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Event
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN
REACHES OUT TO MINORITY COMMUNITY
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Left
to right, Army and Hispanic Advisory Board Member Colonel Samuel
Calderon, Annette Calderon, Rosalia Calderon, and Minority Outreach
Program's Jess Quintero. (Robert Bird/NCMEC)
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Left
to right, Retired Washington Redskins player Ken Harvey, President
of the National Medical Association and African American Advisory
Board Member Dr. Winston Price, Director of the Minority Outreach
Program Herb Jones, and NCMEC Board Member Brig Owens. (Robert Bird/NCMEC)
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ALEXANDRIA, VA -November 18, 2004 - The
Minority Outreach Program of the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children (NCMEC) hosted a Thanksgiving reception at NCMEC headquarters
on Thursday, November 17, 2004. This reception provided members from the
African American and Hispanic advisory boards with an opportunity to meet
each other. Among those in attendance at this reception were Councilman
Ludwig Gaines, City of Alexandria, Virginia; Clarence Edwards, President,
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); Carmen
Lomellin, Executive Secretary, Interamerican Commission of Women, Organization
of American States; Brig Owens, NCMEC Board Member and retired Washington
Redskins; John Kelly, NCMEC board member; and Ken Harvey, retired Washington
Redskins. During the course of the reception, tours were arranged to give
attendees a greater understanding of the services provided by NCMEC.
NCMEC's Minority Outreach Program was created to increase awareness of
problems associated with missing and exploited African American and Hispanic
children. Goals of the program are to educate families on ways to keep
children safe from potential predators and offer help on what to do should
a child become a victim. The program helps communities, families and individuals
recognize suspected cases of sexual exploitation; encourages them to listen
to their children; and provides information about what to do, who to call,
and other ways to address the needs of their children.
"Communities are often unaware of how serious this problem is and
are not informed on steps they can take to keep children safer,"
said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children (NCMEC). "Because they are disproportionately affected,
NCMEC is especially concerned about child safety in minority communities,"
he added.
NCMEC offers services for families and professionals in the prevention
of abducted, endangered and sexually exploited children. To request further
information on the Minority Outreach Program or to receive tips on how
to talk to your kids, visit www.missingkids.com or call 1-800-THE-LOST.
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