ATLANTA (AP) — Members of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta learned in 2005 that teenage prostitutes had begun working within a few steps of the church's doors.
In the four years since then, the church has helped build a wide-ranging coalition with the goal of eradicating child prostitution from the streets of Atlanta.
Included in the fight are Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, conservative Christians, feminists, Jews, Muslims and others. They have formed "Street Grace," an acronym for Galvanizing Resources Against Child Exploitation.
"When you talk to a girl who is 15 and has been prostituted, it doesn't matter anymore if you are pro-life or pro-choice," said state Sen. Renee Unterman, who has become active in the campaign. "You just want to help."
The coalition sent hundreds of volunteers this year to lobby at the Capitol for anti-trafficking legislation. Members also are paying for safehouses for child prostitutes, more than tripling the number of beds from seven to 23.
___
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement