International Women’s Day

On March 8th 140 men and women gathered together to celebrate International Women’s Day. They

heard the stories of four incredible, local women, working to end personal violence. Through stories of loss and triumph from eastern Africa to here in Colorado Springs, we learned more about resiliency and how it really does take a community to end violence against women.
 
Violence against women takes on many forms and can be masked in ways we cannot imagine. From the emotional abuse to honour killings and rape as a weapon of war, violence against any woman is violence against all humanity.
 
Some interesting notes to come out of the day:

• Education for girls decreases early marriage, obstetric fistulas, and human trafficking. It leads to smaller families, increased family income, and decreases in poverty.
• The majority of those trafficked are men for labor exploitation.
• There is a strong relationship between the number of female legislators in a state’s congress and the funding available for victims of trafficking. However, the most effective examples are the ones in which female legislators pull in their male counterparts and get their buy in.

We cannot let personal violence become a niched women’s issue. Far too many see these issues as things that only affect women. We have allowed the discussion and the response to become too female driven. That is to say, we need to remember that violence affects men and women, that both men and women are perpetrators and that if we want to end it, we need to create a complete community response.
 
As we talk about what we know with others, let us remember and advocate that personal violence is a human rights issue. It does not just affect one group of people, it affects all of us.
 

“You are the hope God created for others” ~ Doris Rivera-Black

Day at the Capitol

Last Thursday, the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado hosted its second Advocacy Day at the Colorado Capitol.

Speakers included:

• Chair, Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado, Betty Edwards 
• Attorney General, John Suthers
• Denver Chief of Police, Robert White
• FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge, Thomas Ravenelle
• Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge, Kumar Kibble
• Denver PD Sergeant and ILTF member, Daniel Steele
• Legislative Host Committee members 
• Brad Riley, iEmpathize 
• Survivor, Aubrey Lloyd

Hear  Aubrey’s story here.

Stay in-touch with about the Task Force, check out their Facebook or website.

Engaging with The Hanger

Our heart is helping those in foster care is one of care and prevention. Sometimes kids enter the foster care system from either domestic violence or sexual abuse situations. They are without their families and often split up from their siblings. As kids mature, there are less and less homes available for them, so they end up in facilities that were created for teen offenders, not kids without a home. We institutionalize our children and leave them in homes where further abuse and neglect can happen. But there are bright spots in the foster care system – organizations like CASA advocate on behalf of the child and provide the stability and care most of the children don’t get otherwise. Our hope is that if we can affect kids in foster care we can not only stop generational domestic violence, but create safe places so kids don’t runaway and become susceptible to traffickers and other predators. So much in the cycle of violence, abuse and neglect could be ended if we had better foster care with more loving homes ready to take in one or two children and stick it out with them. Currently only 3% of those in foster care go to college. If we had mentors in the foster care system, people to engage and stay with a teen, to be there for them and provide the stability of an adult in their life, we could increase that number!

How does that relate to clothes and cowboy boots? One of the biggest ways to fight the stigma for kids in foster care is to help them experience normal activities other kids don’t have to think about. Teens in foster care are given a $90 stipend for clothes when they are 13 or 14. That’s it! After that the teen better hope someone in the house left behind clothes or they go through high school with one outfit or don’t go at all. By providing clothing to The Hanger we are giving high schoolers a way to build their wardrobe and hopefully stay in school.

It’s the little things that we can do. If being able to get a prom dress means a girl will get to experience that night and feel a bit more like her friends (who never have a consideration for new clothes, shoes, etc. because of their home situation) that is incredible. It is a step – a small but vital step.

Join us in coming alongside those in foster care. Donate here.

Senator Holds Up Military Nomination

From MilitaryTimes:

For six months, a prominent Democratic lawmaker has blocked Lt. Gen. Susan Helms’ nomination to be vice commander of Space Command, making it unlikely that she will ever be confirmed.

Helms continues to serve as commander of 14th Air Force. Lt. Gen. John Hyten has already been confirmed to replace her, but the Air Force is waiting for Helms to be confirmed before moving forward, Air Force spokesman Capt. Adam Gregory said. Helms’ nomination will expire in January 2015.

Both Helms and Hyten declined to comment for this story, Gregory said.

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri first objected to Helms nomination in April and then reaffirmed her stance in June, citing Helms’ decision to overturn the sex assault conviction of a captain at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in February 2012.

“With her action, Lt. Gen. Helms sent a damaging message to survivors of sexual assault who are seeking justice in the military justice system: They can take the difficult and painful step of reporting the crime, they can endure the agony involved in being subjected to intense questioning often aimed at putting the blame on them, and they can experience a momentary sense of justice in knowing that they were believed when their attacker is convicted and sentenced, only to have that justice ripped away with the stroke of a pen by an individual who was never in the courtroom for the trial and who never heard the testimony,” McCaskill said in a statement submitted to the Congressional Record in June.

McCaskill’s position has not changed since then, her spokesman Drew Pusateri said.

(read the full article here)

We applaud Sen. McCaskill for taking the stand and not just rubber stamping the nomination. The Invisible War doubts that Helms' confirmation will ever go through. It's time for Helms' to step down and remove her name from consideration. It's also time for the chain of command to be taken out of the sexual assault investigation/prosecution process.

To learn more about the push for Congress to amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) go here.

Girl Rising

On June 6th we are going to Girl Rising. The film is being show at  Interquest Stadium 14 (Screen TBD) 11250 Rampart Hill View, Colorado Springs.

Get your tickets here. Hurry, they are going fast!

Response to Steubenville

There has been a lot of attention recently on the two high schoolers in Ohio charged with the rape. The boys, sentenced in juvenile court, could serve up to  (only) five years for their crime.

The rape was horrific and unimaginable, as the boys posted videos and bragged about their assault to others. The victim only learned she was raped because of their pompous behavior.

From the AP:

"The accuser said she believed she was assaulted when she later read text messages among friends, saw a photo of herself from that night and watched a YouTube video in which a student cracks jokes about the alleged rape just hours afterward. She said she suspected she had been drugged because she couldn't explain being as intoxicated as defense witnesses have said she was."        

What has really caught our attention, however, is the media’s response to this. In most of the TV interviews/stories/etc. it is the boys who are treated as the victims! More people are concerned that the boys’ “promising football careers” has ended then they are by the boys’ actions of drugging, raping and broadcasting their assault!

This incident highlights for us the need to address the deep and perverted rape culture in our society.

The boys chose to do what they did and it seems like most believe they should be immune to the actions because of their athletic potential. The media is not disgusted by their actions, by their lack of humanity, by their cruelty or lack of respect for their victim. What is a promising football career to all of that? Their actions should be seen as repugnant and disgraceful. They are in no way a victim here. 
 

The only victim is the 16-year-old girl they raped. Period.

 

Rape is never the survivor’s fault. It does not matter how much she drank, what she was wearing, where she was walking, who she trusted, etc. The simple reality is that rape is the assault of one person by another. We need to put the action on the perpetrators (the boys in this case), see them as responsible – the only reason this assault occurred! And look at the victim with nothing but compassion, understanding and support.

The media’s response to this event sickens us. We are encouraging people who hear remarks on this case that only focus on the boys and make no mention of the girl’s life that was forever changed as well – to stand up, to call or email those stations and ask why they are defending those who commit rape and leaving out those affected.

One such action is happening at Change.org where people are demanding CNN apologize for their extremely vile coverage that focused on the boys and their lack of a football career due to this sentence (as if it was being done to them and notbecause of their actions), while ignoring the reality that their actions have changed a girl’s life forever and she is the victim in this situation.

These are the conversations LTHF hopes to help facilitate around the community. Take time and help us get the word out about who the true victim in this situation is. Speak out against co-workers who don’t understand why the boys are being held accountable, who only see their football careers ending. Mention the girl! Ask how they feel about what the boys did. It starts with a small voice, but if we all speak together we can help launch a discussion on rape culture and hopefully create a space where victims are properly identified and perpetrators are held accountable for their decisions.

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. According to the UN, "It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national,ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. (link)"

We take a day to celebrate the amazing achievements of women, to look at how far we have come and yet, how far we still have to go. For us, this is a day to stand up for the accomplishments that have been made for women in the area of abuse - being able to call on the police for help, the laws that help prosecute those who abuse, the protections for women getting out of abusive situations, the attention and advancements that are being made for those being sold. We stand with communities who chose to not accept the abuse of girls and women and take a stand! We also cry out for our sisters around the world who suffer under the kind of discrimination and silence that we in the U.S. have fought so hard to eradicate. It is a day of celebration, but it is also a day to call attention to the fact our work is far from over.

In our community, we will be attending Local Women Making an International Impact, a program being sponsored, in part, by our dear friends at Zonta.

We want to acknowledge women who are making an impact. 

• The mother working to provide the best life possible for her kids. Whether it is in or out of the home, we celebrate the woman who is giving her all to her kids, who laugh, cry, play and clean-up after the little ones who bring her so much joy. 
• The mother whose children are out of the home, who is getting back into the workforce, trying to forge her own way and make a name for herself.
• The woman who continues to give through mentorship, volunteering, etc. helping to shape the lives of younger women. 
• The female CEO, Executive, Board Member, etc. The process of women becoming equal in the workplace has been a struggle, and while still not finished, there is nothing women can't do! We have made it into executive offices, the military, Congress, and every realm in between. 
• The military member serving her family, sacrificing time with them, putting herself in harm's way, defending our freedom and increasing the freedom of others. We also celebrate the moms who have to hold down a home while their spouse serves. Their sacrifice is no less demanding, and we celebrate the woman who keeps things going while their loved ones serve far away.
• The woman dreamers, givers, lovers and fighters. Women who give, dream, push and inspire us to keep going, keep giving, keep trying, keep loving. Without these women we would be lost, without them LTHF would just be a great idea but because of them we put it into action. 

Take some time to celebrate the amazing women in your life. Take a moment to tell them, to thank them and to tell others about the advancements of the women you admire that have done so much for you.

One Billion Rising

Advocacy Day: Today there are one billion rising to end violence against women!

Human trafficking is a form of violence.

While many today will be rising to fight domestic violence and sexual assault, we want to include human trafficking in the dance as well.

It is the violation of women and children's freedom of choice. It is rape for money. It is exploitation.

Let's stand & DANCE and say enough is enough for those who are being raped and sold and used for the benefit and pleasure of another.

HTTF-SC Advocacy Day Info

HTTF-SC Human Trafficking Awareness Advocacy Day

-ONE VOICE for ONE CAUSE to end modern slavery in Colorado-

At the Colorado State Capitol, February 21, 2013

AGENDA

Host:                         Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado, Betty Edwards, Chair, ht-colorado.org

Legislative Host Committee:

                         Sen. John Kefalas (D), Sen. Steve King (R), 

                         Rep. Beth McCann (D), Rep. Amy Stephens (R)

7:30am to 8:30am 

Legislative Breakfast (breakfast provided for legislators only), Old Supreme Court Chambers (citizens may fill in empty seats), Human Trafficking in Colorado with A.J. Alejano-Steele, Ph.D., Chair, Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT)

8:30am to 9:00am

Citizens make appointments or stop by to visit with Legislators in their offices.  For a list of Legislator’s contact info and office suite numbers go to http://www.leg.state.co.us.

9:00am to 10:30am

Human Trafficking Resolution presented in the House and Senate by the Advocacy Day Legislative Host Committee members: Sen. John Kefalas and Sen. Steve King, Rep. Beth McCann and Rep. Amy Stephens, followed by comments from fellow House and Senate members.  Citizens are welcome in the galley above the House and Senate Chambers.

10:30am to 11:30am

House and Senate are in Committee

11:45am to 12:30pm

Legislative Lunch (lunch provided for legislators only), Old Supreme Court Chambers (citizens may fill in empty seats) The Road to the End: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Participation Panel of experts, moderated by Raj Chohan, of Baker and Hostetler and former Denver CBS affiliate reporter.

12:30pm to 1:15pm

West Steps Rally (press invited)

Brief music selection from Marta Burton's production "Unbounded: Breaking the Chains of Modern Slavery" followed by brief comments from a variety anti-trafficking experts, including Attorney General John Suthers and Denver Chief of Police Robert White, James Yacone, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Denver Division, Beth Klein of Klein and Frank, Brad Riley of iEmphathize, and Aubrey Terry, Clinical Director of Sarah's House, along with survivor testimony. Awaiting confirmation of additional speakers

1:30pm

Official event program ends. iEmpathize display in Capitol, north of Rotunda, will continue to be available for viewing until Capitol doors close to citizens at 3:00pm.

Ongoing throughout the Day: iEmpathize Display portraying human trafficking in Colorado.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN

HTTF-SC HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS ADVOCACY DAY!

February 21, 2013 at the Colorado State Capitol

On Advocacy Day

Where do I park, what door do I go in, and how will I know where to go when I enter the building?

Please find a Capitol map attached indicating best places to park, directions to the Capitol from various points and which entrance to use as you arrive at the Capitol.  Our hospitality team will greet you after you come through security and provide you with all the information you need to make your way around the Capitol and to enjoy the scheduled events.  You will also receive a packet to give your legislators.

What should I do on Advocacy Day while I am at the Capitol?

You may participate in as many activities as your schedule allows.  Review the Agenda to see what is planned.  Please try and accomplish the following while you are at the Capitol on Advocacy Day:

1.     Visit with your legislators for five minutes. (See below for more information.)
2.     Attend the West Steps Rally on the west steps of the Capitol.  (See agenda for details.)
3.     See the iEmpathize display portraying human trafficking in Colorado just north of the Rotunda.

How long should I plan to stay for Advocacy Day?

You can stay for as little time or as much time as you are able!  If you can be there for the whole day, you may arrive as early as 7:30am or 8:00am and stay until at least 1:30pm.   

What if I only have two hours to participate in the Day?

If you have two hours, plan to arrive at 11:30am and stay until 1:30pm:

1.     At 11:30, go see the iEmpathize display portraying Human Trafficking in Colorado, located just north of the Capitol Rotunda. 
2.     Then, around 12:00 Noon pop into the Legislative Luncheon Program in the Old Supreme Court Chambers and hear a panel of experts share “The Road to the End: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Participation" with a panel of experts. (Citizens are welcome to fill in empty seats). 
3.     Finally, at 12:30, head over to the big event of the day: the West Steps Rally, where there will be music and brief speeches from key public officials and agencies as well as non-profit leaders, all passionate to end trafficking.

What if I just have one hour to participate in the Day?

If you have one hour, be at the West Steps by 12:30pm for the powerful Human Trafficking Awareness Rally and media event.  And make sure you get a chance to go inside and see the iEmpathize display at the north end of the building before you leave.

What’s involved in meeting with my legislators?

First, it is important to know that legislators are VERY interested in what concerns their constituents.  This gives you an advantage as you approach them to share your passion to see the end of modern slavery in Colorado.  Here is what you do:

1.     Make an appointment with your legislators before Advocacy Day. For your legislator’s contact information and office suite number go to http://www.leg.state.co.us .
2.     If you are unable to secure an appointment, know where their office is and try to catch them either in their office (see agenda for possible time frames), or in the hall as they go from the House or Senate Chambers to committee, etc.
3.     Plan to meet with your legislator for five minutes, respectfully share your passion to see modern slavery end in Colorado, and ask them to support improved legislation to fight this heinous crime.
4.     Give them the Human Trafficking Awareness Advocacy information packet that you received from our Hospitality Team.

Are food and beverages available in or around the Capitol?

Yes, there is a cafeteria open to the public on the bottom level of the Capitol.  There is also a Panera Grant Street, just a block south of the Capitol and 14th Street.

Before Advocacy Day

Schedule a time to meet with your legislators!

You can look up their contact information and office location within the Capitol online at http://www.leg.state.co.us and click on contact information at the left.  Call their office or send an email and attempt to secure an appointment, or to find out their open office hours for February 21.  However, don’t be daunted if you are unable to secure an appointment!  See the agenda for suggested ways and times to catch up with your legislators on the Day, or just stop by their office.  Your voice counts!

Promote and Invite!

Request an electronic jpeg version of the Advocacy Day Flyer from tamrafarah@gmail.com so that you can:

1.     Post it to your facebook page and invite your friends
2.     Email it to your contacts.
3.     Print it out (you can copy it in black and white if you prefer) and circulate to as many people as possible: at your work, your school, your place of business, your church or house of worship, clubs and organizations in which you take part, etc.

Visit the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado facebook page - like the page and click on upcoming events.  Find the Advocacy Day event.  In the upper right hand corner you have an option to invite your facebook friends to join the event, too.

Porn & Trafficking

One of the greatest myths around human trafficking and pornography is that they are two separate and distinct issues. This is purely and simply untrue. Without porn there would be no sex trafficking. 

Read that again:  

If there was no porn, there would be no sex trafficking. 

According to ABC News, the porn industry has become a $10 BILLION dollar machine. “(B)igger than the NFL, the NBA and Major League Baseball combined.” (ABCNews) To think all of that money is being made without the exploitation of those involved is to deny what is right in front of our faces. 

We often refer to porn as the gateway to trafficking, both for the person being exploited and the purchaser. What that means is that before someone is bought on the street (or through Craig’s List or Backpage, sold by a pimp, etc.) the person purchasing them (the purchaser, buyer, exploiter, etc.) has gotten used to the idea as people as commodities thanks to the images (print and video) they have witnessed.

Let’s break the myth that all people who pose for Playboy or are in porn movies are there voluntarily. And let’s stop making those girls the bad guy. It is the simple logic of human exploitation all around: if there were no purchasers, there would be no trafficking. So let’s turn the finger around at those who buy porn and those who make it and stop placing the blame on those trapped in it. 

Girls Next Door is the worse perpetuator of this myth because it makes people think that if you want to be in Playboy you get to live in a mini mansion, and, if you are lucky, end up in Hugh’s harem (ew!) and live the highlife. What it fails to show is the severe level of exploitation and abuse that happens to many of the girls who attempt to use magazines like Playboy to further their career. The modeling ploy is one of the biggest scams pimps run to get girls. They play on a girl’s desire to make it as a model to exploit them.

People often try to pacify this reality by saying that she willingly posed, or that is it just a photograph. But, it’s not. In this day and age a photograph lives forever. And HOW that photo got taken and HOW it is being used matters. She might have consented to having a picture taken, but she did not consent to having it possibly photoshopped, sold to magazines and used around the world for buyers to get off on. 

In the situation of film porn the issue become even more complicated. It is possible that women can be filmed and not know, have that video sold and then they become the victim of trafficking. And women are trafficked specifically to be used in porn. So, in some ways, porn can be seen as rape that millions of people buy and use for pleasure. Pretty vile, right? 

But what about the buyers? The people who are the only reason porn exists and make it a $10 billion industry.  

The thing about porn and those who view it, is that it can become an addiction. And as with any other addiction you need more of the product to get the same effect. So this spirals into more frequent viewing and then deeper and darker story lines and when that fails then it becomes going to strip clubs and then buying another human being. 

When I was in Cambodia, porn sold for .25 cents. The rate of child abuse was extremely high because fathers wanted to test out what they had seen in the videos and their child was the closet girl around. It’s unimaginable. But with the addiction of porn and the steady stream of viewing, eventually the person will need more than what the viewing and self-gratification can bring them. Studies have shown that women being prostituted have had a purchaser ask them to do something they saw in porn. 

The other aspect of the porn industry that is rarely discussed is the use of alcohol and drugs to keep women dependent on their pimps (thereby ensuring they will do one more scene to get their fix on a drug their pimp got them hooked on), the pressure of boyfriends to perform and do, and the escalation from photo to film to being sold. There is also a huge number of children being used in porn. 

Remember, the definition of trafficking does not not limit the action to sex alone. Any sexual activity - which includes stripping, sex acts, the production of materials, etc. are all forms of sexual exploitation according to TVPA (http://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/) 

The point is, that if we are ever to truly address human trafficking we HAVE TO address porn. And that is hard, because to address porn we have to look at who is buying it and why. We have to stop making the participants the issue and focus on the purchasers. Because the simple reality is that if no one was buying Playboy they would stop making it. 

So, where do we go from here? Some final thoughts on combating this issue.

1. The church needs to step up and in an mature way address this issue. It’s not an easy one to talk about, but how many more people have to be exploited before pastors take a bold stand and hold their congregations accountable? 
2. We need to break the lie that every man looks at porn therefore its ok. Because one it is simple untrue that every man does it. And even if that was true, it doesn’t make it okay. 
3. Men can do a lot to hold their friends accountable by helping to bring it back around that the person on the screen is really a person and not a commodity. 
4. We need to stand up and loudly fight the idea that porn is victimless. As we have seen above that is not true. 
5. Porn addiction does not only affect men. Let’s create a safe place for women who struggle to find a place to get support. 
6. Talk to our kids about porn. Talk to them about why is it isn’t okay to view it, about how it harms others and how it doesn’t “make you a man” to do so. You’re really a man if you stand up against it. 
7. We need to get a root causes. WHY IS PORN SO PROFITABLE? I think it has a lot to do with boredom and the dulling of our senses and being over stimulated. It also ties into gender roles, but we’ll get to that some other time. 
8. There are people who are being exploited who return home at night and struggle alone. Reaching out to people, openly and without judgement is HUGE. Becoming that safe place is key, which means we have to stop being so self-centered and reach out to those who we don’t know. 
9. When you hear a friend, family member, fellow church-goer bashing the victim, politely correct them and inform them that without a buyer there would be no porn. As long as we keep the action of porn on the participant and not on the buyer we will never get this addressed. She is the easy target, but let’s look at who is keeping her enslaved. 

I would encourage you to read http://www.morethandesire.com/. It is a beautifully written blog (and now a book) about a wife whose husband viewed porn and what it did to their marriage and their walk back from it. 

Also, Dirty Girl Ministries (http://dirtygirlsministries.com/) is for women who have been trapped in porn addiction. 

Further links:

• http://www.covenanteyes.com/2011/09/07/the-connections-between-pornography-and-sex-trafficking/ (Covenant Eyes) 
• https://www.shelleylubben.com/pornstars (Shelley Lubben's website)
• www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/porn/etc/script.html (PBS story on porn in America)
• http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/ (Donna Hughes' website) 

The Emancipation Proclamation

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves (within the rebellious states) are, and henceforward shall be free." 

While there were limitations within the proclamation, it was a turning point, one that shifted the war towards an idea of freedom and started the process towards equality for those enslaved. 

Over the next couple years several states abolished slavery, culminating in the passing of the thirteenth amendment on January 31, 1865. 

The 13th amendment states that, "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

As the civil rights movement progressed and we struggled to recover and move on as a nation, many believed that the disgrace of slavery had been abolished. But, as we reflect 150 years later, we sadly have to admit that is far from true.

Human slavery is alive today.  

Estimates put the number between 12 million and 27 million people who are currently enslaved, around 100,000 or more in the U.S. But because slavery masks itself as other things we don't often recognize or appropriately respond to it. The sad reality is that slavery is becoming more prevalent and accepted.

So what is modern slavery? It can be forced labor, sex trafficking, forced child labor, debt bondage or involuntary servitude. It is the exploitation of one person by another. It is the denial of our shared humanity. It is a twisted system of confusing worth for profit. It is the process of de-humanizing someone into a commodity that can be used, again and again, whether for sexual acts, harvesting food, cleaning hotel rooms, begging for money or mining for minerals. It is diverse and tragic and the only way to miss it is not to look for it.

Irishman Edmund Burke famously said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

It is a hard reality to face and one that is understandably overwhelming. In this day of crisis and pain bombarded at us 24/7 it might be easy to question why we would need to do anything. Slavery is not our problem. But...it is.

From the clothing we buy, to the coffee we drink, the cell phone we use and what our children watch on the internet, it is our problem. It is our problem because the person on the other side is someone's sister, daughter, son, mother, or brother. They have dreams, goals and hopes for their life that extends far beyond the situation they currently find themselves in.

One estimate says that 750,000 men died in the Civil War. They died in a conflict that, ultimately, became about the freedom of others. 750,000 men fought and did not come home so that slavery would be abolished. Maybe the Civil War was the first step and its up to us now to take the charge and finish the battle.

So, what can you do? The first step is to realize that we in the U.S. (and around the world) have a serious problem with slavery. The second step is to let it sink in that it is happening to our children, in our neighborhood. But then take a deep breath and acknowledge in a loud and powerful voice that we can do something about it!

Join us for 52 days to learn what you can do. We'll be sharing information, tips, stories, how trafficking masks itself in other kinds of abusive situations and how you can utilize what you are already doing to make a tremendous difference.

We would love to have you join us in our quest. 

Please check out our Facebook page for daily updates.  


Sources:
Emancipation Proclamation via The National Archives
Slavery Timeline via PBS
13th Amendment Resources via Library of Congress
Slavery in the Modern Age - NYTimes

52 days of advocacy

Starting tomorrow we are participating in 52 days of advocacy and awareness about human trafficking leading up to the Advocacy Day at the state capitol on February 21, 2013. 

We are partnering with the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado and Unlock Freedom. Check in for daily tips, tidbits, stories and how to engage.
Join our Facebook event here. 

Unlikely Alliances

We were blessed this year to make contact with two Eagle Scouts! When they heard about LTHF and what we do, especially through Her Shoes they were excited to partner with us for the Eagle Scout Project.

T. decided to focus on the foster children's fund and what the kids need when they change homes. He collected 24 duffel bags and over 60 fleece blankets!

S. wanted to collect Christmas gifts for the older boys in foster care. He did 20 bags with games, socks, etc. in them.

It is the smallest acts that can have the most powerful impact. It is the things we do for people we will never meet that can create the greatest impressions. It is hard to imagine that a 16 year old boy only wants new socks and other basic amenities for Christmas, but for kids who have so little, a bag of supplies just for them can make all the difference.

And the impact doesn't only affect those who receive the gifts. The ability to discuss what we do and why we collect these items impacted the scouts as well.


If you have someone who has a service project for a church, school assignment or organization, please let us know!

Partnering Together

On the second day of Christmas we are thankful for our partner agencies. We wouldn't be where we are today if we didn't have the support and encouragement of those who are walking this journey with us.

The Forensic Nurse Team at Memorial is where it all began. It has been our joy to collect shoes, underwear, teddy bears, etc. for the women who see & care for victims of violence after an assault. They are some of the most amazing people you will ever meet! Elisabeth and her team have hearts of gold and a passion for those they encounter. It is our privilege to do something small so that their patients leave the hospital with dignity and hopefully choose to begin the process of healthy healing.

The Milton Foster Children's Fund enable us to make a contribution to those in the foster care system. So much of the violence we see affects those in foster care. We have come to realize that we could have an impact in ending violence if we can have a bigger impact within foster care. The Fund allows those in foster care to pursue normal activities of childhood. Whether it's going to camp or getting senior photos, the Fund is a place for foster care parents to turn when all other options have been exhausted. Jane and her group are amazing and the small needs they help fulfill might be the turning point for a child in the system. The statistics for CO's foster care system are staggering. We are in dire need of good, stable foster care homes and CASAs.  Over the last year we have collected duffel bags, blankets and gift cards for the Fund to disperse.

We also collect clothes and gift cards for Women's Resource Agency. They work with women trying to get back on their feet with resume and interviewing skills and have a store where women can come "shop" for clothing for an interview or a court appearance. They are a much needed resource for women trying to start over whether it's from a domestic violence situation or coming out of the justice system.

We are also blessed by other partners like Finding our Voices, The Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado, Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy & Zonta of the Pikes Peak Region. They support us by collecting products, being a drop off location, spreading the word and giving us opportunities to speak! We also wish to thank our donors for making our work possible and enabling us to better serve our partner agencies.

We hope to continue to serve our partner agencies in 2013 and grow in our impact. If you want to make a donation to help us to continue to provide the items they need, please click here. 

Thank you for coming alongside us! 

Being Present...

As 2012 comes to a close we want to take a step back and reflect on what we are thankful for this year.

A little known fact is that the 12 days of Christmas happen after Christmas. They run from Christmas Day to Epiphany, which is when the Magi arrived to see Jesus.

On the first day of Christmas, we are thankful to be here. What started as a desire to ensure patients of the forensic nurses did not leave barefoot, has spread into something that has the potential to change an entire community.

We registered with the state of Colorado in December of 2011 and are working towards obtaining our 501c3 with the IRS. It has been incredible to see what has come from a simple idea to create a space to talk about why violence happens. Over the next eleven days we will highlight some of the other achievements of the last year, but today we are thankful to be here. 

BagLadies Donation

We had our monthly meeting on Monday night and the ColoradoStrong Bag Ladies surprised us with fabric for our Seams program, socks, underwear and kids sweat outfits! Thank you ladies!!! These supplies will go a long way in helping our partner agencies!

The Other Side of Saturday's Tragedy

Kasandra Michelle Perkins was killed Saturday morning by her boyfriend Jovan Belcher, linebacker for The Kansas City Chiefs. Kasandra was the mother of three-month-old Zoey. She was also a victim of domestic violence. Since Belcher committed suicide in front of his coach and the Chiefs' manager, the story have been about him and his promising football career cut “tragically short”.

The Chiefs held a moment of silence for domestic violence victims before their game on Sunday. But that moment seems to be the only reference to why Kasandra was killed. Even Kasandra herself has become a footnote, often only refereed to as 'his girlfriend' in most stories. While Belcher's name grips headlines, most news stations can't even take the time to learn or say her name - Kasandra.

Kasandra Michelle Perkins leaves behind a daughter. She leaves behind family and friends. She had great desires for her life. While some rage about the importance of gun control or the culture of violence within the NFL (a topic to be discussed among all professional sports to be sure!), we make Belcher the headline instead of the woman whose life he cut short.

Say her name - say her name and state what was done to her. Kasandra was killed by her boyfriend. Let's mourn the mother who will never see her daughter grow up. Let's mourn for Zoey who will never know her mother's smile, laugh or get to experience the hundreds of things a girl does with her mother. Let's make Kasandra and how domestic violence ruins lives the headline, not the career cut short by a man who couldn't control his emotions. His suicide shouldn't be headline; her murder is where we need to focus. We need to learn victim's names and celebrate their lives instead of focusing so much attention on their perpetrators and letting their victims become just a footnote.

We choose to remember Kasandra to say her name and mourn the life taken.

Update on Kara

The Colorado Springs Sheriff's Department held a press conference asking for information on two brunettes they think were with Kara the day she disappeared. Kara's picture turned up on a Las Vegas website for escorts, but police don't think Kara posted those photos.

I would encourage all of you to watch this KRDO story on Kara. The conversation around her disappearance has become too focused on what her dreams are. As Aubrey said in the KRDO story - someone's loved one is missing. Kara is someone's daughter, best friend, sister and that is getting lost in her dreams to become a model. Sex sells in our society and so instead of focusing on the facts of the case (someone's loved one is missing, she went to Denver without her wallet, her cell phone has been silent over two months and was last seen with two brunettes), news agencies, etc. are focusing on one aspect of who she was and making it all about that. The images they show don't focus on a 19-year-old girl, but are exploitative. Even the headlines show the media's tendency to play up the dramatic.

If we can find a reason to "blame the victim" then we feel less sympathy for her. Kara's desire to be a model and the images she posted are being used to excuse what happened. When we attach words like “prostitute” “model” “lingerie” etc. and images to a person, when we focus on lifestyle instead of shared humanity and the intrinsic value all human beings have, people become "less of a victim" because of choices we might not fully understand.

Regardless - a girl is missing and we need to do what we can to find her. Below is the latest poster released by the Help Us Find Kara Nichols Facebook page. If you have any information, please contact El Paso County Detective Cliff Porter at (719) 390-5555 or email tips to findkaranichols@gmail.com.

Dylan & JaRay

Two more missing teens to make you aware of: 

 

via MissingCases

Dylan Redwine of Colorado Springs went missing between 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. from the 2300 block of County Road 500, just north of Vallecito Reservoir. He is described as 5 feet tall, 105 pounds with medium-length blond hair and blue eyes.A postal worker possibly saw the boy Monday on County Road 501, near Vallecito, and two rescue workers may have seen the boy Tuesday afternoon, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. Both sightings are unconfirmed, and, in both cases, the boy ran from rescue workers up a hill in the Vallecito area, Bender said. “We’re assuming at this point – it may be Dylan – eluded searchers,” he said. “We’re leaning toward his being a runaway.” ... Anyone with information about Redwine’s whereabouts is asked to call La Plata County Dispatch Center at 385-2900. (from The Durango Herald)

via JaRayWilson.com

JaRay Wilson has been missing since October 15. The Custer County Sheriff’s office says information they’ve uncovered shows JaRay may not have went on her own and is possibly a victim of human trafficking. The Wilson family says they just want their daughter home. They say the past two weeks has been unimaginable. They are thankful for the support they’ve received from law enforcement and strangers who are willing to help pass out flyers and spread the word to look for their missing daughter.JaRay Wilson is just 16 years old and 5’2″ and weighs about 95 pounds. Her family is asking anyone with information to call the Custer County Sheriff’s office 580-323-1616