The state found me on the streets alone when I was two years old. I had lice, was suffering from malnutrition, and cigarette burns covered my body. While in the foster care system, I went through seven foster homes in which I continued to endure abuse. When I was four, a loving family adopted me. Because of my abuse, I had severe scarring all over my body, and my adoptive parents had to put vitamin E oil on me each night before I went to bed. As I got older, the state provided information regarding my abusive family history, but by that time my heart was hardened and guarded. When I became a teen, my parents were unable to emotionally reach me. They sent me to boarding school, but I left and ended up on the streets. I was commercially sexually exploited—I worked the streets so my girlfriends wouldn’t have to. I’m now thirty-seven years old, and I’ve been healing with the help of mentors trained by Mending the Soul.--Is part of the story of Alexander Villarreal, Artist, and advocate for the prevention of sexual exploitation of children--but certainly not the end--by any calculation his is a story of success. It could have turned out totally different. What made the difference for Alexander. Join us Thursday to find out on Voices from the Edge at 8:00AM-9:00AM. Join Alexander Villarreal and I for an informative conversation
- KBOO