Carissa Phelps
Carissa Liana Phelps (born September 12, 1976) is an American author, attorney, and advocate for sexually exploited runaway children and homeless youth. She is known as the subject of the award-winning documentary, Carissa, directed by David Sauvage and produced by Davis Guggenheim, Chad Troutwine, and Jamie McCourt. The 2008 film revisits her life as a sexually exploited runaway child living on the streets of Fresno, California. Having been involved in various petty crimes and probation violations, as well as grand theft auto, she was incarcerated at the CK Wakefield Home for Boys, during their pilot program to integrate girls into the facility as an option to sentencing them to the California Youth Authority. Teaching herself mathematics and working to overcome numerous rapes, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse and addictions, she eventually graduated with an MBA and a J.D. degree from UCLA. She is the founder of Runaway Girl, Inc., which advocates for runaway and homeless youth, while providing training for organizations to effectively reach out and address homelessness and human trafficking. In 2012, her life story was told in the book, Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time.
Carissa Phelps | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 12, 1976 Fresno, California |
| Education | Bachelor's degree (Mathematics) Master of Business Administration Juris Doctor |
| Alma mater | Cuesta College; University of California, Berkeley; California State University, Fresno; UCLA School of Law; UCLA Anderson School of Management |
| Occupation(s) | Nonprofit executive, attorney. |
| Organization(s) | Runaway Girl, Inc. |
| Agent | Stuart Krichevsky |
| Known for | Author, attorney, community activist, founder of Runaway Girl, Inc. |
| Notable work | Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time |
| Parent(s) | Richard Phelps Sharol Macleod |
| Website | carissaphelps.com |