Date & Time
11:00am EDT - 2:00pm EDT
Price
About This Event
Please join us at The Waterview in Monroe on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at noon for CFJ's 29th Annual Speaking of Women luncheon. This year, we welcome bestselling author and survivor Stephen Mills to our podium.
Stephen Mills is the author of "Chosen: A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood," which won the National Jewish Book Award in 2022. He is also the coauthor of "Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees," a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year.
Since the 1980s, he has advised and written for an array of public interest organizations in the fields of human rights and environmental protection. Stephen is honored to serve as an Ambassador for CHILD USA and on the board of Darkness to Light, a national organization empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse.
Tickets start at $200 for General Admission. VIP tickets are available for $250 and include admission to a private reception before the start of the program. The VIP reception is scheduled for 11:15-11:45 a.m. where guests will then be escorted to the ballroom. Please be aware that VIP guests are not guaranteed a photo with our keynote speaker.
If you have any questions regarding ticket purchases or sponsorships, please contact Lauren Cicchetti at lcicchetti@centerforfamilyjustice.org or call (203) 993-8135.
About This Event
Please join us at The Waterview in Monroe on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at noon for CFJ's 29th Annual Speaking of Women luncheon. This year, we welcome bestselling author and survivor Stephen Mills to our podium.
Stephen Mills is the author of "Chosen: A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood," which won the National Jewish Book Award in 2022. He is also the coauthor of "Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees," a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year.
Since the 1980s, he has advised and written for an array of public interest organizations in the fields of human rights and environmental protection. Stephen is honored to serve as an Ambassador for CHILD USA and on the board of Darkness to Light, a national organization empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse.
Tickets start at $200 for General Admission. VIP tickets are available for $250 and include admission to a private reception before the start of the program. The VIP reception is scheduled for 11:15-11:45 a.m. where guests will then be escorted to the ballroom. Please be aware that VIP guests are not guaranteed a photo with our keynote speaker.
If you have any questions regarding ticket purchases or sponsorships, please contact Lauren Cicchetti at lcicchetti@centerforfamilyjustice.org or call (203) 993-8135.
Honoring Childhood, Creating New Memories
In honor of Stephen's journey, we are intentionally highlighting the theme of stolen childhoods throughout the event to shine a light on the profound impact of childhood trauma and the experiences of the children we serve at CFJ each year.
As part of this, we invite you to bring a new toy, book, stuffed animal, or another item that reminds you of childhood.
During the luncheon, these items will be incorporated into a brief reflection. Following the event, all donated items will be gifted to client children during the holiday season, helping create moments of joy and comfort for children who have experienced trauma.
Participation is entirely optional, but we hope many guests will choose to take part in this initiative. Together, these gifts can serve as a powerful reminder that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the safety, happiness, and innocence of childhood.
Can't attend, but still want to make an impact?
Sponsor an Ad in our Program Guide!Date & Time
11:00am EDT - 2:00pm EDT
Price
Getting There
The Waterview
215 Roosevelt Drive
Monroe, Connecticut 06468
United States