Alma Mater Touro College Profiles Patrice Griffin

Patrice graduated from Touro’s New York School of Career and Applied Studies in 2014.

She recently sat down for an interview.

Excerpt

It’s a sad but true fact that there are more than 50,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in New York City annually. To reduce this growing number, it’s vital to be aware of warning signs to look for to protect these vulnerable children. That is where New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) alumna Patrice Griffin comes in. Griffin is working hard to advocate for the prevention of child sexual abuse through her nonprofit, Patrice’s Kids Inc. We recently spoke with her about her new book, The Unconscious Community, and why her past fuels this important work.

You recently published your first book The Unconscious Community and shortly after being unveiled, it debuted as the most popular new release in the rap music category on Amazon! Can you tell us more about it?

For years, I’ve been wanting to write a book about the abuse I suffered as a child to better educate the public on ways to prevent abuse and give survivors some hope, but I kept putting it off. Right before COVID-19 hit, I began writing for two hours a day. Once we were on lockdown due to the pandemic, I had more free time, so I ended up finishing the book in only five months. It then took about four months of editing before The Unconscious Community was released on my birthday, September 18, 2020. It tells the story about what it was like for me to be a 14-year-old girl who endured the horrors of child sexual abuse. On a path filled with every horror imaginable, there were still angels along the way, and I was able to regain control of my life with their help. Now, I dedicate my time to ensuring the hidden world of pedophiles is no longer safe. A month after my book came out, it became Amazon’s most popular new release in the rap music category on Amazon! I was shocked and surprised but am extremely proud of the final product.