On the afternoon of March 19, 2014, City of Homestead Mayor Jeff Porter lent his support to the courageous undertaking of Lauren Book and the efforts of her organization, Lauren’s Kids. Miss Book was in the early stages of a 1500-mile walk from Key West to Tallahassee to raise awareness for sexually abused children when the Mayor caught up with her just outside Naranja, FL.
Mayor Porter had this to say. “If you ever want to know what fearless conviction looks like, just look into the eyes of Lauren Book. Her ability to thrive in the face of what she had to go through and to capture the attention of an entire nation on a subject so critical in determining the future health of so many children is nothing short of amazing. I commend her and Lauren’s kids for all they do.”
Lauren's organization educates adults and children about sexual abuse topics through an in school curriculum, a 24-hour Crisis Hotline and speaking engagements around the country. The organization also provides more than 4.5 million educational and awareness materials statewide through direct mail every year. The ultimate goal is to prevent sexual abuse through awareness and education, and to help survivors heal with guidance and support.
Lauren Book, herself a survivor of a six-year string of abuse at the hands of her nanny, embarked on her annual “Walk in My Shoes” long-distance walk on Wednesday, March 16 which will culminate in a rally on the capitol steps in Tallahassee. Book’s walk takes place in March and April, National Child Abuse Awareness and National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, over a period of 42 days in honor of the 42 million survivors of child sex abuse in the U.S. and serves to raise awareness about child sexual abuse prevention, empower survivors and advocate for change in Florida law to relating to sexually violent predators and child protection.
