Awards & Press
GEMS and/or its Founder and Chief Executive Officer Rachel Lloyd have been recipients of the following awards, fellowships, and recognition.
Awarded the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) by the Queen’s New Year 2020 Honour List
NYC Administration for Childrens Services
The Commissioner's Child Advocacy Award, 2018
World's Children's Prize, 2018
Shirley Chisholm Women of Distinction Award (2014)
Celebrating Women Award-The New York Women’s Foundation (2013)
My Life My Choice Award (2013)
Office for Victims of Crime’s National Crime Victim Service Award (2012)
Spirit of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Award (2011)
Child Advocacy Award–The Administration for Children’s Services (2010)
Prime Movers Fellowship (2010)
Ashoka Fellowship (2009)
Heroes for Youth Award–National Safe Place (2009)
Change.org’s Changemakers Network (2009)
Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan
Institute for Policy Research (2008)Black Girls Rock Award (2008)
Community Service Award from the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators (2007)
Frederick Douglass Award from the North Star Fund (2007)
Reebok Human Rights Award (2006)
Uncommon Courage Award from the Center for Ethnic, Racial, and Religious Understanding at Queens College (2006)
Auburn Theological Seminary Lives of Commitment Award (2003)
The Union Square Award (2001)
The Long Walk to Freedom Award–Community Works (2001)
Community Service Award from Soroptimist International NY
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Award
Recent Press
Read the New York Times article: "This Charity Fights Sex Trafficking. Bureaucracy Might Doom It".
Movie Adaptation of Girls Like Us
Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon’s company, JuVee Productions, is partnering with EveryWhere Studios to produce a movie adaptation of Rachel Lloyd’s critically acclaimed novel “Girl’s Like Us.”
“Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale” is Lloyd’s true story about falling prey to the world of commercial sex exploitation and escaping to dedicate her life to fighting that very industry.
“Viola and I are thrilled to work with the team at EveryWhere Studios,” Tennons said. “We’re moved by Rachel’s story and impressed by her commitment to helping these girls find their voice and changing the narrative on how society views them.”
Read the full article on Variety
Rachel LLoyd Awarded the 2018 World’s Children’s Prize
Rachel Lloyd has been nominated for the World’s Children’s Prize for her work spanning over 20 years to tackle domestic trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, CSEC, in the US.
Read about Rachel Lloyd on The World’s Children’s Prize