LOVE REV 2017 PROGRAM FINAL FINAL
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Welcome to <strong>LOVE</strong><br />
Dear Friends,<br />
On behalf of the entire GEMS family, we are thrilled you’re joining us<br />
today for our third annual Love Revolution Gala!<br />
GEMS is a survivor-led organization, created to serve and empower girls<br />
and young women and change the perception of sexually exploited<br />
youth.<br />
In today’s America, it is as clear as its ever been, that we need more<br />
love. It is easy to talk about love as the warm and fuzzy feeling that has us<br />
holding hands and holding vigils. But today, we continue to stand firm in<br />
our belief in the radical power of love.<br />
Your support provides over 400 of New York City’s girls and young women<br />
with a safe space to find healing, acceptance and unconditional love.<br />
GEMS provides crisis care, job readiness, enrichment programming<br />
and educational support. At our core, we believe in transformational<br />
relationships and importance of self-empowerment.<br />
Our commitment is to enable our girls to access their own leadership, and<br />
rewrite and redefine their own stories.<br />
At GEMS, we know we cannot see an end to sexual exploitation without<br />
seeing an end to sexism, gender-based violence and institutionalized<br />
racism.<br />
It takes revolutionary love to challenge and change these injustices and<br />
create spaces of opportunity. I invite you all here today to support us<br />
in providing invaluable resources and to help us continue to stand for<br />
a world where all people are valued, are safe, and can reach their full<br />
potential. The girls and young women of GEMS appreciate your love and<br />
support.<br />
rachel lloyd<br />
GEMS Founder & president
PRO<br />
GRAM
October 11, <strong>2017</strong> GEMS <strong>LOVE</strong> <strong>REV</strong>OLUTION GALA<br />
7-8<br />
Cocktail Hour<br />
Open bar with signature cocktails.<br />
Gourmet seasonal hors d’oeuvres by Abigail Kirsch<br />
Music by DJ Commish<br />
8-9<br />
Opening Performance<br />
Ayodele Casel<br />
First Course: Tuscan Salad - balsamic roasted<br />
pears, salad of field greens, pearl mozzarella & root<br />
vegetables, balsamic syrup<br />
Second Course: Char-Grilled Beef - dusted with savory<br />
herbs, shallot red wine jus, saffron cauliflower puree,<br />
heirloom carrots & asparagus<br />
9<br />
GEMS Original Spoken Word<br />
Performance<br />
Keynote<br />
Nicole, GEMS Alumni<br />
Address<br />
GEMS Founder and CEO, Rachel Lloyd<br />
Live Pledge<br />
Third Course: Mochaccino & Donut - chocolate<br />
espresso & roasted white chocolate torte, warm<br />
brioche donut, vanilla bean cream and raspberry jelly<br />
sauce.<br />
10<br />
Closing Performance<br />
Wé McDonald
ABOUT GIRLS EDUCATIONAL &<br />
MENTORING SERVICES<br />
Founded in 1998 by Rachel Lloyd, Girls Educational<br />
and Mentoring Services (GEMS) is a survivor-led<br />
organization, created to serve and empower<br />
girls and young women and to change how<br />
commercially sexually exploited youth are perceived.<br />
GEMS provides an array of services including<br />
counseling, crisis care, housing, educational support,<br />
employment, and youth leadership training. GEMS<br />
has grown to a nationally recognized and acclaimed<br />
organization and now is one of the largest providers<br />
of services to commercially sexually exploited and<br />
domestically trafficked youth in the United States.<br />
Learn more at www.gems-girls.org
Holistic Case Management<br />
provides weekly one-on-one support to build transformational relationships with staff,<br />
ongoing assessments, goal planning and counseling, as well as informed external<br />
referrals and follow-up.<br />
Youth Development<br />
addresses young women’s developmental, social and emotional needs through<br />
strengths-based recreational, educational, and therapeutic programming.<br />
Youth Leadership<br />
supports the development of critical thinking, leadership and community organizing<br />
skills, and deepens members’ understanding of the social conditions that keep<br />
commercial sexual exploitation in place through classroom-based learning, as well<br />
as practical internship and fellowship experiences within the agency.<br />
Educational Initiative<br />
supports members to engage or re-engage in the educational process, obtain<br />
their high school diploma or GED and succeed in post-secondary education or<br />
vocational training by providing educational support services, such as tutoring,<br />
financial incentives and support groups; and by building a culture of educational<br />
success by showcasing the academic achievements of members.<br />
SISTA Mentoring Project<br />
builds supportive, mentoring relationships between community volunteers, older<br />
members and members under the age of 18 through weekly facilitated group
activities that seek to increase engagement, build social skills, and provide another<br />
layer of support for GEMS’ youngest members.<br />
Prevention and Outreach<br />
conducts peer-led outreach workshops to high-risk youth in residential and detention<br />
facilities and schools across New York City, by using a youth friendly curriculum to<br />
facilitate open and honest discussions about commercial sexual exploitation and<br />
domestic trafficking.<br />
Transitional Independent Living<br />
provides housing to GEMS members between the ages of 16 and 21, and offers<br />
a supportive environment where youth can build lasting self-sufficiency and<br />
independent living skills.<br />
Imani House<br />
provides housing to GEMS members ages 18 to 23 and their children, and helps<br />
them secure permanent housing.<br />
Alternative to Incarceration & Family Court<br />
provides defender-based alternative sentencing services and support for girls and<br />
young women who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and are involved<br />
in the criminal and family courts within the boroughs of New York City: ensuring all<br />
girls and young women involved in the court system are afforded the opportunity<br />
to connect with supportive services in the community that would be able to identify<br />
victims of sexual exploitation and assist them with exiting and recovery.
2016 <strong>PROGRAM</strong> OUTCOMES<br />
SAFETY<br />
HEALING<br />
CONNECTEDNESS<br />
EDUCATION<br />
LEADERSHIP<br />
83% BEC<br />
FROM C<br />
73% MA<br />
RECOVE<br />
96% INC<br />
49% MA<br />
83% INC
AME OR MAINTAINED BEING FREE<br />
OMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION<br />
DE IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAUMA<br />
RY<br />
REASED HEALTHY SOCIAL SUPPORT<br />
DE EDUCATIONAL GAINS<br />
REASED SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Life is too short<br />
Regrets and mistakes are<br />
memories made<br />
Live your life to the fullest<br />
“You’re never gonna make it,”<br />
they said<br />
Show them you can<br />
Love yourself<br />
—Selina, age 16
WÉ MCDONALD<br />
Wé McDonald is a Paterson, New<br />
Jersey native born in Harlem, New<br />
York. She is an 18 year old scholarship<br />
student attending William Paterson<br />
University. She attended high school at<br />
the Passaic County Technical Institute<br />
with a concentration in Theater as an<br />
honor student. She was accepted to<br />
two prestigious University Jazz studies<br />
programs at William Paterson and<br />
The New School. Wé’s musical and<br />
arts training has been diverse and<br />
comprehensive as she has studied<br />
acting, dance and music.<br />
Since the age of 6 she has received<br />
piano and vocal. She is a Harlem School<br />
of the Arts (HSA) alum; where she studied<br />
acting and vocals. She began her<br />
vocal and piano training in the classics<br />
evolving into a unique musical genius<br />
covering Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and<br />
Opera.<br />
In 2015, Wé appeared on the stage of the world famous Apollo Theater competing<br />
in the Amateur Night competition. She shattered records by winning four times as<br />
the youngest performer to place in the Adult category in the history of the legendary<br />
venue. Wé has also appeared as a vocalist at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Forbes<br />
Women’s Summit, National Urban League Awards, Wal-Mart Martin Luther King<br />
Jr. Day Celebration, New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, Minton’s Jazz Club,<br />
internationally in the British Virgin Island and the Berklee School of Music with Paquito<br />
D’Rivera. She has acted in lead roles in theatrical adaptations of Man of La Mancha,<br />
42nd Street, Disney’s The Lion King KIDS, and Annie.<br />
Wé has trained at Diller Quaille School of Music, Dove Tail Studios for Acting, Chimera<br />
Concepts for dance, the Harlem School of the Arts for theatre, piano and voice<br />
under the tutelage of Yolanda Wyns, HSA Music Director. She was the recipient<br />
of the 2015 Clive Davis Music Moguls Merit Scholarship and a Prep Student Merit<br />
Scholarship Award recipient for three years at the Harlem School of the Arts. She is a<br />
member of the Dorothy Maynor Singers and featured vocalist on the HSA All-Stars’<br />
2015 album recording, “Evolution”, showcasing music prodigies in the Jazz genre.<br />
She has been recognized as “Talent of the Week” in Tween Girl Style Magazine and<br />
Macy’s Best New Vocal Talent 2016.<br />
Most recently, Wé received national recognition as a finalist on Season 11 of NBC’s<br />
The Voice where she wowed audiences as well as celebrity coaches. Her debut<br />
single, “Wishes”, is available now on iTunes.<br />
“There will never be another voice on the planet like Wé.”<br />
-Alicia Keys
AYODELE CASEL<br />
Ayodele Casel premiered her onewoman<br />
show “While I Have The<br />
Floor” at the Spoleto Arts Festival this<br />
season to rave reviews. She most<br />
recently served as choreographer<br />
for Carole King and Maurice<br />
Sendak’s musical “Really Rosie<br />
being presented at New York City<br />
Center’s Encores! Off Center this<br />
summer under the direction of Leigh<br />
Silverman.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> recipient of the “Hoofer<br />
Award”, Ayodele is a native New<br />
Yorker and began her professional<br />
training at New York University’s<br />
Tisch School of the Arts and is also a<br />
graduate of The William Esper Studio<br />
in NYC, having studied directly with<br />
the masterful William Esper.<br />
Hailed by the legendary Gregory<br />
Hines as “one of the top young tap<br />
dancers in the world,” Casel has been creating and presenting her work since 1999<br />
and added Spoleto Festival USA to her list of eager recipients this season in her World<br />
Premiere.<br />
Ms. Casel’s television and film credits include “Third Watch”, “Law and Order”, “The<br />
Jamie Foxx Show”, “Bojangles”, “Savion Glover’s Nu York”. Ayodele originated<br />
the role of Yvonne in Nelsan Ellis’ heart-wrenching play “UGLy” to great reviews at<br />
NYC’s Fringe Festival and Santa Monica Playhouse. She also originated the role of<br />
“The Doll” in Derick Grant’s “Imagine Tap!” which premiered at The Harris Theater<br />
in Chicago. Ayodele currently serves on the Artist Board for New York City Center’s<br />
Encores! under the artistic direction of Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori.<br />
She has earned her commissions from Aaron Davis Hall/Harlem Stage and the<br />
Apollo’s Salon Series, where she presented “Diary of a Tap Dancer”. She was also<br />
selected by acclaimed composer Rob Kapilow to collaborate on a Tap dance<br />
concerto which premiered at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Ayodele<br />
co- choreographed “Tap Into Peace”; a show with the incredible music of Stevie<br />
Wonder as its inspiration and soundtrack. The show has been presented at NY City<br />
Center’s Fall for Dance and PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland.<br />
She has performed at New York City Center, The White House, Carnegie Hall, Radio<br />
City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Off- Broadway in Savion Glover’s<br />
Downtown: Live Communication. Ms. Casel also co-choreographed and was<br />
featured on PBS’ “Rodgers and Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty”<br />
Recent performances include “Broadway For Hillary” Fundraiser at the St. James<br />
Theater in NYC for with Michael Mayer as director. She is on faculty at A BroaderWay,<br />
LA Dance Magic, and Marymount Manhattan College. She is the co-director of<br />
Original Tap House and Operation: Tap.
GEMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
Renee Anderson<br />
Allison Carmen<br />
Alison Cornyn<br />
Beth Ann Day<br />
Ellen Fried<br />
Treacy Gaffney<br />
Cynthia Godsoe<br />
Michael Grohman<br />
Meika Neblett<br />
David Schisgall<br />
Diana Taylor<br />
Keith White<br />
Arden Wohl<br />
Motisola Zulu<br />
HOST COMMITTEE<br />
Amanda Carmen<br />
Jocelyn Cheng<br />
Paul DeNoon<br />
Sam and Cheryl Dimon<br />
Brooke Ellis<br />
Laurie Ferraro<br />
Sarah Sophie Flicker<br />
Chloe Flower<br />
Tracy Hampton Fraser<br />
Djena Graves<br />
Melissa Jane Kronfeld<br />
Harry Lennix<br />
Aisha McShaw<br />
Kathryn O’Connor<br />
Robin Tunney
SILENT AUCTION DONORS<br />
Amy Bloom<br />
Amy Delson<br />
Angela Roi<br />
Astrid Schmidt Jewelry<br />
Batey Rehab Project<br />
Beth Ann day<br />
Bradley Whitford<br />
Brooklyn Industries<br />
BTW Ceramics<br />
Renee Anderson<br />
Every Man Jack<br />
Foods of NY Tours<br />
Heart and Noble<br />
Heritage Hair<br />
HBO<br />
Kai Fragrance<br />
Kaia Naturals<br />
Kate Spade<br />
Kenneth Cole<br />
La Ligne NYC<br />
Lo & Sons Co.<br />
Mondavanti<br />
Nantucket Looms<br />
NBA<br />
Penh Lenh<br />
Renee Anderson<br />
Roxelana Rodriguez<br />
Rumble<br />
Soko<br />
Style Room<br />
Sudara<br />
TEA Glam<br />
Tiffany Elle Aesthetics<br />
Urban Skin Rx<br />
Colin McGranahan<br />
GIFT BAG DONORS<br />
31 Bits<br />
7True<br />
Aura Cacia<br />
Cafe Grumpy<br />
Captain Blankenship<br />
Chuao Chocolatiers<br />
Cookie Cutter Company<br />
Dissent Pins<br />
Dr. Bronner’s<br />
Jaxkelly<br />
Kai Fragrance<br />
Keiko Nabila Yamazaki<br />
My Kitsch<br />
Rifle Paper Co.<br />
Rx Bar<br />
Tela Beauty Organics<br />
The Jam Stand<br />
The Stand Comedy Club<br />
Verb Products
We are proud to support<br />
the transformational work of<br />
GEMS
You inspire all of us.<br />
Publicis OneTeam is proud<br />
to support GEMS and the<br />
tireless work you do every<br />
single day.<br />
Gagnon Securities<br />
proudly supports<br />
Wegner CPAs provides sound, professional<br />
services in accounting, auditing and tax, and<br />
we are dedicated to guiding our non-profit<br />
clients, like GEMS, to succeed in their mission.<br />
(888) 204-7665 WEGNERCPAS.COM<br />
NEW YORK | WASHINGTON DC | WISCONSIN<br />
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services<br />
A different approach to investing<br />
www.gagnonsec.com<br />
The McCormick Family Foundation<br />
is proud to support GEMS<br />
and applaud the courage and achievements<br />
of the young women it empowers.
Zebra Strategies is proud to<br />
support GEMS and all of the<br />
work it does to give young<br />
women the support they need,<br />
leading them down a path that<br />
some may not have thought<br />
possible.<br />
www.zstrategies.net
TO LEARN MORE: WWW.GEMS-GIRLS.ORG<br />
CONNECT WITH US!
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