CASEY - Community Against Sexual Exploitation of Youth - http://caseyonline.org
Lisa Brinkerhoff volunteered for CASEY as a youth and is an example of how bringing awareness to youth can contribute to making a difference…
http://caseyonline.org/articles/18/1/Lisa-Brinkerhoff-volunteered-for-CASEY-as-a-youth-and-is-an-example-of-how-bringing-awareness-to-youth-can-contribute-to-making-a-difference/Page1.html
By Louise Abbott
Published on 03/8/2008
 

On February 28th, Bill C-2 received Royal Assent and legally raised the age of protection from 14 to 16 years. This day not only marked a historical step towards protecting our youth from adult sexual predators, but also a day of triumph for local political lobbyist, Lisa Brinkerhoff. 

At the age of 14 began lobbying for the age of consent to be raised.  For her, the initial campaign to raise the age of consent was a socials project that became so integrated into her life that political activism became very much a lifestyle for her.  During the October campaign of 2003, Lisa spoke to her church on the importance of not being complacent but rather to be an active voice for those that are exploited.  In the same week, she also spoke at two Kelowna high schools. In that year alone, Lisa collected hundreds of signatures and presented six feet of signed ribbon requesting the age of consent to be raised to former MP, Werner Schmidt.  During the next year’s campaign, she was invited to speak at a few more schools. She spoke at a social justice conference in Vancouver that was telecasted in major cities across Canada.  With the help of friends and family that she got fired up for change, Lisa held a community rally.  Although her official campaign was in October, throughout the year Lisa would spread awareness on the age of consent and similar issues.  In November 2007, Lisa was interviewed on CTV’s The Verdict and a couple weeks later, she spent a week on Parliament meeting with Parliamentarians and Senators.  On her various trips to Parliament, Lisa would always plead the case of exploited youth that would be better protected if the Age of Protection bill were pass. She started a youth initiative group called ‘Passion Transformed into Action,” because she believed that it wasn’t enough to just notice the injustices that were present in Canadian society but rather that if she wanted to see change, she would have to get out into the public square and advocate for those that were being exploited.  Eventually, Lisa felt urged to move to Ottawa, in order that she may be a permanent voice on Parliament Hill, which is where she is now as she celebrates her latest victory.