Veronica's Voice

Veronica's Voice is Kansas City's only recovery program dedicated solely to victims of prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation. The ability to leave a life of prostitution, drug addiction, and violence, and transition to a new life, free from these abuses, is difficult. The overall goal of Veronica's Voice is to offer compassionate and non-judgmental counseling and services through peer, survivor-ran services. Veronica's Voice offers individuals who are sexually exploited an opportunity to be educated and empowered to take back their lives.

The organization is named in remembrance of Veronica April Neverdusky. Veronica was 21 years old in 1993 when she was found murdered in Penn Valley Park. She was the mother of three young children. The case remained unsolved until an arrest was made in March of 2007.

There are approximately 1 million prostituted women in North America, or 1% of women in North America are involved in prostitution. A national study shows that 75% of all women used in prostitution were victims of incest and/or physical abuse as children. Most of those involved in prostitution ran away from home at an early age to escape their abuse...then turn to prostitution as a way of survival.

On Christmas Day in Kansas City, there will be a group of women walking in honor of those who have lost their lives to sexual exploitation. This organization needs our help! Please help these women who are working to save other women right here in Kansas City by donating today. Also, please visit their website to learn more.

Get Involved: Missouri Superwoman Submission

I'm calling on all the new readers of this blog to get involved! Send me names of women that you think deserve recognition for their success and I will do my best to interview them, highlighting their achievements on this blog!

Also, if there are news stories that you would like to be reviewed, please send those as well!

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill introduces legislation today

Today U.S. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, along with U.S. Maine Senator Susan Collins will introduce legislation to extend current payroll tax cuts for employees and reduce employer's share of the payroll tax as well. They will pay for the cuts by instead charging a two percent surtax on taxpayers earning more than $1 million a year and repealing tax breaks for five major oil companies.

It's admirable that Senator McCaskill is not only working across the aisle with another woman in order to propose this legislation, but that she's doing the right thing at the right time for what the needs are of the people in our country. The investment will be spent on improving highways, bridges, and job- creating transportation projects. It will also prevent a tax hike that would effect 160 million people and raise taxes on the average family over $1,000 annually starting in January.


Sen. McCaskill Official Website

Sen. McCaskill Campaign Website

Donate to Sen. McCaskill Today!

Photoshop Alterations of Women Images Now Being Exposed!

Kansas City reporter Mary Sanchez, writes an interesting article about the use of Photoshop and how it alters women's figures to a point that it may cause an effect on how we view ourselves. We all know that media and the images that we are exposed to influence what is considered appropriate or not (that's a scary thought given what's out there).

With new technology that has been designed, Photoshopped images can now be evaluated for how much the image has been altered from its original state. Those findings are to be released in an attempt to get the industries to admit to how much alteration they have given to the images that they use in their advertising.

Click here to read Mary Sanchez's full commentary

A Missouri Superwoman: Theresa Garza Ruiz

Theresa Garza Ruiz currently serves as Jackson County Missouri's Legislator for the 1st District At Large. She started her term in 2006 when she won with little money, name recognition or endorsements. She took pride in getting elected through a grassroots approach and by working hard in her campaign.

After being elected, she has only continued to be successful in her position. On the legislature for the county, she is assigned to the Land Use committee and Intergovernmental Affairs committee. For the past three years she was the Chairwoman of the Justice and Law Committee.

The support that Theresa gives her community is one that is absolutely admirable. She currently works as the Field Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society. She has been a board member for Restart, Inc., which is an interfaith ministry that provides services to the homeless population in Kansas City. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Rainbow Center in Blue Springs, which provides services and programs for children and adults with disabilities. Anyone who follows her on Facebook or Twitter can easily see the day-to-day organizations that she supports, attending events and taking advantage of opportunities to educate herself on what services are available to her constituents and for residents of Jackson County.

What's most impressive is that Theresa hasn't had everything handed to her in her life. She grew up in a single-parent household (and her mother is another Missouri Superwoman for sure!), she was the first member of her family to earn a college degree, AND she served five years of active duty in the Navy! She's a hard-worker, wonderful role model for all women, and is one of the most positive females we have working in politics in our state.

Theresa Garza is a strong supporter of women and their needs, and that is why she deserves to be supported as well. If you would like to know more about her, give a donation, or follow her activities online, please visit the links below.

Theresa's official campaign website

Theresa's Facebook page

Theresa's Twitter page

Donate to Theresa by clicking here!

The Celebration of Women Leaders in Missouri

In 2010 I ran for office for the first time in my life. I had always volunteered my time behind the scenes in getting candidates elected, but in 2009 I made the choice to put my name on the ballot.

It's amazing that just 91 years ago women were given the right to finally vote, let alone run for office. During that time they were jailed, beaten, starved, and treated like animals to have a voice in our political world. They did not give up because it was the "unpopular" thing to do. They did not give in, but stood proud together for who they were.

There are only 47 women elected of the 197 members in our Missouri State Legislature, and many of those women don't vote in favor of protecting women's rights. We are clearly being under-represented and need to work harder in order to get more women elected.

The women of our past knew that in order to succeed, they had to work together to make it possible. That is why I have started this blog. I want to recognize the women of Missouri for their outstanding leadership and support that they give to other women. We have a long way to go, but I am not deterred because in my field, I have met and worked with so many outstanding females, that the opportunities are there for making a difference in the future. Let this be just one place where these women of leadership can be recognized and supported in a manner that is complimentary to their achievements.