FREE SCREENING of the Film NARROW BRIDGE: Confronting Sexual Abuse in the Jewish Community

FREE SCREENING of the Film NARROW BRIDGE: Confronting Sexual Abuse in the Jewish Community

Where:  Cleveland Park Library

       3310 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008

When:  Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 6:00  - 8:30 PM

Seating is Limited - Reservations Required

This is your chance to catch the controversial, acclaimed film that has been making waves in the Orthodox Jewish community. it is the first film of its kind to break the silence on the issue of sexual abuse in the Orthodox Jewish community. 

Following the film will be a panel discussion which will be lead by (see bio's below):

• Vicki Polin, MA, NCC, LCPC - Executive Director, The Awareness Center
• Nicole Jalazo, MSW, LCSW - ChildHelp USA, Experienced working with survivors along with sexually reactive youth
• Murray Levin - Photographer and Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse
• Bob Russell - Legislative Coordinator, SNAP-MD (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)
• Rachel Steamer, Esq - Attorney who specializes in representing survivors of sexual abuse.

This event is sponsored by The Awareness Center, Inc., which is the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault, which is based in Baltimore, MD.

For more information about The Awareness Center, go to: www.theawarenesscenter.org

Presenters Bio's:

Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC, NCC, ATR-BC

Vicki Polin is the founder and executive director of The Awareness Center. Vicki is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Clinical Professional Couselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois and is a Board Certified Art Therapist.  In the past Vicki has qualified as an expert witness and provided testimony in juvenile court on cases related to childhood sexual abuse and neglect. She has presented educational and experiential seminars to community groups, universities, and at professional conferences on both a local and national level.  Vicki served as a board member of several different not-for-profit organizations, which included VOICES in Action, Inc and Alternative Behavior Treatment Centers: For Juvenile Sex Offenders and Sexually Reactive Youth). Vicki also served on the planning committee of Jewish Women International's (JWI) 2nd International Conference on Domestic Abuse.

Murray Levin

Murray Levin is a well known photographer in the Baltimore Jewish community.  He is also a survivor of clergy sexual abuse.  After 52 years Mr. Levin finally had the courage to share his story with the Baltimore Jewish Times artilce, "Baltimore Confronts Sexual Abuse in Rabbinate". 

Bob Russell

Bob Russell is the Legislative Coordinator of SNAP of Maryland (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests).  Bob is also a survivor of clergy sexual abuse.

Rachel Steamer, Esq.

Rachel Steamer is a lawyer who specializes in representing survivors of sexual abuse.  Notably, as an associate at the law firm of Ross & Rubino, LLP, Rachel was involved in litigating more than 100 cases in coordinated proceedings against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Diocese of San Diego.  A graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University) in New York City, Rachel acted as chief research assistant to noted First Amendment scholar Professor Marci A. Hamilton, with whom she co-authored The Religious Origins of Disestablishment Principles, 81 N.D. L. Rev. 1755 (2006).  Rachel is admitted to practice law in New York.