Stopping Sexual Abuse #244

Friday, May 20, 2016

There is no easy way to discuss the problem of sexual abuse and trafficking. Yet these problems do exist within the state of Maine. Today we speak with Melissa Bednarowski of Stand Up 4 ME and Catherine Mossman of Stop Trafficking ME—both of whom have personal experience with these devastating situations, and have chosen to go beyond their pain and become advocates, so that others will not have suffer as they have.

DISCLAIMER: This is a sensitive topic, so younger people may not want to listen. If you are a parent please be aware.

Guests

Melissa Bednarowski

Melissa L. Bednarowski lives in Biddeford with her Labrador retriever Sandy. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. She moved to Maine in 2000 after spending many childhood summers there with her family. Melissa believes strongly in serving her community. She is the co-founder and president of Stand Up 4 ME, a nonprofit with a mission to end childhood sexual abuse. Melissa began her professional career in training and development in the hospitality field and then transitioned to food service sales. In 2012 she accepted a position with Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. in Biddeford, ME, where she has been growing this leg of her career in aviation sales.

Catherine Mossman

As a survivor, Catherine Mossman started Stop Trafficking ME, a 501c3 non-profit organization whose ultimate goal is to eliminate the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children in Maine. Catherine believes that most people in Maine simply do not know what is happening. Shortly after moving back to Maine 12 years ago, Catherine felt a calling to show others how she survived and began volunteering at Longcreek Youth Development Center, where she quickly realized that the sexual abuse and sex trafficking that changed her childhood 35 years ago was still going on in Maine.