Photo

Now an attorney and author, human trafficking survivor Carissa Phelps will be at Kepler's tonight to discuss her book, "Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets One Helping Hand at a Time."

After she ran away from home at the age of 12, a pimp put her to work on the streets of central California, according to an author biography. Thanks to help from a teacher and a counselor, Ms. Phelps was able to escape that life, going on to graduate from UCLA with a law degree and MBA that she uses as part of a global collective helping survivors of sex trafficking rebuild their lives.

Menlo Park council candidate Catherine Carlton will introduce Ms. Phelps; she said the two women worked with State Assemblyman Sandre Swanson (D-Alameda) to write AB 2040, a human trafficking bill designed to grant relief to victims which was signed into law on Aug. 27.

The free event starts at 7 p.m. at Kepler's (1010 El Camino Real).

— Sandy Brundage

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.