CALIFORNIA'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN DOCUMENTARY
  • ABOUT
    • LEADERS IN THE FILM
    • CREATIVES
    • THANK YOU ❤
  • Watch the Film
  • IMPACT
    • CASE STUDIES
  • HOST A SCREENING
    • AMBASSADORS
    • WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR
  • RESOURCES
    • GET HELP
    • EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS
    • Videos & Interviews
    • EDUCATION TOOLKITS
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AMBASSADORS 
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Empowering survivors voices is extremely important so they can continue their work changing the world and saving lives. Each Ambassador from the film has developed training curriculums and keynote speeches that engage audiences even further by opening up the conversation after the film.  Learn how your organization can help end child sex trafficking by having an Ambassadors at your event with the film.
BOOK AN AMBASSADOR WITH A SCREENING
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​RACHEL THOMAS

​Rachel Thomas, M. Ed. is the Co-Founder of Sowers Education Group where she and a team of educators promote sex trafficking awareness and survivor empowerment. A graduate of UCLA with a Masters in Education, Rachel co-authored Ending The Game: An Intervention Curriculum for Survivors of Sex Trafficking. This curriculum has helped hundreds of survivors understand and overcome psychological coercion.
Rachel provides cutting edge research and Ending The Game Curriculum focused on psychological coercion in commercial sexual exploitation. She shatters stereotypes of who can become a sex trafficking victim; trafficked while attending an Ivy League university.

​​PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT:

CNN, HLN with Chris Cuomo, TD Jakes Show, New York Times Upfront Magazine, ABC Newsmakers, Facebook
  •     Remember the one.  We may not be able to end sex trafficking around the world, but we all have the ability to change one person's world.  Find one worthy cause, one person in need of help and start there. - Rachel Thomas
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WITHELMA "T" ORTIZ WALKER PETTIGREW

Withelma “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew is a Professional Orator, Human Rights Activist, and Motivational Personality. T is a leading force in advocating for the civil and social rights of all people, with a previous expertise in highlighting the intersectionality between the child welfare system and human trafficking.

In 2014, T was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the world”, a TIME Magazine “30 under 30” in 2013, and a GLAMOUR Magazine “Woman of the Year” in 2011. Notably, she successfully petitioned the Associated Press to utilize practices conscious of survivor trauma and circumstance, such as the application of proper language in addressing child victims of sex trafficking. 

​​PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT:

The United Nations, Google, The U.S. Congress, The White House, The American Bar Association, The Aspen Institute, The Johns Hopkins Institution. 
     I want to ask everyone and challenge everyone in the room to think about your personal influence. You as role models, you as just people in your community and the power that you have to find solutions to end this horrible, horrible catastrophe that is happening to our children. - Withelma “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew
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MINH DANG

​Minh Dang is a staunch advocate for survivors of child abuse and human trafficking and is developing strategies to advance survivor leadership development. She holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees from University of California, Berkeley and is currently a PhD Student at University of Nottingham, School of Politics and International Relations. Minh was honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change” and is a Presidential Appointee to the first ever United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.
She founded The Survivor Alliance, uniting and empowering survivors of slavery and human trafficking around the world. ​

​​PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT:

TED, ABC News, Katie Couric Show, American Bar Association, ​San Francisco Coalition Against Hutrafficking
     For the survivors of trauma out there, be it of survivors of neglect, incest, war, child sexual exploitation, and more, I am standing here and saying: it is possible to love yourself and to reclaim your life after trauma. It is possible to live guilt and shame free. - Minh Dang
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​NIKOLAOS AL-KHADRA

​Nikolaos Al-Khadra is working on his masters and PhD degrees. He plans to become a therapist to help boys who have been exploited in the commercial sex trade. As a survivor of human trafficking and HIV/AIDS, Nikolas Al-Khadra is a beacon of hope, raising his voice against human trafficking. 
Nik breaks through gender stereotypes of what a victim looks like. Explaining how society plays a role in conditioning vulnerable youth who are bullied and abused in social environments end up trapped in the sex industry longer because of limited resources and acceptance of gender identity from society. 

​​PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT:

Huffington Post, US Senate, ruth jacobs UK, Facebook
      Exploitation doesn’t end when a person turns 18. - Nikolas Al-Khadra
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​CARISSA PHELPS

​Carissa Phelps is an Attorney and Founder of Runaway Girl, a social purpose corporation which creates opportunities and services for runaway, former runaway and homeless youth. She is a nationally recognized survivor leader and holds Juris Doctorate​ and Master of Business Administration degrees from University of California, Los Angeles.

Carissa tailors to your organization and community needs. She aims to raise awareness, establish belief, and help to build capacity for effective responses to human trafficking in every field. Leaving a lasting impact to improved responses and action within your organization and community. 

​​PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT:

TED X, NPR, Cosmopolitan Magazine, KTLA, Facebook
".  When I was 13 years old I wish someone would have given me a microphone. My job now is an advocate is to make sure the microphone gets into the hands of the 13 year old. To make sure they are not criminalized and thrown away, but can be seen, heard, and accepted by their community" - Carissa Phelps
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​LEAH ALBRIGHT-BYRD 

Leah Jonet Albright-Byrd is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and human rights educator. She is committed to helping victims become survivors and engages people to take on this social injustice. She founded the pioneering anti-trafficking nonprofit "Bridget's Dream" in 2011 and served as the Executive Director for four years. 

As a former social service provider and nonprofit leader, Leah understands the needs of both direct service staff and leadership. That is why she partners with agencies all over the country to provide an interactive insight-based training workshops focusing on Burnout & Vicarious Trauma Harm Reduction CSEC 101

​​PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT:

Reno Gazette Journal, Daily Mail, Facebook, Oprah
    As long as they see it as just some girl who’s just selling herself, they’re never going to feel empowered to protect children and women of these communities.” - Leah Jonet Albright-Byrd 
All Rights Reserved and COPYRIGHT 2021 © California's Forgotten Children, LLC
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  • ABOUT
    • LEADERS IN THE FILM
    • CREATIVES
    • THANK YOU ❤
  • Watch the Film
  • IMPACT
    • CASE STUDIES
  • HOST A SCREENING
    • AMBASSADORS
    • WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR
  • RESOURCES
    • GET HELP
    • EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS
    • Videos & Interviews
    • EDUCATION TOOLKITS
    • PRESS
  • CONNECT