The Cupcake Girls

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Las Vegas Red Umbrella Collective + The Cupcake Girls Respond to Incompetency Ruling of Larissa Garcia's Accused Murderer In an upsetting yet unsurprising ruling, the accused murderer of Larissa Garcia, 30-year-old mother, student, and local sex worker is deemed incompetent to stand trial and remanded to mental health treatment. On August 21st, 2024, the Las Vegas Red Umbrella Collective, a local mutual aid network that provides resources to sex workers and victims of sex trafficking, attended a further competency hearing in honor of Larissa Garcia, a local young mother who was engaged in the sex trade industry, who was violently strangled and killed by a client, Jason Kendall. Jason Kendall was ruled incompetent and sent to Rawson-Neal Hospital until ruled competent to stand trial. Las Vegas is a city built on the backs of sex workers. This makes it even more imperative for the larger community to recognize the uniquely compounded epidemic of violence facing the sex worker community in our Valley. Las Vegas RUC and The Cupcake Girls will invite community organizations, members, and leaders to come together to respond to the incredibly horrific precedent this case presents to our most vulnerable. Unfortunately, not only are we not seeing support for sex workers during this epidemic, but we’re seeing harmful legislation intentionally oppressing sex workers more than ever before. This moment should serve as a wake-up call and catalyst for the community to ensure more meaningful protections for sex workers, and we invite our community to join us in pushing for meaningful societal and political change. We invite the public to come on August 23, 2024, and witness as we work to ensure activation against stigma, discrimination, and injustice. What: A Space for Mourning, Remembrance, and Activation  Hosted By: Las Vegas Red Umbrella Collective + The Cupcake Girls  When: August 23, 2024 - 3:30pm PT Where: Undisclosed location for safety - email amy@thecupcakegirls.org for the location Contact for location or any additional information: amy@thecupcakegirls.org ###

As a community organization dedicated to advocating for justice, equality, and the empowerment of marginalized communities, we are deeply concerned about the Seattle City Council’s recent actions regarding the proposed reintroduction of the prostitution loitering law and the new SOAP (Stay-Out-of-Area Prostitution) and SODA (Stay-Out-of-Drug-Area) measures. Additionally, the council's delay in voting on Initiative I-137, which would fund social housing, raises significant concerns about the direction of our city's policies. These policies - argued by the council to address issues of safety and crime- create more barriers to resources in such a way that is likely to increase instability and risk to sex trafficking. Instead of arrest, people suffering from poverty or sex trafficking must be offered real support- like housing, community support, and financial aid- so they can make decisions that are best suited for their own lives. The reintroduction of the prostitution loitering law, which was repealed in 2020, along with the new SOAP and SODA measures, represents a troubling step backward for Seattle. These laws historically have been used to unjustly target Black, Brown, poor, and LGBTQ+ individuals for routine activities. Reinstating these measures would not prevent crime or trafficking but would instead perpetuate systemic discrimination and hardship for our most vulnerable residents. These laws allow for the arrest and displacement of individuals based merely on accusations, violating the fundamental principle of 'innocent until proven guilty.' The proposed SOAP and SODA measures would impose pre-trial restrictions, banning individuals from entering entire neighborhoods and further marginalizing those already struggling with poverty and lack of resources. We believe that criminalizing loitering and restricting movement without due process does not enhance public safety. Instead, it creates additional barriers for individuals seeking to rebuild their lives, exacerbating social and economic inequalities. For example, SOAP would ban anyone charged with prostitution-related crimes from accessing Aurora Commons, one of Seattle’s only resource centers for sex workers or people experiencing sex trafficking. The council’s decision to delay voting on Initiative I-137, which seeks to fund social housing, is equally concerning. Initiative I-137, supported by thousands of Seattle residents, aims to provide sustainable funding for permanently affordable, mixed-income public housing. This initiative is crucial for addressing Seattle’s housing crisis and ensuring that all residents have access to safe, affordable housing. Delaying this measure not only undermines the democratic process but also stalls essential progress in providing long-term housing solutions for our community. **Read the rest of our statement here: https://lnkd.in/gMMMypj7

Hey there! We’re here to give you an update on what’s happening with The Cupcake Girls! We have made a strategic decision to take a week break from external commitments and focus on some important internal planning. This will be taking place from August 12-16th, 2024. During this time, our main goals are to sharpen our focus, align our efforts, and enhance the overall quality of our processes, policies, and staff training. We’re intentionally dedicating time and energy to this initiative because we truly believe in providing the best possible care and support to those we serve. This deliberate pause is a reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement and our pursuit of excellence in supportive services. We want to ensure our team is equipped with the best tools and strategies, enabling us to deliver top-notch support in the most effective way possible. Thanks for being part of our journey and stay tuned for more exciting updates!

In the last week, we were invited to meet Kamala Harris, and we were interviewed by TIME Magazine. Excited to see what next week will bring! The Cupcake Girls is always looking for passionate volunteers, generous sponsors, donors and partners. Learn more about how to support our mission by volunteering with us, donating to our cause or partnering with our organization to deliver pro-bono and/or low-cost mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and financial support and resources to our program participants. www.thecupcakegirls.org

“The Cupcake Girls has held a special place in my heart since I started as a volunteer 12 years ago. They are a unique organization who bring much needed services. I am excited to bring my experience and perspective as a social worker, gender-based violence researcher, and interventionist to my new role as the next TCG chairperson.” - Dr. Ariel Richer A little bit about Ariel (she/her): is Afro-Indigenous and white, descendant of Carib Indians, the Indigenous people of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, College of Social Work. Ariel earned both a Master’s Degree and a PhD in Social Work at Columbia University School of Social Work, and has been a Licensed Master Social Worker for 8 years. She is an interventionist who engages in community-driven research to co-create culturally-tailored interventions and services that address the substance use, intimate partner violence, and HIV and STI risk (SAVA) syndemic. Ariel works with Black, Indigenous, and queer communities who use drugs who experience structural stigma related to drug use, involvement in the criminal-legal system, sexuality, and racism. She is also the Co-Founder/Director of Urban Indigenous Collective, a community-based public health non-profit that serves urban-living Indigenous people living in Lenapehoking (New York City) and the surrounding tri-state area. Ariel is fiercely committed to addressing gender-based issues at large, especially gender-based violence and MMIP (missing and murdered Indigenous people) and has over nine years of experience within domestic violence organizations, sexual assault resource centers, and economic enhancement programs serving survivors of trafficking and domestic violence. Welcome Dr. Ariel Richer, LMSW!

Before we go into announcing our new board we have to stop and give a gratitude filled send off, a heartfelt thank you to the incredible, Charlotte Stokely for her leadership as our Chairwoman the last three and a half years!🌟 We are immensely grateful for your exceptional leadership and dedication to our mission. Your commitment to bringing diversity to our board has enriched our team with invaluable perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and innovative environment. 💡✨ Your advocacy for including individuals with lived experience on our staff has been transformative, ensuring our work remains authentic and impactful. Your vision and passion inspire so many of us every day. 🌈💪 Thank you for being a driving force behind our mission. We are beyond fortunate to have had you on our board, and as our Chair, we cheer you on as you move from this role, and are so thankful for your continued support! ❤️🙌 #Gratitude #Leadership #ThankYou #TheCupcakeGirls

Dorcel s’est engagé auprès de l’association The Cupcake Girls qui combat les préjugés, la stigmatisation, les idées reçues autour des travailleurs.euses du sexe et lutte également contre la traite d’êtres humains. L’association a été récemment confrontées à une campagne de désinformation ciblée qui a engendré des obstacles majeurs à l'obtention de financements gouvernementaux essentiels pour leurs actions. Cupcake Girl offre un soutien diversifié couvant tous les aspects de la vie des TDS, comme l’assistance physique, psychologique ou encore financière. Dorcel est fier d’avoir participé à la campagne d’appel aux dons organisée par AYLO et ECP pour soutenir, à l’unisson, un mouvement qui offre une aide indispensable à tous les TDS.

📣 Exciting News Coming This Week! 📣 We are thrilled to introduce some incredible new members joining our Board of Directors! 🌟 Get ready to meet the powerhouse team that’s dedicated to driving our mission forward. Stay tuned this week as we unveil the amazing individuals who are passionate about creating safe spaces of hope and healing for our community. 💖 🎉✨ #NewBoardMembers #PowerhouseTeam #TheCupcakeGirls #Welcome #CommunityLeaders #StayTuned