[The John M. Mamoulides Jefferson Children's Advocacy Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony]
[00:00:04]
TODAY WE GATHER TO MARK A MILESTONE IN LOUISIANA AND JEFFERSON PARISH'S COLLECTIVE HISTORY.
THANKS LARGELY TO THE LATE MR. JOHN MAITA, PROUDLY SERVING AS THE STATE'S FIRST CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER AND SEVENTH IN THE UNITED STATES.
MR. MONITA'S VISION TO OPEN THE JEFFERSON CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER AND QUAINT NON-DESCRIPT HOME ON LAZAR STREET IN NOVEMBER OF 1991.
PAVED THE WAY FOR THE NOW 14 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE COLLECTIVELY SERVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR TRAUMA SINCE OPENING THEIR DOORS.
ALL SAFE HAVENS WHERE SUPPORT, HEALING, RECOVERY, AND HOPE ARE ABLE TO FLOURISH FOR THOSE DURING THEIR DARKEST MOMENTS.
I CAN RECALL DURING THE EARLY AND MIDDLE PART OF THE 1980S, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE EVERY OTHER CASE HAD A YOUNG VICTIM, FOUR YEARS OLD, FIVE YEARS OLD, SIX YEARS OLD, AND I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING IN MY LIFE MORE DIFFICULT THAN TAKING A CHILD THAT AGE INTO THE GRAND JURY BY THEMSELVES TO TELL THE AWFUL STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, TO 12 GRAND JURORS.
TODAY WE REALLY ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE MAUSS VISION IN CREATING THE FIRST CHILD ADEQUACY CENTER IN THE STATE, WE DECIDED THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS WERE WITH TAKING THESE YOUNG KIDS TO GRAND JURY, THIS WAS THE IDEAL WAY TO DO IT.
TODAY WE STAND TOGETHER REALIZING A VISION WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR ALL OF THEIR NEEDS.
WELCOME TO THE JOHN M MAITA, JEFFERSON CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.