BCD's meet with Mayor Chris Bollwage

Last week, ten of our Campus Ministers who are known as Benedictine Cor Defenders met with Mayor Bollwage to discuss their continued desire to help raise awareness against the dangers of human trafficking, modern day slavery in our country.  According to the President's Advisory Council, "the Mayor's Offices plays a pivotal role to oversee the work of law enforcement in their towns and counties, but also have important convening power at the local level." 

Education is the key to keep our young people safe. It has been said, "knowledge is power".   Human Trafficking is the second fastest growing crime in our country.  It can happen anywhere to anyone.  It knows no race, creed, gender, nationality, or geographic locale. The Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives have an informative age-sensitive educational curriculum that draws upon the lessons of history to empower our young people to not be deceived and to take action to keep others safe.  

There is a program that shares, "If you See Something, Say Something."  If you see any of the warning signs, there is a 24 hour National Hotline Number for anonymous tips and or resources.
Simply Call:  1-888-3737-888 .

GOVERNOR CHRISTIE SIGNS BILL

  Dear Benedictine Academy,

We did it! Thanks to your support, we helped pass a stronger anti-trafficking law in New Jersey that helps survivors of all forms of human trafficking.Kate Keisel, Director of Polaris Project New Jersey

Christie signs sweeping human trafficking bill into law

Posted by: Jerry DeMarco       Posted date:  May 6, 2013 Cliffviewpilot.com

http://cliffviewpilot.com/christie-signs-sweeping-human-trafficking-bill-into-law/

 "Chris Christie today signed a series of measures that increase penalties for human resources, while providing resources to prevent it.

The Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection and Treatment Act –given final state legislative approval in March — addresses a crime estimated to claim up to 20 million victims worldwide.
Among other measures, it:

• creates a Commission on Human Trafficking to review laws and enforcement and make recommendations to state policy makers;

• establishes a ‘Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund’ to provide victims’ services, promote awareness, and develop training and educational materials;

• increases both financial penalties and prison time for those who traffic individuals.

At the same time, Christie signed bills  designating each January as “Human Trafficking Prevention Month” and Jan. 11 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Day.”
“As public officials, we have a solemn responsibility to prevent and protect citizens from the dark world of human trafficking,” he said.
The series of steps made official today, he said, “strengthens and expands the state’s ongoing efforts to aggressively combat this brutal practice, and also ensures that the victims of human trafficking receive the treatment they need.

NJ State Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (Bergen)

“There are two important messages contained in this bill.

To victims: You’re not alone.

 To perpetrators: We’re coming after you,” said one of the measure’s primary sponsors, state Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.

FILMING AT BA!

It was a most exciting day as Ken Morris,  Ms. Debra Steinberg of Cadwalader, and the film production  team entered the BA hallways to interview and photograph Ken Morris with our Campus Ministry team, Benedictine's Cor Defenders.

 Ken Morris, Jr. is the great, great, great grandson of Frederick Douglass, the Father of Civil Rights, and the great great grandson of Booker T Washington.  Mr. Ken Morris is continuing his family's legacy to abolish slavery.  It was 150 years ago, when Frederick Douglass spoke out to change American slavery and call President Lincoln and the people to emancipate the slaves.  Today, Ken Morris speaks out to educate the American young people about human trafficking, modern day slavery.  "Education means Emancipation".   Benedictine Academy is their first Freedom Partner High School and one of the leading schools from across the country to help write the New Proclamation of Freedom presented in Washington DC.  This past year, Mayor Bloomberg has instituted the Frederick Douglass educational curriculum in all of the New York City Schools.  http://www.fdfi.org

Ms. Debra Steinberg is an attorney for Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and the founder of VS.CONFRONTS. http://www.vsconfronts.org/  "VS. Confronting Modern Slavery in America is dedicated to heightening public awareness of human trafficking in America and providing a platform for anti-trafficking organizations and agencies to work collaboratively and innovatively together, outside their organizational silos, toward common goals. VS. is an innovative pro bono project conceived and executed by the Women’s Leadership Initiative of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP."

Taro Yamasaki is a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist.  He is working on the documentary and will help to tell our story through photos: http://www.taroyamasaki.com/  Mr. Yamasaki  was amazing as he captured the deep beauty of every person speaking.  A gentle man truly filled with God's grace. 


Ms. Steinberg shared after her visit:

 "Thank you for inviting us into your school, introducing us to your amazing students, and inspiring us all to be better, stronger, more committed advocates for those who have neither voice nor ability to protect themselves. Each of your students, through  your guidance, holds “the power of one” to fulfill the promise of our XIII Amendment. I am so uplifted and so inspired by my short time in your school, with these wonderful girls. I know that the spirit of service, compassion for those less fortunate, and leadership, embodied in them, will inform their entire lives and, one by one, they will change this world for the better.      

 I can’t wait to finish the film and share it with you. Until then, my best regards and profoundest respect for the exceptional work you have done, are doing, for your students and our country." Debra

Ms. Steinberg is a most amazing woman who is ushering in a new era of freedom into America.  It truly was a privilege and a tremendous honor to be in the presence of such American heroes and extremely gifted and talented human beings.  We thank God for such a phenomenal opportunity to be with such accomplished beautiful people such as Mr. Ken Morris, Ms. Debra Steinberg, Mr. Yamasaki, Konstantinos (who was truly awesome behind the video camera), Joshua, Liz Butler, and Qian Wang.  

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Our mission is to spread the Good News by responding to the needs of the local and global communities.  This past year has been an amazing journey of faith giving witness to the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Each morning, we gathered and listened with the ear of our hearts.  

Time after time, we heard Him call and we answered, "Here I am Lord".     

Eileen, feed My sheep.
Ewa, teach My children.
Jada, clothe the naked.
Joyce, reach out to the poor.
Karina, bring joy to the broken-hearted.
Karol, heal the sick.
Kayla, treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Marina, comfort the elderly.
Sydney, help those in need.
Vanessa, pray for those who persecute you in My Name.

We are responsible SERVANT LEADERS.  BEE THE HOPE!

MS - Walk for a Cure

Over 400,000 people are affected by MS in our country, including several of our own families

at BA and David Osmond.  According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, "Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease." 
                                       

This past week, Mrs. Varady, a member of our BA family, asked us to join her and her family in a walk for a cure for MS in Clark, NJ on April 14.  Our school rallied together for a jean tag day raising almost $300 for MS research.  Her son, Dan, who has been diagnosed with MS writes,

"Dear Benedictine Community,
Thank you all for your kind donation to fight Multiple Sclerosis.  It has been over 3 years in my journey and because of kind gifts like your school has provided, we are one step closer to beating this wretched disease... Please join Team Dan at Oak Ridge Park in Clark for the annual 3 mile walk on Sunday, April 14.
With Sincere Thanks,
Dan Varady

Ask Governor Christie

This past October,  our Campus Ministers testified before the House Committee in October with Assemblywoman Huttle on a newly proposed Anti-Human Trafficking Bill A3352.  It was passed in the House and recently by the Senate.  The Bill now waits for approval and the signature of Governor Christie.  Everyone can be involved and be a Modern Day Abolitionist to help keep our children safe and change history.

Please call or send an e-mail TODAY Governor Christie's Office and ask for his support. Together we can make a difference and protect our young people.

  Live in NJ? Tell Gov. Christie to sign the a -trafficking law 

http://act.polarisproject.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13371

You can also sign a petition on Change.org regarding the treatment of children trafficked as victims and not criminals.

 - Sign our petition: Kids, Not Criminals

For more information, check the websites of Polaris.org or our Freedom Partner, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives.

Helping Others in Need

During extended Homeroom, Ms. Banks-Suggs and the Couponing for a Cause Club presented Ms. Laura Sodano of the Community Food Bank of Hillside with several dozen bags of food, diapers and wipes totaling over $400. from Coupons for Causes service project.

The Mission of the Community Food Bank is to give food, hope and help to the surrounding communities.  They have an active food stamp program, kid cafes, cooking school, kids closet, food box program for mothers and the elderly, and a teen leadership council. Thousands of families and children are served each day with food, clothes and hot meals. 

Support your local Community Food Bank and make a real difference in someone's life.