So, you’re halfway through the month of December and you’re feeling a little bit discouraged because people aren’t noticing the fact that you’re wearing a dress or a tie. I’ve been there and I feel your pain, friend. Going into my fourth year of being a Dressember advocate, this is one of the biggest obstacles and insecurities to overcome. So, let’s chat about it!
Read MoreRecently, our grant partner, BEST, was able to speak with Alison Galioto, Vice President of Hospitality Associates, a northwest based hotel management group, about why she has worked so diligently to make sure her hotel staff at their 26 hotels are trained on how to handle human trafficking.
Read MoreWhy, when there are so many different issues our world faces, have I stayed engaged with anti-human trafficking efforts, especially when it can seem like there is no chance of eliminating this industry?
Read MoreTeresa was looking for work when a family member suggested that she should go to Greece where there were more job opportunities. He arranged all of her traveling needs, and told her that his friend would pick her up.
Read MoreThis is uncomfortable for me to write. It is uncomfortable for you to read. I know that. But discomfort is where growth occurs. What haunts some of our nightmares is the stuff of other’s waking reality.
Read MoreI am an advocate because I grew up reading and learning about men and women who did not turn their backs when the world proved to be a dark place. They saw the barbarity and nefarious actions of their fellow countrymen and took a stand. Humble but steadfast, they fought for their ideals - knowing full well that they may never see them in their lifetime, but discerning that fighting for anything less would be to lose the battle from the beginning. To compromise even in the slightest when it came to the matter of human souls would be to concede the crusade altogether.
Read MoreI didn’t know how much one issue could touch my heart or how freeing it can be to fight for the freedom of strangers. One simple ‘yes’ was all it took to open the door to a beautiful pathway that I could see only when I stopped looking for it.
Read MoreNicole was referred to youthSpark’s Youth Services Center in May 2018. Her mother filed a petition against her due to a long history of negative behavior in the home and community.
Read MoreI advocate because there are so many people who don’t realize that this injustice is happening right in their cities and neighbourhoods. I speak from personal experience, because for a long time I was completely unaware of human trafficking. And even once I had heard about it, I didn’t think too much about it because there was no way that it was happening in Calgary, my hometown. As I continued through school, my youth group went on several inner-city missions trips, and it was there that I came face-to-face with the stark reality that human trafficking and prostitution do, in fact, happen in my hometown.
Read MoreShe called her advocate when she landed and sounded so nervous. The last time she was in the LA area was when she was pregnant, and still being exploited by her trafficker. Here’s how her advocate told the story.
Read MoreThe sight of women working full-time hours, yet not earning a living wage was profoundly disturbing to Katie, who was realizing first-hand the benefits of a fair trade system. Troubled by this injustice and touched by her encounters with the artisans, Katie wanted to spring to action. When she asked the workshop owner if it would be appropriate to give an artisan money, he answered, “No, they don’t want charity. They want jobs.” These words ultimately inspired the beginning of Passion Lilie in January of 2013.
Read MoreIt was 2012 when Biola University junior, Heather Leith, decided to participate in Dressember for the first time. Because her sister, Shannon, is close friends with Dressember’s founder, Blythe Hill, she’s heard about it since the very beginning. As that year’s campaign came to an end, she found herself discouraged that she hadn’t met her goal. She questioned whether her meager amount would make any impact in the lives of trafficking victims.
Read MoreDon’t let the smile on this face fool you. The girl in this dress has sore feet, a tired mind, bags under her eyes, and grief in her heart.
Read MoreKendall* is a 17-year-old youth who entered the justice system when he was arrested and charged with robbery. His problematic behavior started early on due to a strained relationship with his mother. Days after being referred to youthSpark’s Youth Services Center, Kendall was open with Center staff about his past.
Read MoreA question that gets asked a lot when Dressember rolls around is, “Do I have to go out and buy a whole bunch of dresses or ties?” It can be tempting to want to stock up on these pieces so that you never have to worry about having nothing to wear. But I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t let the thought of not having enough dresses or ties make you reach for your wallet or stop you from participating in Dressember, because what you already have in your closet is all you need!
Read More**Trigger Warning: The following is a true story of a survivor of human trafficking. This story includes sensitive language surrounding sexual assault. Please consider this before reading further.
She was a part of a pedophile ring that operated by giving the children drugs, so they could maintain a constant cycle of begging during the day, and being forced to have sex with foreign pedophiles at night.
Read MoreBird + Stone is committed to ethically made products that support organizations building a more equal world. They believe in creating a community of change-makers and leveraging their collective purchasing power to fight for equality for all. Besides admiring their beautiful products and their achievements, I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down and chat with Caitlin Kawaguchi, the Director of Marketing & Partnerships for Bird + Stone, and learn about all the amazing things they’ve done and continue to do to build a more equal world.
Read MoreDressember advocates come from all walks of life, each with their own unique sphere of influence. In the 2017 Dressember campaign, Jennifer Tiu raised $7,347 from 32 donors, exceeding her goal of $6,300 - enough to fund an entire rescue mission.
Read MoreEvery time I get groceries, I’m tempted to get a cheap chocolate bar at the checkout stand, AKA the guilt lane. Unfortunately, my personal health concerns aren't the only reason to feel guilty about buying chocolate. Around 2 million children in West Africa are forced into 80-hour work weeks with little pay—or no pay at all—to make most of these chocolate products. Earlier this year, Sarah Beech wrote an article for Dressember about the connection between slavery and chocolate.
Read MoreFundraising is an intimidating task to approach because it can be hard to know where to start and what steps to take in order to accomplish your fundraising goals. In this post, I have taken a few of many fundraising ideas and broken them up into categories so you can decide which type of fundraiser would be most compatible with your lifestyle.
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