A Voice for the Voiceless
Contact Erin about booking her at your next event
[email protected]
|
|
|
At the Podium
Erin Merryn is an internationally recognized speaker inspiring millions for the past 13 years taking her as far away as Australia. She is a voice for the voiceless. Her mission is to show others you can overcome all the obstacles life brings you and achieve anything you set your mind to, as long as you believe in yourself. She speaks from the heart sharing her life experiences of being repeatedly raped and sexually abused by two people she knew. Erin takes her audience on a journey of her painful past and how she reclaimed her voice and is now giving a voice to millions of children. In 2008 Erin began a journey to get a law mandating children be taught personal body safety in schools. She successfully passed Erin's Law in her home state of Illinois in 2013. She has made it her mission to get Erin's Law passed in all 50 states. As of January 2017 Erin's Law has been passed in 28 states. Her message describes a journey of resilience, inspiration, forgiveness, and determination.
Erin helps nonprofits raise funds at events by closing her message on the importance of giving back and how donations help keep the doors of these nonprofits open Which allows survivors get the healing and justice they deserve to move forward with their lives. It has significantly helped centers raise donations.
Speech Topics
A Resilient Life: One woman’s journey on overcoming child sexual abuse, a learning disability, and epilepsy.
A Voice for the Voiceless: From the words out of her diary of the secrets she kept, breaking her silence, healing, forgiving, and Erin's Law.
The Long Walk: This is Erin's talk on her christian faith and how it helped her through the most difficult times of her life, brought her to forgive her abusers, and was the reason she quit her job and pursued Erin's Law when God put this mission on Erin's heart to accomplish
Normal presentation is 1 hour but Erin is flexible and has spoken at many events for 20-30 minutes.
Erin also will do Q and A's
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Erin is a positive, energetic "voice for the voiceless." In a conversational style, Erin weaves together a narrative that speaks of the pain brought on by sexual abuse and how persistence in the face of many challenges ultimately transformed that pain into a political force. Her story speaks to students on many different levels...she addresses themes of self-worth, self-discovery, community service, and social justice. Erin's story begins in a dark and horrifying place, but it ends with the triumph of the human spirit.
-Brett Erdmann Stevenson High School Biology Teacher
Erin's Law and the message it carries is extremely important for all students. She has identified a gap in our education that has resulted in this horrific epidemic to continue! Her message will without a doubt have a significant impact on the children of this nation and lower the sexual abuse statistics that we now carry. Thank you to Erin for being a fearless survivor!
- Jessica Mack Willow School Social Worker
On September 19, 2013, the CAC of Benton County held its annual Cherishing Children Dinner with guest speaker Erin Merryn. Erin had been in Arkansas in February of 2013 and had an astounding response from our state legislators and Governor in support of bringing Erin’s law to Arkansas. Because of Erin’s passion and the CAC of Benton County’s passion to bring education to our community, we were honored to have Erin as our guest speaker for this annual event. Little did we know what an incredible event this would be, bringing in over $45,000 in donations at the night’s end. For almost an hour, our guests sat mesmerized as Erin shared her story and her zeal. We had over 300 in attendance at this event. Our guests included individuals from the agencies who work with the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. Also among our guests were corporate executives, individuals who are frequent speakers with TED, state legislators, and even reality show hosts.
I can say without exception, I continually heard “that was the most engaging presenter I have ever heard – so impactful, so moving, so challenging.”
We are most grateful for the opportunity to have had Erin Merryn share not only in our event, but are grateful for the impact she has made on our community and our state. Lives are being changed because of Erin’s courage and her passion.
Sincerely,
Beverly R. Engle
Executive Director
Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County
Erin spoke at a fundraising luncheon for our Child Advocacy Center in Walworth County, WI. She was phenomenal !!!
Erin's candid story of childhood sexual abuse and her determination to tell her story, educating and advocating in the process is remarkable. We are in awe of Erin's strength and how she moved our audience to tears by telling her story so eloquently.
Thank you again Erin, we wish you all the best!
-Bridget Six
Fundraising Chair
Walworth County Alliance for Children
Erin has appeared on Oprah 3 times, Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN 4 times, Katie Couric, FOX, Nancy Grace, MSNBC, Dr. Drew, Dr. Nandi, Jane Velez, and Montel Williams. Covered in People Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Time Magazine, Cosmo Girl Magazine, London Times, USA Today, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, among others.
Erin speaks at national and international conferences on child abuse, Children's Advocacy Centers, Elementary, middle, and high school students, Colleges, churches, youth camps, state capitals, fundraisers, sexual assault agencies, community events, several Take Back the Night events, rehab centers, hospitals, among others.
Speaking Engagements & Book Tour
2020
January 16th
2 Illinois Middle Schools
January 23rd
Fort Collins Colorado Child Safe Conference
April
April 22nd
Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth, Abuse, and Suicide
MAY
May 6th
YWCA Project Help
AUGUST
Aug. 4th
NYSIR Conference New York City
2019
March 13-14th
Boston, MA
School District Staff Presentation
Parent night
March 17th
Albany New York
March 28th
Barnes and Noble West Dundee, IL
April 2-5th
Children's Advocacy Center of Pendleton Oregon
Children's Advocacy Center Hood River, Oregon
April 7th
Anderson's Book Store 2pm Book Signing
April 11th
New York City National TV interview for CBS News with actress Julianna Margulies
April 15th
Dekalb County Children's Advocacy Center 2pm
April 27th
Barnes and Noble Book Signing Atlanta
Safe Path Children's Advocacy Center 6-10pm
May 1st
The Morning Blend TV Interview Milwaukee, WI
May 3rd
Boswell Bookstore Milwaukee, WI Book Signing 3pm
May 17th
7-9pm
St. Louis, MO
Cat Writers Association 25th Conference
September
Delphi, Indiana Sept 11th
Montana 19th-21st
South Carolina 14th
Texas CAC 25th-26th
October
New York Children's Advocacy Center State Conference Oct 21st
Illinois YWCA Chicago
Missouri CAC
Texas CAC
November
Wisconsin School
Ohio Child Abuse Conference
Kentucky CAC
2018
January 22nd
Country Trails Elementary School
Elgin, Illinois
January 27-28th
White Flag Church
St. Louis, MO
March 12th
Metamora Middle/High School
Metamora, IL 61548
April 10th
East Central Illinois Children's Advocacy Center
Charleston, Illinois
April 11th
Blue Water Children's Advocacy Center
Port Huron, Michigan
April 14th
Team Tootles Foundation
Baton Rouge, Lousiana
April 26th
Victims Rights Educational Symposium
Erie, Pennsylvania
May 2nd
Chicago School Social Workers Conference
Chicago, Illinois
May 22nd
West Valley Child Crisis Center
Glendale, Arizona
May 29th
Kansas State University
July 27th
Phoenix, Arizona
No Travels
August-February 2018-2019 (Birth of baby in October)
Schedule 2017
January 24th
2 Middle Schools in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
February 3rd
K-8th grade school
Oak Grove, Illinois
February 7
New Jersey
Private Event
February 19
SDCAC
Sioux, SD
February 22nd
Child Abuse coallition presentation
Dupage, Illinois
March 8
Texas High School
Austin, Texas
March 2nd
Traumatic Stress Conference
Clayton, Missouri
http://traumaticstressconference.com
March 18th
No More Secrets
Hammond, Indiana
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/north-township-trustee-mrvan-launches-campaign-to-combat-child-sexual/article_2c0de9e2-fe76-52e7-9978-a1be85f9be46.html
March 19th
Tragedy to Triumph
Heritage Church Circleville, Ohio
Simulcast in 19 states, Canada and Africa
March 22nd
Testifying to Washington State lawmakers
Olympia, Washington
http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/sexual-abuse-prevention-may-soon-be-taught-in-state-schools/505484071
April 1st
Betting on Courage Under the Big Top
Woodlands, Texas
http://www.hellowoodlands.com/betting-courage-big-top-gala-benefit-childrens-safe-harbor/
April 6th
Children’s Center
Wilsonville, Oregon
http://portlandtribune.com/cr/24-news/347381-223420-childrens-center-unveils-new-signature-event
April 11th
Family Ark
Jeffersonville, Indiana
http://thefamilyark.org
April 16
Johnson High School
North Carolina
April 24
Michigan Children’s Advocacy Center State Conference
Traverse City, Michigan
http://www.mivoice4kids.org/page-664337
April 28th
Go Blue for Kids
Rockwall, Texas
http://rockwallcac.org/event/go-blue-for-kids-banquet/
May 11th
Addams County Children’s Advocacy Center
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
https://www.kidsagaincac.org/events_71_2495691018.pdf
August 10th
Oklahoma City
CASA
September 13-14th
The Ark
Corpus Chrisit, Texas
http://www.ark4kids.com/home.html
October 24-25
Private Event
Los Gatos, California
October 26-29th
PACT
Honolulu, Hawaii
November 10th
Kankakee, IL Sexual Assault Center
November 17-18th
Kentucky Middle School
Kentucky State Book Fair
2016
Michigan -January
Illinois H.S.-January
Maryland-February
New Mexico-March
Florida- March
Wisconsin-April
Minnesota-April
California-April
New Jersey-April
Illinois-April
North Carolina-April
Washington-May
Ohio-May
June-July Erin will not be doing any travel
Oklahoma-August
South Dakota-August
Florida-September
Presence Health Synopsis Aurora, IL- September
Midwest School Social Workers Conference-October
Regional Education conference- October
University of California-October
2015
January-Colorado
North Carolina-February
Illinois-February
Illinois H.S.-February
Illinois H.S. February
Illinois-MOPS-February
Ohio-February
Illinois -March
Alabama-March
Oakbrook. Illinois-March
Carmi, Illinois March
California-March
Arizona-March
Maryland-April
Missouri-April
California-April
Colorado-April
Canada-April
Ohio-April
Maine-May
Canada-May
New Jersey-May
Michigan-August
Alabama-August
Marengo High School September
Michigan-September
Virginia-September
YWCA Illinois-October
Forest View Academy October
Rolling Meadows High School October
October -Iowa
November-Pennsylvania
November-Texas
November-Florida
2014
Illinois- February
Kansas-February
Kentucky-February
Tennessee-March
California-March
Missouri-March
Illinois-March
Connecticut-March
Alaska-March
Indiana-April
Tennessee-April
Rhode Island-April
Illinois-April
Canada-May
Missouri-May
Illinois-May
Illinois-June
(Erin cannot travel June-July due to birth of baby)
Australia- August/September
Illinois-September
Iowa-October
Illinois-October
Oklahoma-October
Cannot travel Nov-Dec.
2013
Mississippi Legislators -January
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center -February
National Governors Association with Governor Quinn DC-February
District 211 Alternative School-February
Naperville District 204 Awareness night to Parents-March
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Virginia- March
Naperville, IL School District 204- March
Reno, Nevada-April
Houston, TX-April
Las Vegas, Nevada- April
Arkansas-April
Ohio University- April
South Carolina-April
Community Crisis Center Elgin, IL-April
Illinois Children's Advocacy Center-April
Schaumburg Township-April
Washington DC-April
Kansas Children's Advocacy Center-May
Scott City, Kansas Middle/High school-May
Catholic School District-May
Mississippi-July
Illinois-August
Arkansas-September
Wisconsin-September
Vermont-October
Rockford, Illinois-October
New York City-Launch of 3rd book An Unimaginable Act Nov 3rd-6th Book launch signing, discussion: November 4th 8am Italian Trade Commission NYC
(Contact Erin for details about event)
New York City/ Washington DC Lauch of 3rd book Nov 10th-13th
Colorado-October-November
West Virginia- November 13th-14th
2012
Indiana State Capital testify on Erin's Law-February
Phesant Run Resort St. Charles, Illinois -March
Virginia-April
Michigan-April
North Carolina -April
Missouri- April
Kentucky -April
New York -April
Rolling Meadows H.S. Illinois -May
Schaumburg High School -May
Michigan Capital testify on Erin's Law -July
Mississippi- September
Mississippi -October
Colorado -October
Oakland University Michigan -October
University of Tennessee -October
New Jersey -October
Pennsylvania- October
Virginia- November
Illinois-November
2011
Schaumburg High School December 2011
District 54-Schaumburg October 2011
Syracuse, New York Safe Horizons October 2011
San Marcos, Texas CASA 22nd Annual Conference October 2011
Corpus Christi, Texas September 2011
Hunstsville, Alabama National Children's Advocacy Center September 2011
YWCA Vancouver, Washington September 2011
United States Department of Education Washington D.C. August 7-10th 2011
Children's Advocacy Center Holland Michigan May 2011
Dixon, Illinois Champion For Children May 2011
McHenry Community College, McHenry Illinois May 2011
Laredo Texas Children Advocacy Center Conference April 2011
Keene State College New Hampshire April 2011
Hershey, PA Child abuse conference April 2011
New Jersey Child Abuse Conference April 2011
Iowa Child Abuse Conference March 2011
Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault State Conference March 2011
Conant High School, Hoffman Estates Illinois February 2011
EWomen Network Chicago January 2011
Past Events
Walworth County, Wisconsin CAC state conference December 8, 2010
Maryland National Children Alliance State Conference October 27-28 2010
Dupage County Illinois Take Back the Night October 2010
Washington D.C. National leadership Conference-June 2010
Aurora University April 2010
Harper College April 2010
Northern Illinois University April 2010
Norfolk Nebraska Children Advocacy Center Conference-April 2010
University of Pittsburg Kansas/Pittsburg CAC-April 2010
Dixon, Illinois Children Advocacy Center Conference February 2010
Western Illinois University Take Back the Night October 2009
Bloomingdale, Michigan Van Buren Youth Camp-June 2009
Farmington New Mexico Sexual Assault Center-April 2009
Schaumburg High School March 2009
Cape Cod Massachusetts Current Thinking/New Directions Conference-Sept. 2008
Columbia South Carolina National Advocacy Center "Child Abuse Summit" Sept. 2008
Northwestern Illinois University Take Back the Night April 2008
Schaumburg High School March 2008
Houston Texas Children Assessment Center April 2007
Odessa Texas Children Advocacy Center-April 2007
Schaumburg High School March 2007
Austin Texas Children's Assessment Center- November 2006
Dallas Texas Crimes Against Children Conference-August 2006
Annawan High School May 2006
Schaumburg High School May 2006
Wausau Wisconsin Women Community Center May 2006
Denton County Texas Children Advocacy Center- April 2005
Western Illinois University Take Back the Night October 2004
Northwest Cook County Illinois Children Advocacy Center April 2004
-Since 2004 Erin has been traveling to various places across America sharing her triumph over a childhood of sexual abuse and how she went after passing Erins Law in more then half the country. A voice once ashamed to tell anyone what happened behind closed doors has now opened that door to the world to expose a silent epidemic in an unstoppable crusade to put a face and voice on sexual abuse. She has spoken at high schools, colleges, numerous national child abuse conferences, events for Children's Advocacy Centers, rape crisis centers, Take Back the Night events, YWCA's, churches, youth camps, MOPS group, and community events. Erin has appeared on Oprah (3 times) CNN (4 times) TLC, Good Morning America, Today Show, Nancy Grace, Fox News, MSNBC, Inside Edition, Jane Velez, Dr. Drew, 700 Club, and Montel Williams.
Erin is on a mission of changing the way America avoids talking about child sexual abuse by bringing education into the classrooms of elementary schools teaching children on safe touch and unsafe touch. Schools teach children fire safety on Stop, Drop, and Roll, Stranger Danger and put them through the D.A.R.E. programs on saying no to drugs and alcohol. Yet we continue to fail children by not teaching them one of the most important lesson plans on sexual abuse that could save them from ever becoming victimized and encourage a child to come forward and break their silence. Since 2007 Erin has had a vision of mandated programs in all schools across America on child abuse awareness in the coming years.
Erin is bringing the topic to the dinner table in homes across America to have parents educate their kids on not keeping secrets. Sharing with parents that 93% of the time the person that abuses a child is someone they love and trust with their kids and the warning signs to look for. Erin offers steps parents can take to prevent their child from being abused, the best way to talk to children on this topic, and what to do once you learn your child has been abused.
Erin will leave you with a powerful inspiring message on a voice once silenced by evil that has discovered her purpose to turn all bad things around for the good. A message you will not forget.
Ms. Merryn is an excellent public speaker and passionate advocate for children who have been sexually abused. Erin presented at out 2010 Leadership Conference and was very warmly received by our more than 300 attendees. Ms. Merryn has a message of hope for us all: that is, that we can make a difference in the life of an abused child that it is possible to heal after abuse. There is no more inspiring message than that.
-Teresa Huizar -
Executive Director National Children Alliance.
“Erin Merryn is a powerful speaker and advocate for countless, faceless children and adults in our country who have similarly suffered sexual abuse. Her raw honesty and captivating portrayal of her experiences and struggles to disclose these experiences will inspire anyone to become more aware of child sexual abuse and involved in making our communities safer for children. Through her speeches and two books, Erin is an inspiration to professionals working daily to fight child abuse in the United States. She affirms the great work done by Children’s Advocacy Centers, and challenges everyone – professionals, parents, policy makers, adults – to work together on behalf of our children.”
- Chris Newlin National Children's Advocacy Center-
