"The most powerful politician is the citizen."
***Judge Steven Teske, Clayton County Juvenile Court, at the August 18, 2009, ICM Annual General Membership Meeting***
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ICM ELECTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tuesday, August 18--New members of the board of directors were elected by the general membership at ICM's annual general membership meeting held at Druid Hills United Methodist Church. Board members were elected to serve a two-year term. The new members comprise the 2009-2011 board class and include: Ms. Rosland Hurley, Rabbi Loren Lapidus, Rev. Andrew Peabody, Rev. Wendell Phillips, Mr. Donald Price, Rev. Bessie Robinson, Ms. Beatrice Soublet and Ms. Kathryn Stanley.
The general membership also voted to retain Rev. Byron E. Thomas as board chair for an additional one-year term and voted for the following persons to serve an additional two-year term as board members: Mr. Terry Howell, Mr. Ben Murunga, Rev. Dr. Lisa Rhodes, Mr. David Soloway and Rev. Dr. Merchuria Chase Williams.
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JUVENILE JUSTICE MATTERS:
JUSTGEORGIA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
| ACTION ITEM: Upcoming Hearings on
SB 292: The Child Protection and Public Safety Act
The Child Protection and Public Safety Act is a comprehensive reform of Georgia's current Juvenile Code. Not only does it bring order and clarity to the Code, it calls for restorative justice for Georgia's children.
The hearings are scheduled for:
Monday, September 21, 2009
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Location: 307 Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB)
18 Capitol Square
Atlanta, GA 30334
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
1:00 - 5:00 pm Location: 307 Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB) 18 Capitol Square Atlanta, GA 30334
We need your supportive presence at both hearings. These opportunities to give voice to the needs of Georgia's children are too important to miss.
Also, contact your state legislators and let them know that you support juvenile code reform and JUSTGeorgia.
We especially need for you to contact the following members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: Preston Smith, District 52, Chair Seth Harp, District 29, Vice Chair Bill Hamrick, District 30, Secretary David Adelman, District 42 Robert Brown, District 26 Bill Cowsert, District 46 John Crosby, District 13 Vincent Fort, District 39 Judson Hill, District 32 Mitch Seabaugh, District 28 John Wiles, District 37
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HELP ICM STOP CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION |
| Juvenile Justice Fund Hosts Film Premiere of "PLAYGROUND"
On October 20, 2009, the Juvenile Justice Fund will host the film premiere of "PLAYGROUND" at the Woodruff Arts Center's Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia. "PLAYGROUND" is a documentary "that looks into the insiduous world of child sex trafficking in America." This film is part of the legacy of the late (2009) Judge Sanford "Sammy" Jones who, in 2006, enlisted the help of the Juvenile Justice Fund in its making. The premiere will serve as a benefit for CEASE, the Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation. There will also be a tribute to the life and work of Judge Jones. The film is directed by Libby Spears of Blu-print Films.
*********************************************** ICM needs your help to stop the sexual exploitation of children in Georgia. Contact us at 770-498-2141 or at info@interfaithchildrensmovement.org and let us know that you and your faith community are ready to join the fight.
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LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET TRAINED IN STOPPING CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
From A Future.Not a Past.--
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) will be training Georgia law enforcement officials on "Protecting Child Victims of Prostitution" from November 16-20, 2009, in Atlanta.
ICM asks that you make your local law enforcement agency aware of this training opportunity. It is only through awareness that we will be able to stop the sexual exploitation and trafficking of our children.
This is not just an Atlanta problem. This is a Georgia problem. The more you know, the more you will be able to recognize the validity of this statement.
Please have your local law enforcement agency call the NCMEC office at (703) 224-2150 for application and course description information. |
EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN
ICM SUPPORTS "STEP UP FOR KIDS DAY" |
The second annual "Step Up for Kids Day" is scheduled for October 20, 2009, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the  steps of the State Capitol. Voices for Georgia's Children is the coordinator of this event, and ICM is, again, one of the co-sponsors.
From Voices for Georgia's Children: "This year, our Georgia event will focus on the needs of children ages birth to five. As our state marks the enrollment of the millionth child in Georgia Pre-K this month, we will both celebrate this milestone and challenge our state's leaders to increase their commitment to our youngest citizens.
In addition, we are also sponsoring our second annual children's essay contest. Building upon the theme of millions, we will ask children to write about what specifically they would do to improve the lives of children if they had $1 million to spend."
We want to show our full ICM support for education for all children. Therefore, we need persons from every faith community to join us on the steps of the Capitol on October 20. Please contact Pamela Perkins at 770-498-2141 or at info@interfaithchildrensmovement.org for more information.
Please click here to download the essay contest information. The deadline for submissions is October 5.
Click here for more information on the provisions of the Early Learning Challenge Fund. |
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SPIRITUAL WITNESS FOR CHILDREN |
One of the most important things faith communities can do for children is to pray for them.
Every child is a child of God and deserves justice and compassion. Every child deserves our prayers.
ICM encourages every faith community to become a spiritual witness for children. Hold a worship service in your church, synagogue, mosque or temple and invite others to join in praying for the well-being of all children. |
ICM Mission and Goals
The Interfaith Children's Movement was formed in 2001 as an intentional association of individuals and communities of faith from all religious traditions.
The Interfaith Children's Movement strives to be a voice for all Georgia children, but especially the poor and marginalized whose voices are often unheard.
ICM works closely with Georgia's policy-oriented child advocacy organizatons, such as:
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Voices for Georgia's Children,
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The Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory University,
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Georgia Appleseed,
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JUSTGeorgia,
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Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and
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A Future.Not a Past. (child prostitution prevention).
These organizations set the agenda for our advocacy work for children.
ICM's faith community members provide a megaphone to the legislature about what needs to be done for children.
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COMING SOON!
ICM'S 9TH ANNUAL
CALL TO ACTION
PRAYER BREAKFAST
"Create a Better Tomorrow for all Children Today"
This year's ICM Call to Action Prayer Breakfast will be held, Wednesday, October 28, 2009, at 7:30 a.m. at The Temple (1589 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309).
Visit ICM's Web site for ticket information. It is so important at this time that we join in solidarity to pray for children and children's issues and commit ourselves to fulfilling our charge to "do what we are called to do, do what we are able to do, and do what must be done." |
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CONGRATULATIONS!
DR. LUTHER E. SMITH, JR.
will be honored by Voices for Georgia's Children, Friday, November 13, 2009, as a "Big Voice for Children" award recipient. Dr. Smith is a founding member of ICM and the immediate past chair of ICM's board of directors.
On behalf of the ICM Board of Directors and all ICM members, we thank Voices for Georgia's Children and applaud their selection of Dr. Smith in recognition of his lifelong service to and advocacy for children.
Congratulations, Luther!
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UPCOMING EVENT
The Council on Interfaith Concerns @ GSU
Hosts the Interfaith Children's Movement
at "Lunch and Learn"
Tuesday, September 22
12:00 p.m.
University Center
4th Floor, Room 470
Discussion Topics:
Stopping Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking
in Georgia
Panelists: ICM, Street GRACE and A Future.Not a Past.
Juvenile Code Reform for Georgia:
The Need for Restorative Justice
Panelists: ICM and JUSTGeorgia
Light lunch for first 50 attendees. |
Mark Your Calendar
Worthwhile Events by ICM,
ICM Partners & Others |
| Full ICM Calendar |
Thursday, September 17
6:30 p.m.
ICM Growing the Movement in Cobb Meetng
Location: MUSTMinistries at
1407 Cobb Parkway North
Marietta, GA 30061
Please call ICM at 770-498-2141 with any questions.
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In response to the shooting death of Spelman student, Jasmine Lynn, the student social justice movement, RiGhTeOuSNoIsE, on Spelman's campus has organized two events.
12:00 p.m.
RiGhTeOuSNoIsE March against gun violence will begin at the intersection of James P. Brawley Drive and Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Drive, and proceed down MLK Drive to the Georgia State Capitol Building, located at 7 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30334.
2:00 p.m.
RiGhTeOuSNoIsE Rally against gun violence will be held at the Georgia State Capitol Building located at 7 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30334.
For more information, contact
RiGhTeOuSNoIsE at (313) 300-7583
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October 3
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
and
October 4
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
"Renovación Juvenil" workshop will take place at IHM Church. The address is: Briarcliff Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30329. Please contact Belisa Urbina at (678) 363-3079 for additional information. (A $40 volunatry donation is requested for food and materials.)
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September 19, October 14, 2009; and January 20, 2010
Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is offering several Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) prevention workshops during one-day institutes that will be held at various regional locations. With support from the Governor's Office for Children and Families, these institutes are offered free of charge for a limited time!
You must register to attend. Please contact Anna Curtis at annac@pcageorgia or call (404) 870-6561 for a registration form and if you have any questions.
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October 28, November 25 and December 16
Georgia Center for Child Advocacy hosts an open Darkness to Light sexual abuse prevention training on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Fulton office. The training teaches adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The cost is $15 per person, which includes training materials, snacks and refreshments. The training is approved for CEUs for social workers, LPCs, nurses and early childhood education providers. All are welcome to attend. Please call to register: 678-904-2880. Go to Georgia Center for Child Advocacy for more information. |
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JOIN ICM and the effort to improve the well-being of Georgia's children. Make a tax-deductible contribution today. |
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