GEMS was founded in 1998 by Rachel Lloyd. Lloyd, herself, is a woman who had been sexually exploited as a teenager and escaped her pimp. Ms. Lloyd came to the U.S in 1997 as a missionary to work with adult women exiting prostitution. While working with adult women in correctional facilities and on the streets, Ms. Lloyd observed the overwhelming need for services for young women being sexually exploited who were being ignored by traditional social service agencies.

Today, Lloyd serves as the executive director for GEMS, an organization that she started at her kitchen table. Rachel Lloyd has also earned her GED and won full scholarships to college and a graduate program. She has earned her BA in psychology from Marymount Manhattan College and her MA in applied urban anthropology from the City College of New York. To date, GEMS has helped hundreds of young women and girls, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and to develop to their full potential.
I was first introduced to GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services) by fellow blogger The F$%K it List when she posted about the “Very Young Girls” video.





“Very Young Girls is an exposé of the commercial sexual exploitation of girls in New York City as they are sold on the streets by pimps and treated as adult criminals by police. The film follows barely adolescent girls in real time, using vérité and intimate interviews with them, documenting their struggles and triumphs as they seek to exit the commercial sex industry. The film also uses startling footage shot by pimps themselves, giving a rare glimpse into how the cycle of exploitation begins for many women.”





Immediately after viewing this trailer, I needed to see the documentary (if you subscribe to Netflix you can watch it there or order it from the GEMS shop.)

After watching this powerful movie, I felt the need to learn more about this organization and the work they do. After, visiting the website I learned that, though, GEMS is based in New York City and the agency serves girls and young women in New York State, there are many different ways I/we can help raise awareness in our areas, also. Or if you like you can contribute to the work GEMS does through donation. Just visit the GEMS website for more information on both options.

I wanted to also share that GEMS founder, Rachel Lloyd has written the book, Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself.

The book chronicles the life of Lloyd from her young life (one filled with abuse) to how she became a victim of commercial sexual exploitation and how she finally broke free of not only her past but the pain. She takes us on her journey to help others like herself and shares the vision that lead her create the nationally recognized, and acclaimed, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, which is now one of the largest providers of services to commercially sexually exploited and domestically trafficked youth in the US.

I suggest with all my being that you read this book but, I warn you it is a heartbreaking read. Girls Like Us is a real and raw look at the way women ‘in the life’ (a term I learned from the book) live on a daily basis. I had tears in my eyes just reading the Prologue.

GEMS has teamed up with MTVU to create the “Against Our Will” campaign (below is one of the videos):





To learn more about GEMS:
visit the GEMS website
Follow on Twitter: @GEMSGIRLS
Like on Facebook: Girls are not for Sale


Heels & Hope is a bi-monthly feature that spotlights non-profit organizations that are dedicated to empowering women and girls.

Why would we choose such an expensive shoe? Because, it is symbolic of our motto to strive for the best in all areas of out lives. And. . .well. . . we also love this wedge (btw for those who don’t know wedges are the “it” shoe of spring/summer).

How much is this the Alexander McQueen Wave strappy wedge? First, the details then, the price. From the Alexander McQueen spring 2012 collection, the wave wedge features curvilinear suede straps that form an architectural cage sandal and a halter ankle wrap with adjustable buckle for a custom fit. The metallic ombre wedge has a ridged texture and a height of 5 1/2-inches.

The Alexander McQueen Wave Strappy Wedge retails for $5095.

Wedges by Alexander McQueen

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Last week, I went the library because I wanted to see if I could find a book find a particular book about blogging, one by the Huffington Post. Unfortunately, the book had been checked out and I could not find another one that, I found either interesting or on the subject I was trying to read about. I went home and, while I was sitting there sulking like an immature little girl, I realized that my friend from Quick’s Catchup, had once tweeted about a book he had ordered.

I must confess something here. When he first, tweeted he was reading this particular book, I just kind of read it and let it disappear down my timeline. Why? Honestly, my reasoning was 1. The book was by a celebrity blogger and I decided that it did not pertain to me and 2. I thought, it was probably a self-published book. While, there is nothing wrong with self-publishing, I have ordered a few that could have benefited in using a professional editor and better formatting.

At this point, I really wanted something to read (beside Problogger) so, after asking and having Quick send me the title (I want to give him a little thank you. Quick has been supporting me since; I began my now abandoned personal blog). I went straight to Amazon ordered the book and hoped for the best.

When the book finally arrived, Thursday afternoon, I was totally impressed by the aesthetics. The cover is plain with text; however, the book is made of good quality stock and very well put together. I flipped through the book and I found easy to read print, cleanly formatted pages, color photos, and a glossary (the book is published by Sky Horse Publishing, an independent publishing house). Two days later, Saturday evening, I was finished reading the book. I can honestly say that I wish I had ordered the book the day Quick first tweeted about it.

image: via Amazon

The wonderful thing about this book is even though, Angel is a celebrity blogger, she has included advice that all bloggers can use to take their blog to the next level. She discusses everything from naming your blog to managing it to making money from it (the ultimate goal for many of us).

Another, great thing about the book, is Law’s honesty she reveals the mistakes she has made, lessons she learned, and her experiences, both behind the scenes of the blog and being out in public eye. She does not try to sugar coat her life as a celebrity blogger or as a blogger in general. For those, who are interested in celebrity blogging, there is a chapter dedicated to that type of blogging. This chapter is still very useful for those who are not celebrity bloggers because, even as (for example) a fashion blogger, you may decide to put up a picture of an actress and ridicule the dress she wore to an event; that simple post can bring legal consequences to your door.

Whether you are a celebrity blogger, mommy blogger, fashion blogger, lifestyle blogger (as I am), or thinking of starting a blog, I recommend that everyone read this book. It is filled with interesting stories, great lessons, and informative tidbits that will help you, as you take your blog to the next level.

I plan on reading it again.