Our Mission
Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting, and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth (MISSSEY) advocates and facilitates the empowerment and inner transformation of sexually exploited youth by holistically addressing their specific needs. MISSSEY collaborates to bring about systemic and community change to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and youth through raising awareness, education and policy development.
Vision Statement:
We envision a world where children are protected and free from sexual exploitation.
Click here to download our brochure.
6-Point Platform
- We want Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) and sexually exploited youth to be recognized as victims instead of criminals. CSEC are victims of child sexual abuse in the form of sexual exploitation, not child prostitutes.
- We want education and awareness to be brought to the issues surrounding CSEC. The commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth occurs in many forms including child prostitution.
- We want a comprehensive service model and crisis center to be established for CSEC. CSEC need and deserve specialized treatment, as well as non-judgmental, maternal, and innovative services provided by a youthful staff with relevant life experience.
- We want CSEC to be provided with services focusing on their healing and recovery. Creating a permanent record of a child’s sexual exploitation through media or any other means further exploits the child.
- We want a national movement initiated that recognizes the issue of CSEC, which will require law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, and social services to respond to CSEC as victims instead of criminals. CSEC are victims of physical, mental, and psychological abuse as well as sexual abuse, and need protection regardless of their ability to cooperate.
- We believe that the sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth are serious criminal offenses against a highly vulnerable population. We want serious consequences imposed on anyone who sexually abuses or commercially sexually exploits children, especially involving child or teen prostitution.
Strategic Plan for State and National Audiences
In January 2008, MISSSEY was generously funded by the East Bay Community Foundation through the Hancock-Catron Fund to develop a strategic plan to bring issues facing CSEC to a state and national audience. The result is a 20-page document outlining the processes and tools needed to raise awareness on both the micro and macro levels. MISSSEY is dedicated to bringing this plan to fruition and creating the change we wish to see in the world.
We post this plan in hopes that it can be used as a model for others engaging in this work or at least a tool to be used in development of future strategies. Please feel free to contact us to get more information or discuss opportunities for moving these strategies forward.
Click to Download:
MISSSEY Staff & Board of Directors
MISSSEY Staff:
- Nola Brantley
Executive Director and Co-Founder - Emily Hamman
Operations, Finance Manager and Co-Founder - Erika Epps
Direct Service Manager - Mindy Phillips
Case Manager - Awndrea Lee
Resource Specialist - Withelma Ortiz-Macey
SPA Peer Educator - Brandy Harris
Volunteer Coordinator - Julia Nunan-Saah
Summer Intern
MISSSEY Board of Directors:
- Amba Johnson, President of the Board
Amba was a licensed social worker for Alameda County for 8 years and currently is employed as a real estate agent. - Kathy Hargitt, Secretary of the Board
Kathy works as a consultant in human trafficking. She is currently a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology. For the past ten years, she has conducted international and domestic field research on psychosocial rehabilitation programs for children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. She is actively involved in a variety of anti-human trafficking efforts, including participation in speaking engagements and conducting trainings on issues related to sex trafficking of children. - Caritas Foster
Sister Caritas is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family and has served in a leadership capacity within her religious community and in ministerial settings. She served on the Board of Directors of St. Elizabeth Day Home in San Jose, CA. Currently she coordinates anti-human trafficking efforts for her religious community, belongs to a coalition of religious communities standing against human trafficking, volunteers at the Tri-Cities Homeless Shelter and is an advocate for affordable housing. - Charles Go
Charles serves as the 4-H Youth Development Advisor to the University of California Cooperative Extension in Alameda County. He conducts applied research projects that build community capacities and inform public policies, such as the Oakland Our Kids Project, Money Talks Financial Literacy for Teens and the Alameda County Sexually Exploited Minors task force. His main interest is on at-risk youth and violence prevention, especially among immigrant and minority populations. - Yolanda Smith
Yolanda is a practicing attorney who has served as a board member to the Lend A Hand Foundation. She has also served as a member of the Child Support Directors Association Legislative Committee as well as a board member for the Charles Houston Bar Association and Black Women Lawyers of Northern California.
Upcoming Events
Stay connected with MISSSEY by participating in our events.
Here is what we've got on the calendar:
One-Time Events
- August 13, 2010: 12:30-2:30pm
MISSSEY makes a presentation to Casey Family Programs - August 23, 2010: 1:00-2:00pm
MISSSEY featured on the Stanford Radio Show - August 26, 2010: 9:30am-2:30pm
MISSSEY tabling at the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center Resource Fair - October 13, 2010: 2:00-5:00pm
MISSSEY presents at the California State Foster Care Parents Conference at the Oakland Airport Hilton - November 9, 2010: 1:00-4:00pm
MISSSEY training for the graduating class of Alameda County Child Welfare Workers
Ongoing Events
- 3rd Friday of Every Month: 4:30-6:00pm
Training at the MISSSEY Office for Current MCC Volunteers - 3rd Friday of Every Month: 5:30-7:00pm
Orientation at the MISSSEY Office for New MCC Volunteers
Media and Press
Press Requests
To request an interview or for more specific information about the organization or issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children for media purposes, please contact admin@misssey.org.
MISSSEY in the Media
The following links have been collected over the years, and represent MISSSEY in the Media. Much love and thanks to all of the wonderful journalists, bloggers, and writers for helping raise much-needed awareness by spreading the word and hopefully motivating and inspiring spirits into action. We will continue to fight for the true and correct representations of youth, especially CSEC, in our language and throughout all forms of media. We hope that one day the term “teenage prostitute” ceases to exist.
MISSSEY has been featured in the following:
- As More Oakland Youth Join the Sex Trade, Law Enforcement Explores Alternatives to Incarceration
Oakland North - March 13, 2010 - Advocacy in Motion: Interview with Nola Brantley, Co-Founder of MISSSEY, Inc
BlogTalkRadio – February 28, 2010 - "Issues" with Jane Velez-Mitchell
CNN – January 2010 - SACEY/SPA Video
Melody Miller – January 2010 - "Issues" with Jane Velez-Mitchell Transcript
CNN – January 2010 - Minors in prostitution
Crosscurrents: KALW News - January 5, 2010 - Helping Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (PDF)
ACT NOW NEWS - May 2009 - Oakland Battles Wave of Teenage Prostitution
KTVU.com – May 6, 2009 - Mission to Serve Children (PDF)
Family of Friends - May 2009 - Dealers Turning to Sex Business
Inside Bay Area: The Oakland Tribune - April 22, 2009 - MISSSEY Speaker at April Chapter Meeting (PDF)
ACT NOW NEWS - April 2009 - Students Share Human Rights Experiences
Wheaton College News and Events - March 17, 2009 - WestCoast Children`s Clinic Partners with Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth (M.I.S.S.S.E.Y)
West Coast Children's Clinic - 2009 - Sexually Exploited Minors Conference Brings New Light to Old Problem
Youth Outlook – November 26, 2008 - MISSSEY voted Best Friend to Girls
East Bay Express – Best of the East Bay 2008 Issue - Oakland Pimps Prey on Youth
Oakland Tribune - Sexually Exploited Minors in Alameda County - (PDF)
Calico Center - Spring - Getting Off the Streets – Samantha’s Story
Measure Y - Innovative Aftercare
(Not For Sale's Content Partner: MISSSEY)
Not For Sale Academy - Domestic violence reports up, but leaders see progress
Oakland North - October 28, 2008 - Fruitvale Residents Get a Lesson in Fighting Gang Violence, Prostitution
East Bay West Online - September 21, 2008 - Oakland, California News Series on Teen Prostitution
Rethink Resources - May 8, 2008 - Nonprofit Caters to Needs of Sexually Exploited Youth
Inside Bay Area: The Oakland Tribune – April 26, 2008 - No Longer Invisible - Live Radio Broadcast
Hard Knock Radio - April 24, 2008 - Lost Girls Seek Shelter from Abuse
Inside Bay Area: The Oakland Tribune – April 22, 2008 - City Comes to Grips with Teen Prostitution
Inside Bay Area: The Oakland Tribune – April 21, 2008 - Stop Human Trafficking
Harper Mee's and Associates - April 4, 2008 - Fighting Traffik
The Oakbook - January 4, 2008 - Prostitution Sting Aims to Help Exploited Minors
Inside Bay Area: The Oakland Tribune – July 17, 2007
MISSSEY Partners
MISSSEY partners with the following organizations to provides services through our SACEY Program:
- Alameda County's Interagency Childrens Policy Council
- Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)
- Covenant House
- Westcoast Children's Clinic
We also partner with the following organizations:
- Adopt An Angel Foundation
- Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services
- Alameda County Family Justice Center
- Alameda County Probation Department
- Alameda County Social Services Department
- Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker
- Argosy University
- Be a Mentor, Inc.
- City of Oakland Measure Y
- Contra Costa County Probation, Volunteers in Probation Program
- Contra Costa County’s Zero Tolerance Program
- Dream catcher Youth Shelter
- First Covenant Church: New Day For Children
- Global Exchange Reality Tours
- Michael Tachet
- Not for Sale
- Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
- Pacific Psychological Services
- Red Rock Coffee
- SAGE
- SEMRISE
- Sisters of the Holy Family
- Soroptomists International
- Youth Radio
- Members of the MISSSEY Community Collective (MCC)
Careers
Youth Advocate
THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION ARE PREVIOUS ALAMEDA COUNTY FOSTER CARE YOUTH WHO HAVE AT LEAST THREE CONTACTS WITH THE ALAMEDA COUNTY ASSESSMENT CENTER.
This position will report to the direct service manager and is an hourly part-time position (Monday-Friday 3:00pm and 8:00pm). Starting salary will be $15-19 per hour depending on experience. Employee benefits after a probationary period. This position will provide services for 11-17 year olds who are part of the Alameda County Foster Care System and who come in contact with the Alameda County Assessment Center for Foster Care Youth. Services are provided on site at the assessment center.
Position Responsibilities:
To apply for a position, please send your cover letter and resume to opportunities@misssey.org with the position title in the subject line. Thank you for your interest!
For other ways to get involved, consider volunteering through the MISSSEY Community Collective (MCC).
FAQ
Coming Soon!
