How becoming a mom has changed My “Why” for advocacY
I remember the first time I held my son, Behr—after a harrowing 44 hour labor and delivery via emergency C-section (what an entrance he made!)—and felt an overwhelming flood of emotion. I felt a rush of love, of gratitude, and also a fierce protectiveness I had never known before.
Becoming a mom five years ago profoundly transformed my life’s purpose, especially in my work advocating to end human trafficking. As someone who experienced sexual abuse as a child, my commitment to this work has always been personal. For years, my “why” was driven by the pain and injustice I endured, and the determination to ensure that no child should suffer sexual exploitation. However, motherhood has added layers of meaning and urgency to my mission.
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Shop Secondhand In Your Neighborhood
In today's world of fast fashion and overconsumption, secondhand shops offer an accessible alternative for those looking to make environmentally and socially responsible choices. These stores give new life to pre-loved items and often support local communities and charitable causes. To help you build a more ethical wardrobe, we've highlighted some standout secondhand shops across the U.S. where many Dressember Advocates reside.
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Resilience in Advocacy: How to Address Vicarious Trauma And Fill Your Cup
I am constantly in awe of the incredible Dressember advocate community. Your unwavering dedication and open-hearted approach to supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking and violence are truly remarkable. Thanks to you, people across the world are experiencing tangible freedom and healing.
It’s important to address the often unseen side of everyday advocacy: the emotional cost of engaging in this important work. As we delve into the harsh realities of human trafficking through the Dressember campaign, we’re not just learning statistics or stories; we’re immersing ourselves in the trauma that survivors endure. This can take a toll on our own well-being, leading to what’s known as vicarious trauma.
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Young Advocates, Big Impact: Our Visit to the IJM Guatemala Office
I had the privilege of visiting the Guatemala City office of International Justice Mission, Dressember’s partner, in July 2022. The focus of IJM’s work in Guatemala is ending sexual violence against women and girls.
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Hot Tip: You Don't Need 31 Dresses for the Dressember Style Challenge
Don’t have a closet full of dresses to participate in the Dressember Style Challenge? The good news is—you don’t need 31 dresses to make a meaningful impact in the fight against human trafficking. In fact, you can spark conversations about this injustice with just one dress or tie. With our sustainable fashion tips, you can confidently step into December with a complete guide of ideas to make your dresses and ties last all month!
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Malone's Story: Surviving OSEC
“[I am] a brave person. [I am] very courageous despite all that has happened to [me]. ”
This is how Malone* describes himself, and we agree. With the support of advocates like you, Malone is now on a journey of healing and restoration. But Malone’s bravery comes at a heavy cost.
Malone is a survivor of the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC). OSEC is the virtual creation, processing, and distribution of child sexual abuse to offenders all over the world.
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Why I Advocate for Dressember: 5 Reasons to Join the Fight
Have you ever felt like an issue was too overwhelming for your voice to make an impact? That’s precisely what I used to think about human trafficking. It’s an immense injustice that often feels abstract and beyond our reach. I believed that there were more qualified people who should handle the issue, and I wasn’t equipped for the task. However, I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The fight against human trafficking isn’t just within my reach; it’s a cause I can wholeheartedly champion with Dressember.
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Advocate Spotlight: Skyler Richter and Rugged Coffee
Many of our advocates come together time and time again to support Dressember and bring an end to human trafficking. We are endlessly encouraged by the ways that advocates step up and get creative with their advocacy not just in December, but year round! Today we are excited to share a company that supports Dressember on an ongoing basis, Rugged Coffee.
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Hannah and Sarah: Inspiring a Generation of Advocates
Our global Dressember advocates never fail to give their all each year. We’d like you to meet the Canadian sister advocate duo—Hannah Lee, an ambitious 1st-grade teacher, and Sarah Chin, a spontaneous stay-at-home mom. These two inspiring advocates were on the 2020 advocate team called “Making Freedom the New Normal.”
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Karen Miltenberger: Inspiring the Next Generation of Advocates
One of the most rewarding parts of the Dressember family is the inspiring advocates that bring their passions, stories, and unique advocacy strategies into our campaign. This week, we wanted to highlight a particularly incredible advocate: Karen Miltenberger.
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Advocate Spotlight: Tyler + Beth on Creative Advocacy in the COVID Era
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Tyler Fidanzo is the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for tech company Lattice Semiconductor. Meanwhile, Beth Cirlincioine runs a web and branding design studio called Bravely Inspired. The couple took the time to chat with me about who they are and why Dressember is important to them. They also give encouraging tips for how to spread the word about fundraising during Dressember, even when you’re working from home!
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Advocate Spotlight: Symmone Anderson Reminds Us That "Consistency is Key."
Advocate Symmone Anderson has raised over 16 thousand dollars since 2014 for Dressember, which is an incredible feat. We asked her some questions about herself and her time spent advocating for the end of human trafficking, and her insight is helpful to advocates and donors alike.
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Advocate Spotlight: Stephanie Bronfein Thinks Outside the Box
Thousands of advocates come together each year to participate in the Dressember style challenge, and we love seeing the amazing things our community can do! Stephanie Bronfein has been a Dressember advocate for six years now. This year alone, her community came together to raise over $20,000 for the fight against human trafficking. She started this campaign season with a generous donation of $10,000 and challenged her community to match that donation, and they did just that!
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Katie Liestman: Plants can wear dresses, too
Dressember is all about using your own creativity and personal style to advocate for the freedom of all people. Some advocates take the style challenge even further by adding their own unique spin on things. Being a Dressember advocate can be as fun and out-of-the-box as adorning your plants with a drawing of a dress! Katie Liestman has weaved her passion for stories, plants and human rights advocacy together on her Instagram, @peepthemleaves.
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Meet Austyn!
Being a part of the Dressember community gives us the unique opportunity to connect with advocates all over the country! We may come from all over the continental U.S. and abroad, but we’re united in our passion for advocacy and desire to combat human trafficking.
This year one of our amazing interns hails from the beautiful Midwest locale of Springfield, Missouri. Austyn McAnarney has been participating in Dressember since 2016; first hearing about the movement from a Cosmopolitan article and then following them on Instagram
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Chutney for Change: Rebecca Williamson's Story
As we near the end of the Dressember season, we can't help but feel inspired by the creativity of our advocates. One example of this creativity is the founder of Holmsted Fines Chutney's, Rebecca Williamson. Rebecca has used her passion for making fine chutney to raise funds and awareness for Dressember's grant partner, International Justice Mission. We had the chance to chat with Rebecca about Holmsted Fines and her inspiration for using her talents to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.
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Meet Molly; using Social Media for good
As of today, Dresssember advocates have collectively raised over $20,000 for the campaign. It's not even Halloween yet, folks! Want to know what's even more impressive? Nearly 10% of that funding has been accomplished by a single advocate. Molly Stillman from North Carolina is joining us for the first time this year and we couldn't be more thrilled to have her on board! Molly is a wife, momma and experienced blogger and she shares with us her insights and advice on how to use your social media influence to reach your fundraising goals and push back against modern day slavery.
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