GMA Call to Action on Behalf of 1,400 Former Foster Kids
This blog that I wrote for the Huffington Post includes a very novel call to action. In it I summarize the incredible life story of 19-year-old Suahmirs Rivera. Rivera was trafficked to the United States from Honduras at 16, was forced into prostitution and ended up in foster care. Now he lives in a Transitional Housing program that Governor Schwarzenegger is threatening to eliminate. Elimination of THP-Plus would make 1,400 former foster youth homeless.
Rivera’s message is clear: that he is willing to tell his story to save the program. Please read the blog and then send a note to Good Morning America. The show had contacted Rivera about being a guest, but the segment fell through.
I figure if enough people bombard GMA with emails, Rivera may have his chance to speak. And if a young man like him can tell his story on national TV, there is a good chance the Governor may think twice about casting 1,400 former foster youth like Rivera out into the street.
Request for airing has been sent.
Joan H
February 22, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your coverage of foster youth issues. The general public knows so little about us that it is a breath of fresh air to see consistent coverage.
I am making a documentary about foster youth for my graduate degree in cinema at SFSU. I will be in Los Angeles this weekend, I wonder if you might have an hour to talk a bit about your work?
Friday afternoon? February 26th?
I know it is short notice, but perhaps it will work out.
With regards,
Shani Heckman
Shani Heckman
February 22, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Shani,
I am actually living in the Bay Area and would love to meet up. Send me your phone number dheimpel@gmail.com and let’s set it up.
Cheers,
Daniel
dheimpel
February 23, 2010 at 1:22 am
Thank you for the awareness you are raising on this important issue. I just sent my message to Good Morning America and Retweeted this. I’m wondering if there is anything else I can do.
I’m also wondering if you would be willing to submit blog posts such as these to The Blog Carnival Against Child Abuse, which I founded and maintain. We have an edition that just posted on Friday, but we have new editions each month. Details and a handy submission form widget are at my blog. You can also feel free to e-mail me any time at thriver@survivorscanthrive.com Thanks for considering this.
marj aka thriver
February 23, 2010 at 5:35 pm
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