarmingly high incidence of rape and sexual assaults.

She learns that rape and violence against women have become frighteningly commonplace and recently escalated to the brutal murder of a high school student named Marquita, whose naked, battered body was discovered in an abandoned house on the reservation. Candid interviews with her family members, classmates and police reveal many of the disturbing social attitudes and behaviors that lead up to her death.

On the reservation, victims of rape are often blamed and even intimidated from pressing charges by members of the community, including their own families. Mariana meets Donna, a rape victim who, fearing for her life, flees her home on the reservation. Through their stories as well as emotionally charged scenes with both Indian rape survivors and past sex offenders, "Rape on the Reservation" exposes a culture of impunity as well as raises questions about what can be done to stem the epidemic of rape on America's Indian reservations.



"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.

For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.

Rape Crisis sings out against sexual violence

from James W. Wade III, Call & Post

More than 100 community leaders took to the stage to sing out against sexual violence for the 12th annual Cleveland Rape Crisis Sing Out. At the same, more than 600 supporters attended the event Thursday, May 27, at the Cleveland Playhouse, 8500 Euclid Ave. in Drury Theatre.

The theme for this event was “Here Comes the Sun.”

This year’s honorees were Richard W. Pogue, Senior Advisor for Jones Day and Joanna Connors, reporter for The Plain Dealer. Co-chairs included Chuck Fowler, president and CEO of Fairmount Minerals; David Hooker, managing partner for Thompson Hine LLP; and Geri Presti, Senior Vice President for Forest City Enterprises, Inc.

“Sing Out!” for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC) is a community event that raises awareness about sexual violence as well as financial support for the only local agency that provides comprehensive services to sexual assault survivors and those who support them.

The all-star “Sing Out!” Chorale is comprised of community, civic and business leaders who join voices to sing out against rape and sexual violence. The result is an unparalleled, inspiring musical evening that both empowers and educates the audience, while raising funds to support the proactive and reactive services of CRCC.

Songs for the evening included “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” “Rain Down,” “Through the Rain,” and the closing number “Here Comes the Sun” with a splash of “Let the Sun Shine In.”

TV 5’s news anchor Leon Bibb read a poem which had a very positive effect on the people in the audience. One of the honoree’s told her account of going to Case Western Reserve University for a story and ended up being raped. Confronting her past from 20 years ago when the rape accrued, she found learned her attacker has since died in prison but she is now real good friends with his sister.

Some of the 100 voice chorale included Darnell Brown, Eugenia Cash, Belinda S. Miles, Lisa Oliver, Stanley Miller, Denise San Antonio Zeman, Leon Bibb, Cheryl Davis, and the honorable Georgine Welo. Exclusive sponsorship packages were available for corporations and individuals offering many benefits including presenting sponsor naming rights and opportunities throughout the event for recognition.

The event raised over $320,000 through everyone’s generous support. “We are so happy about how this music event raised the awareness in the community,” said Cleveland Rape Crisis CEO/President Megan O’Bryan.

The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is dedicated to serving survivors of sexual violence and those who support them with free comprehensive healing and advocacy services and to creating social change in the community through education, training, and activism. “This year’s event was sold out, and we felt it was parallel to what our clients may experience, said O’Bryan.

The logo for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is a nightingale. The nightingale was chosen because it is symbolic of our need to talk about rape, both as a healing process after it has happened and as an educational process to decrease its frequency.

The story comes from a Greek myth about Procne and Philomena. Procne’s husband, Tereus, is sent to bring his sister-in-law, Philomena, to visit. The two sisters had been separated for many years. On the journey back, Tereus rapes Philomena and cuts out her tongue so she cannot tell anyone what happened.

Left alone to suffer in silence, Philomena weaves tapestry which tells the story of her experience. When she dies she is turned into a nightingale so that all victims and survivors of sexual assault have a voice. It is a place where they can tell their stories and feel safe and strong.

CRCC is dedicated to serving survivors of sexual assault and those who support them with superior direct services and advocacy; education and training; and activism. All of these services are provided confidentially and completely free of charge to more than 15,000 people every year. CRCC is the only organization in Cuyahoga County dedicated to serving survivors of sexual violence.

Follow Up to HB 493

from Sondra Miller, Vice President of Community Engagement

An example of the benefits, importance and success of advocacy ...

From: Sondra Miller
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 2:36 PM
To: District15
Subject: Vote YES on HB 493!

Hi Representative DeGeeter, I am writing to urge you to support and guide HB 493 to the floor.

HB493 will criminalize trafficking in persons as a 2nd degree felony and define involuntary servitude in order to comprehensively combat human trafficking in Ohio. Ohio should join the federal government and 44 other states to address this serious human rights violation.

As you know, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center serves many victims of sex trafficking. Please let us know if we can be helpful in moving this legislation to the floor.

Thank you for the work that you do. Sondra Miller



From: DeGeeter, Timothy
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 3:12 PM
To: Sondra Miller
Subject: RE: Vote YES on HB 493!

Dear Sondra,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me and share your support for House Bill 493, the anti-human trafficking legislation.

I understand that human trafficking is an extremely serious crime that takes away the most fundamental of human rights. The prevalence of human trafficking in Ohio is alarming, to say the least. As the newly appointed Chairman of Criminal Justice, it is my intent to move forward with this bill and have additional hearings (although it looks like it may not be until we return from summer recess).

If you are interested in testifying in support of the bill, I can add your name to our committee notice list so you can be notified when an additional hearing is scheduled. Please let me know.
Again, thank you for voicing your support. Pease don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Timothy J. DeGeeter
Ohio State Representative
Ohio House District 15

House Bill 493 - Human Trafficking

An Action Alert from: http://actioncenter.polarisproject.org/component/content/article/35-action/962-oh-action-alert-hb493

The Ohio House of Representatives is now considering important legislation to combat human trafficking. Please join us intaking action to support HB493 to criminalize human trafficking and punish criminals who exploit others for profit in Ohio.

Ohio is one of only five states without human trafficking laws!Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person to provide labor, services, or commercial sex against their will. It is a form of modern-day slavery, and it affects both foreign nationals and American citizens. The federal government has estimated that 14,500-17,500 foreign nationals are brought into the United States every year for the purpose of exploitation either for sex or for labor. Experts estimate that 100,000 American children are victims of prostitution each year. All of these people are victims of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking in Ohio
A recent study released by the Ohio Attorney General Trafficking in Persons Research Commission estimates that there are more than 750 foreign national human trafficking victims who are brought to Ohio for forced labor or commercial sex. The study also estimates that more than 1, 000 American children between the ages of 12-17 become human trafficking victims for the purpose of commercial sex in Ohio every year.



Ohio is a transit, destination, and source state for human trafficking victims.

Two recent cases highlight the fact that human trafficking exists in Ohio. In December 2009, Alan Townsend pled guilty to federal child sex trafficking charges after luring a 14 year old with promises of a modeling career. Townsend transported the minor from Ohio to Florida where he intended to prostitute her for profit. Townsend faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison. Also in December 2009, two Ohio men, Robert Harris and Richard Johnson, pled guilty to sex trafficking by force and other prostitution-related crimes after transporting women and children, including a 16- year-old victim from Ohio, to Maryland for the purpose of prostitution. The two men were sentenced to 15 years in prison a piece. A third Ohio man in the case, Craig Allen Corey II—a private first class in the Army—recently pled guilty and was sentenced 17 years in prison.

HB493: To Amend Sections of the Revised Code Relative to Trafficking in Persons
Representative Kathleen Chandler introduced HB493 to create a new felony offense of human trafficking—allowing prosecutors to target traffickers with a stronger law, instead of stitching together other crimes in order to punish them.

HB493 also:

• Increases penalty of compelling prostitution of minors under 16 to a first degree felony
• Requires that child victims receive appropriate services
• Requires the posting of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (hotline)
• Requires training of law enforcement

Click here for more provisions in HB493
HB493 has bipartisan co-sponsorship from 22 representatives: Williams, B., Pillich, Newcomb, Lehner, Driehaus, Harris, Letson, Hagan, Lundy, Skindell, Foley, Yuko, Fende, Winburn, Stewart, DeGeeter, Garland, Derickson, Harwood, Brown, Pryor, Mallory. HB493 is a step in the right direction toward comprehensively addressing human trafficking in Ohio. HB493 will make it clear that modern-day slavery will not be tolerated in Ohio.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Please take a moment to call your Representative’s office and urge them to support and vote YES on HB493. If your representative is on the Criminal Justice Committee, your call is even more critical! Here is an example of what you can say, but please personalize your message:




   “Hi, my name is [ ], and I am a constituent living at [ ]. I am calling to urge [ ] to vote YES on anti-human trafficking legislation. HB493 will criminalize trafficking in persons as a 2nd degree felony and define involuntary servitude in order to comprehensively combat human trafficking in Ohio. Ohio should join the federal government and 44 other states to address this serious human rights violation. Will the Representative support this important legislation?”

2. After you make your call, please follow up with an email - just click here! Be sure to personalize your message for the greatest impact, state your message of what you would like them to do, and thank them for their time.
3. Please take a moment to contact Chairman Timothy J. DeGeeter of the Criminal Justice Committee. Chairman DeGeeter is able to decide whether HB493 will advance, so please make a quick call to urge him to support HB493.
4. Please urge everyone you know to contact their Representatives and ask them to vote yes on this important human trafficking legislation.

If you should have any questions or have heard back from your senators about these bills, please email Kathleen Davis at kdavis@polarisproject.org.
Thank you for taking action to end human trafficking in Ohio!


Links to Reports:

Polaris Project Ohio Report

Ohio Attorney General Trafficking in Persons Research Commission Report

The Rand Report

Columbus Dispatch Article

Day of the Diva Event - Cancelled

Due to unforeseen circumstances with permits and insurance, NARAL had to cancel this event. They may try to reschedule for a date later this fall.

Refunds will be issued to those who purchased tickets.

Thank you to everyone who offered to volunteer, promote the event and buy tickets.