The Third Law

Making Positive Change in the Lives of the Least Recognized Americans

In The Third Law, you’ll meet Megan who was eleven years old when her older sister sold her to a man for crack. You’ll be introduced to Janine who struggles to keep her four children fed when her food stamp assistance is cut because her $8/hour job pays too much. You’ll walk through a day in community corrections with Samantha, who is free, but not free because of the many arduous restrictions placed upon her.

As author Tamra Ryan points out: these and many other women like them are not the sum of their addictions, crimes or poor judgment. Instead, most are victims–of poverty, abuse and neglect–who have been further victimized by drug sentencing laws, cultural prejudices and the human services system designed to protect them.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

According to Newton’s third law of motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Third Law shows us that even as women work to change their lives there are other forces pushing back on that change, societal obstacles that must be overcome and internal demons that must be squelched. It explores what is required for chronically unemployed and impoverished women to create new lives for themselves. Most of all, the book argues for a more compassionate view of recovering addicts, convicted felons, and victims of domestic abuse. Sometimes, believing in another person’s potential is all it takes for lasting change.

Biography:

Tamra Ryan is the CEO of the Women’s Bean Project, a nationally-recognized social enterprise that provides transitional employment to women attempting to break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty. She was a speaker at TEDxMilehigh in June, 2013, and is the author of The Third Law, a book which highlights the societal obstacles and internal demons that must be overcome for these marginalized women to change their lives.