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Make It Zero: The Movement to Safeguard Every Child
"When we correct the factors that keep children at risk, we can make a difference in the lives of those children and the adults they'll grow up to be." - Mary Frances Bowley
Children are meant to imagine bright futures and then chase them. But for the millions of at-risk children in America, this is nearly impossible, because trauma clouds their lives like a heavy fog, and in that fog they lose their hope. Make it Zero is a call to bring it back to them.
Tying shocking statistics to real stories, Make it Zero explores various forms of childhood vulnerability and offers specific ways for everyone to help end it-for good. It reveals the world of opportunity behind a single moment of compassion, and it teaches us that when we help the hopeless dream again, we ourselves come more alive.
This book is for everyone. It's for moms of children they love. It's for men who are protective of those they care about. It's for anyone who lives in a community where there are children. It's for college students and nurses and bus drivers and grandparents and aunts and uncles. The bottom line is this: if one child in America is unsafe and unprotected, then they're all at risk.
Each of us is only one person, but one person determined to act is powerful. Moments can multiply into movements and create groundswells of change. Make it Zero is your moment. To be inspired. To be empowered. To join the movement of restoring hope to every child.
Children are meant to imagine bright futures and then chase them. But for the millions of at-risk children in America, this is nearly impossible, because trauma clouds their lives like a heavy fog, and in that fog they lose their hope. Make it Zero is a call to bring it back to them.
Tying shocking statistics to real stories, Make it Zero explores various forms of childhood vulnerability and offers specific ways for everyone to help end it-for good. It reveals the world of opportunity behind a single moment of compassion, and it teaches us that when we help the hopeless dream again, we ourselves come more alive.
This book is for everyone. It's for moms of children they love. It's for men who are protective of those they care about. It's for anyone who lives in a community where there are children. It's for college students and nurses and bus drivers and grandparents and aunts and uncles. The bottom line is this: if one child in America is unsafe and unprotected, then they're all at risk.
Each of us is only one person, but one person determined to act is powerful. Moments can multiply into movements and create groundswells of change. Make it Zero is your moment. To be inspired. To be empowered. To join the movement of restoring hope to every child.
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2016
7 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Mary Frances Bowley
5 books11 followersMARY FRANCIS BOWLEY is the Founder of Wellspring Living, an organization fighting childhood sexual abuse and exploitation since 2001. She has been a leader in bringing the fight against child sex-trafficking to Atlanta and is a founding member of the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force. Mary Frances is the author of The White Umbrella and A League of Dangerous Women. She resides in Peachtree City with her husband, Dick.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 22, 2016
What a truly memorable read, I was eager to read this book as the title and premise were so promising and it certainly did not disappoint. Unfortunately today there are so many kids that are facing things such as hungry, abuse, neglect, poverty, etc and in this books gives a small glimpse into the lives of people who have been able to climb out of that life and hope for something better.
Filled with practical advice for ways to help and to make a difference this book leaves you wanting to do more and make a difference, making it so every child is safe.
Having worked for Children's division for a short time, I know these stories are all too common and happen around us much more than we care to think. This book truly is a must read and is a great way to get you thinking and hopefully more involved.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Filled with practical advice for ways to help and to make a difference this book leaves you wanting to do more and make a difference, making it so every child is safe.
Having worked for Children's division for a short time, I know these stories are all too common and happen around us much more than we care to think. This book truly is a must read and is a great way to get you thinking and hopefully more involved.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 22, 2017
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Moody Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
This book was an ambitious aim, and that is to inspire and encourage readers to help protect every child in America from poverty, hunger, isolation, abuse, and trafficking. It should go without saying that these are ambitious aims and they place the authors in a place with a lot of other idealistic Christians associated with the social gospel [1]. This negative impression is furthered by the way that the authors focus their attention nearly exclusively on systemic and societal problems rather than on personal responsibility. One example should suffice. One of the many stories in this book is from a former sex worker who found herself assaulted because of her line of work, freely entered into for the purpose of earning money, and the framing of the story seeks to absolve her of any blame or responsibility for her poor life choices. In general, the authors seem to think that it is a bad thing that the United States has a culture that focuses more on personal responsibility than the rest of the world, and that worldview tends to make me think less of the authors themselves.
The book consists of fourteen chapters that are divided into five parts. The introductory chapter claims that this book and its reader, whom the author assumes will be swept up into an idealistic social cause to address these issues, will make a difference. After that the first four chapters deal with the question of poverty, after that there are two chapters that deal with hunger and food insecurity, after that there are four chapters on isolation, and then two chapters on safety followed by two chapters dealing with trafficking. Most of the chapters contain stories, usually of a person who struggled with these problems in childhood and found the authors' social efforts to be a help, mediated through the author's expression. At other times the authors give the stories of fellow volunteers who sought to help with these problems through their own idealism. Every part of the book is ended by action that one can take to identify with the people here, by dressing up in ugly clothes and cooking strange food to model the experience of foster children or being homeless for a day to see how it is like, and the book is closed with a couple of chapters that encourage hope and urge the reader to be a spark that sets the world on fire.
This is a book that I think gets half of the matter right in that it is very tender-hearted towards the many who suffered from horrific and broken childhoods filled with privation and trauma. In reading this book I found many people whose stories were not so far removed from my own. To be sure, as someone who can already relate to the people in this book, I found myself offended by the various poverty tourism techniques encouraged by the author to help the book's target middle and upper class reading audience to have some sort of empathy for the plight of the suffering people in this book. What I found the book missing was the sort of tough-mindedness that people need as well. Perhaps that sort of thing is addressed in a sequel, but this book was missing a sense of grim realism that is necessary as well as the authors' soaring idealism when it comes to living successfully in a fallen world inhabited by people whose native inclinations and family backgrounds lead them to rebel against God's ways time and time again.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
This book was an ambitious aim, and that is to inspire and encourage readers to help protect every child in America from poverty, hunger, isolation, abuse, and trafficking. It should go without saying that these are ambitious aims and they place the authors in a place with a lot of other idealistic Christians associated with the social gospel [1]. This negative impression is furthered by the way that the authors focus their attention nearly exclusively on systemic and societal problems rather than on personal responsibility. One example should suffice. One of the many stories in this book is from a former sex worker who found herself assaulted because of her line of work, freely entered into for the purpose of earning money, and the framing of the story seeks to absolve her of any blame or responsibility for her poor life choices. In general, the authors seem to think that it is a bad thing that the United States has a culture that focuses more on personal responsibility than the rest of the world, and that worldview tends to make me think less of the authors themselves.
The book consists of fourteen chapters that are divided into five parts. The introductory chapter claims that this book and its reader, whom the author assumes will be swept up into an idealistic social cause to address these issues, will make a difference. After that the first four chapters deal with the question of poverty, after that there are two chapters that deal with hunger and food insecurity, after that there are four chapters on isolation, and then two chapters on safety followed by two chapters dealing with trafficking. Most of the chapters contain stories, usually of a person who struggled with these problems in childhood and found the authors' social efforts to be a help, mediated through the author's expression. At other times the authors give the stories of fellow volunteers who sought to help with these problems through their own idealism. Every part of the book is ended by action that one can take to identify with the people here, by dressing up in ugly clothes and cooking strange food to model the experience of foster children or being homeless for a day to see how it is like, and the book is closed with a couple of chapters that encourage hope and urge the reader to be a spark that sets the world on fire.
This is a book that I think gets half of the matter right in that it is very tender-hearted towards the many who suffered from horrific and broken childhoods filled with privation and trauma. In reading this book I found many people whose stories were not so far removed from my own. To be sure, as someone who can already relate to the people in this book, I found myself offended by the various poverty tourism techniques encouraged by the author to help the book's target middle and upper class reading audience to have some sort of empathy for the plight of the suffering people in this book. What I found the book missing was the sort of tough-mindedness that people need as well. Perhaps that sort of thing is addressed in a sequel, but this book was missing a sense of grim realism that is necessary as well as the authors' soaring idealism when it comes to living successfully in a fallen world inhabited by people whose native inclinations and family backgrounds lead them to rebel against God's ways time and time again.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
April 7, 2021
Many of our social problems are interrelated with one another and this will provide a lot of thought provoking ideas on how you are impacted and can make a difference.
Looking at the impact on poverty, hunger, isolation, abuse and trafficking on all of us is outlined briefly in each section with personal stories to illustrate the reality.
If you are willing to look at how problems in other places may be impacting your life you will be challenged to see these issues far closer than you probably think.
Looking at the impact on poverty, hunger, isolation, abuse and trafficking on all of us is outlined briefly in each section with personal stories to illustrate the reality.
If you are willing to look at how problems in other places may be impacting your life you will be challenged to see these issues far closer than you probably think.
October 22, 2018
Everyone's story matters. We all have mountains to climb. We all have gifts and talents to share with others. Everyone can make a difference. This book takes several people's stories, in their own words, and proves this.
February 9, 2016
Testimonies that allow the pain of the past to bring hope to thousands and awareness to those that make a difference.
There is so much danger in the world today for our children. Our children are our hope for the future. With poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, these problems will continue to grow for our children. This book is a compilation of testimonies of those that have escaped with the help of people and organization made of people that care. It can be overwhelming with the needs, however, this book reminds you that all you have do is care for just one person. In helping one person, you help many. This account is unique that it does not only tell their stories, but all the different organizations that behind the success of those that have overcome the odds. All because of someone who cared. Each chapter shares a story, how an organization came to walk alongside, and how you can be involved. Not everyone can foster but maybe you can tutor. In my area of the United States, their are several organizations that equip you and have a place for you to help families overcome poverty and bring families together to be strengthen. There is something you can do.
This is not a testimony of the gospel but the gospel at work as we are called to show mercy to the oppressed.
A Special Thank You to Moody Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
There is so much danger in the world today for our children. Our children are our hope for the future. With poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, these problems will continue to grow for our children. This book is a compilation of testimonies of those that have escaped with the help of people and organization made of people that care. It can be overwhelming with the needs, however, this book reminds you that all you have do is care for just one person. In helping one person, you help many. This account is unique that it does not only tell their stories, but all the different organizations that behind the success of those that have overcome the odds. All because of someone who cared. Each chapter shares a story, how an organization came to walk alongside, and how you can be involved. Not everyone can foster but maybe you can tutor. In my area of the United States, their are several organizations that equip you and have a place for you to help families overcome poverty and bring families together to be strengthen. There is something you can do.
This is not a testimony of the gospel but the gospel at work as we are called to show mercy to the oppressed.
A Special Thank You to Moody Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 5, 2016
Mary Frances Bowley and Jennifer Bradley Franklin present an engaging and motivating book about the ongoing efforts of the movement to safeguard every child. Full of hope, Make It Zero provides statistics, stories, and solutions in five areas: poverty, hunger, isolation, abuse, and trafficking. Many books on these subjects only leave you frustrated and wishing you could make an impact, but Make It Zero provides “Take Action” sections at the end of each part. There you find practical ways to make a difference and stories of people that did. As a social worker, as a student, as a young woman, and simply as a citizen of our world, Make It Zero has inspired me to continue doing what I can, with what I have, where I am to help make the number of vulnerable young people in the United States, zero.
January 5, 2016
Through heart-wrenching stories and statistics Make It Zero boldly brings devastating childhood issues (homelessness, poverty, hunger, isolation, trafficking) within our communities to light, but does NOT leave us hopeless! The stories recorded in Make It Zero are those of redemption with hopeful endings and provides readers with realistic and tangible ways we can join in these redemptive stories! #makeitzero
January 17, 2016
Whether you want to act as an individual or pool your efforts with a small group that you are a part of, this book provides practical, actionable steps you can take to to be a part of bringing an end to domestic minor sex trafficking. You will be challenged and inspired by the stories of real people that are scattered throughout this book. Read this book, share it with your friends, be a part of the movement to #MakeItZero!
April 27, 2016
This is a book that not only highlights the problems inherit in a broken world, but empowerment in how one person can make a difference. The words Jennifer Franklin and Mary Frances Bowley draw you in and hold you captive with real stories of people rising like a phoenix from the ashes of poverty, hunger, abuse, neglect and isolation when someone cared enough to reach toward them. Very inspiring!
February 28, 2016
An eye-opening read about the vulnerabilities that lead to children becoming victims of sex trafficking, and how if a caring adult takes just a moment to ask a child about their lives, it could make a major difference.
January 7, 2016
Such a great book!
February 19, 2016
Very eye opening, convicting and inspiring. We all can do something to make a difference
September 13, 2016
I love that this book has a ton of suggestions on how to safeguard children and to raise awareness. I highly recommend this one!
August 28, 2019
Make it Zero has a noble goal, and the stories of real people making change were inspiring. However, much of the book felt like poverty tourism.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews