"The beauty of life is in the hands of every individual, it is in your hands – make sure you always protect it." – Zainab Salbi, Founder and President, Women for Women International

"I wish I had been told that it was all right to be different and not follow the crowd." – Fannie Flagg, Actress, writer

"My advice is to dream. At night, close your eyes, envision the best you can be, aspire to succeed, commit yourself to hard work and don’t ever let anyone discourage you." – Francine R. Kaufman, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC Head, Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

"Tell me being a girl is challenging, but you can do it!" – Alexis Fredkin, Age 11

"Tell me that it is okay to believe in myself and follow my dreams. Tell me to think of very good times and lock them in my head forever to treasure and remember. Open a book and read these words, “once upon a time . . .” and keep your mind wide open." – Ava May, Age 9

Edited by Susan Gulbransen and Susan Chiavelli
124 pages. 9” x 9”.
Hard cover . . . $29.95      ISBN 978-0-911655-67-4
Soft cover . . .  $19.95      ISBN 978-0-911655-68-1

Letters from the Heart is an inspirational book for women and girl about discovering, supporting and celebrating one another’s strengths. A diverse group of accomplished women contributed to this book with one thing in common – the willingness to share their stories and encourage girls to grow into caring, self-assured women.

"Dream big because you deserve to do so. By searching within, you will not only know what you want, but most importantly, what you need. Then just look around and you will find the opportunities that will help you fulfill your dreams. Trust in yourself, you can do it." – Olga Aguilera, M.D. Family Practitioner

"An education that prepares you to do interesting work that you love, is the answer to living successfully." – Marilyn Gevirtz, Community Volunteer

GIRLS
Girls should be respected
Girls should never be rejected
Girls like to use their originality
Originality is part of their personality
Their enthusiasm is their joyfulness
Their joyfulness is their soul
Their soul is their everything
– Neudi Ragel, Age 13

Edited by Lorraine D. Wilson and Stephanie Wilson
92 pages. 9” x 9”. Softcover . . . $19.95
ISBN 0-911655-66-2
An Advocacy Press Publication

"Don’t be afraid to share your dreams with others, because there are good people in this world who are willing to help you reach your goals. Girls can do anything they set their hearts to. Remember to have fun every day, because laughter keeps you young for life." – Denise de Bellefeuille, Judge, Santa Barbara County

The Little College Handbook: Mapping Your College Dreams

At last a book for the first generation college bound student. The Little College Handbook helps decode the mystery of going to college for both students and their parents.
The Little College Handbook is dedicated to First Generation College Students, but is geared toward ALL students who want to plan and live a balanced college life. The book covers the transitions from high school to college, college to career (and everything in between). It is especially encouraging for underrepresented students (low-income, ethnic minority and first generation). It is written, by a former first generation college student, in a lighthearted, "smart simplicity" style.

Table of Contents
Ch 1 -Your Role: HS student, College Student, Parent
Ch 2 -Gearing up for the Transition from HS to college
Ch 3 -College Application
Ch 4 -Community College and transferring
Ch 5 -Visiting College Campuses
Ch 6 -Financial Aid
Ch 7 Scholarships
Ch 8 -College Majors -- how to choose
Ch 9 -What to expect your first semester
Ch 10 College Extracurricular
Ch 11 -Section for Parents
Glossary of College Terms
Glossary of Websites
Notes Page
Goals Page
Contacts Page

Written by Melissa Mellott
117 pages. 5” x 7”. Softcover . . . $12.95
ISBN 0-9718345-1-2

“The Little College Handbook is a practical, informative guide to the nuts and bolts of higher education -- from choosing a major to figuring out financial aid. Melissa Mellott shares her personal insights along with her expertise as a college admissions counselor to help readers understand the key steps involved with earning a college education.” - Albert C. Yates, President, Colorado State University

(Click here to read more testimonials)
(Click here to read the forward to the book)

FOODWORK: Jobs in the Food Industry and How to Get Them
A great resource for exploring possible careers in the food industry. Julia Child explains it best in her foreword to FOODWORK:

All kinds of jobs exist in the food business and other businesses related to it—not just jobs, but real and meaningful lifetime careers. Now, read about more than 30 successful careers in the field. The beauty of this book is that you are encountering real people in their real lives, who are revealing to you how they got where they are.

About the Author
Barbara Sims-Bell, is an accomplished Santa Barbara cooking teacher and author. She was named a 1995 national Pacesetter for leadership and excellence by the Roundtable for Women in Food Services. In addition to FOODWORK, she has written Career Opportunities in the Food and Beverage Industries.

Click here to view the entire Foreword to FOODWORK written by Julia Child (PDF format 300 KB)

Written by Barbara Sims-Bell
215 pages. 8” x 11". Softcover . . . $19.95
ISBN 0-911655-48-4
An Advocacy Press Publication

"Finally, the resource we’ve all been waiting for! Barbara Sims-Bell’s FOODWORK gleans never-before-told information from top food professionals to give new meaning to the phrase, “food for thought.” - Flo Braker, author, The Simple Art of Perfect Baking and Sweet Miniatures