Sculpting a New Type of Campaign: An Interview with Sophia Bieri
Sophia Bieri has been an advocate in the fight against human trafficking with the Dressember Campaign since she was 11 years old. In 2018, during her fifth campaign, she thought she might like to try something new. She came up with the idea of creating mugs as an incentive for donations. She said, “The first year the mugs were a mess, so I scrapped that idea.”
But then in 2019, Sophia came back with a renewed energy for her concept and crafted 25 beautiful mugs. Sophia shipped one of her mugs to any donor who donated $20 or more. She had remarkable fundraising success, as she was able to sell all 25 of her mugs. She based her goal of $500 on the notion that she would succeed in selling all of her mugs, and she surpassed her goal by $138 with donations from people who did not receive mugs.
Sophia’s idea for the campaign was inspired by a love for artistic expression. Growing up in Denver, CO Sophia had always been part of an artistic community, attending an artsy elementary school and living next door to an art teacher. When her family moved to western Pennsylvania three years ago, she and her mom hoped to find a similar community. Sophia began taking pottery classes at Stray Cat Studio kind of on a whim. She said, “I wanted my work to be in that shop. We just felt at home there.”
After three years at Stray Cat Studio, Sophia has taken lots of classes and is continuing to work toward having her work in the shop. She said, “I am definitely addicted to clay.”
Sophia joined the campaign when she was 11 years old in Denver, CO. A family friend invited her and her mom to a pre-campaign party. There, they learned how to be part of the campaign with just a few dresses. While Sophia said that she is not sure she understood the full significance of the campaign, she wanted to help people trapped in slavery even at a young age.
Her idea for the Dressember Campaign was borne out of a desire to combine her passion for human trafficking advocacy and pottery. She wanted to create a conversation starter for her donors. She said, “I wanted it to be part of people’s daily routines to remind them of the difference their donation had made and the differences that still need to be made.”
“I wanted it to be part of people’s daily routines to remind them of the difference their donation had made and the differences that still need to be made.”
To create the conversation starter, Sophia carved a Dressember stamp with clay. She traced the stamp from paper onto clay and then used that stamp on mugs that she threw. As more and more of her mugs were sold and distributed, people saw them and wanted to buy them. She said, “I think I’m going to have to throw some more!”
Sophia is also involved in human trafficking advocacy with her church, which is engaged in local efforts to fight human trafficking. She and her mom provide resources and information, particularly during the Dressember Campaign and Human Trafficking Awareness Month in December and January.
Sophia’s favorite part of Dressember is the opportunity to fight for a worthy goal which often seems to be unattainable. Since that first pre-campaign party, she has always known that you don’t need a lot of dresses to make the campaign effective or enjoyable. Her favorite ways to make Dressember fashion fun are by adding unique accessories. Trades of Hope has a line of statement earrings that she particularly likes. Sophia said, “I don’t have a lot of dresses maybe, but I love my fun earrings and my cozy sweaters.”
Sophia found that people really liked having a reminder of the work that they contributed to with their donation. She said, “If I can present a humble mug that someone can use to fight for justice on behalf of others and I can do so in a way that exudes kindness, that’s the least I can do. I hope that anything we do for those who can’t speak for themselves is understood as important.”
Sophia’s campaign technique provides an example of how advocates are able to personalize the campaign to tailor it to their donors and their community. Sophia has also taken this opportunity to do something meaningful with her passions, which is the most any advocate can hope for. She said, “It’s just really nice to know that people take notice of this. It was just a chance for me to combine two of my favorite things [human trafficking advocacy and pottery].”
Sophia is a great example for anyone who might like to try a unique addition to their campaign. Her commitment to the cause and to her pottery has allowed her to combine passions while also raising more money to fight for an end to human trafficking. Unique forms of advocacy work and advocates who are interested should definitely try to incorporate their passions into their campaign!
About the Author
Miranda Cecil is a spring gal who loves traveling to new places as well as her local frozen yogurt pump. When she's not finishing homework or watering her succulents, she loves to ski, read, and play her rollout piano. Miranda is hoping to turn her passion for human rights and safety into a career as she studies political science and urban planning at the University of North Carolina (Go Heels!)