Best-selling Author Encourages Community to Give Voice to Youth Survivors of Sex Trafficking and Abuse

Opportunity to Share Stories Aids in Recovery and Healing

MILWAUKEE (February 18, 2015) - Mount Mary University, in collaboration with Alverno College's Research Center for Women and Girls, will present its Untold Stories spring event and luncheon on March 5 at 11:30. a.m. "Why Can't You Hear Me?" will feature best-selling young adult author Ellen Hopkins and will focus on how to give sexual abuse and trafficking survivors the opportunity to voice their stories as part of their recovery.

Hopkins, who has written a number of critically acclaimed teen books that deal with a variety of sensitive topics including prostitution, sexual abuse, suicide and drug addiction, will share how young people can find their creative voice. Her 2009 book Tricks debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Untold Stories is an annual two-part spring and fall event that aims to bring awareness and healing to survivors of sexual or domestic violence or human trafficking. The fall event is a writing workshop for survivors and the spring event is for parents, teachers, guidance counselors, therapists, law enforcement professionals and anyone who is concerned about ending abuse. The upcoming March luncheon includes a display that couples work from local artists with the written work of survivors who participated in the fall 2014 writing workshop.

The March 5 event is being held on the Alverno campus, 3400 S. 43rd St., Milwaukee. Tickets are available at mtmary.edu. For more information, contact Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, chair of Mount Mary's justice department at (414) 258-4810, ext. 442, or monacowr@mtmary.edu.