Once I understood that my advocacy was a mixture of many different things, the more eager and motivated I became to participate with Dressember. I began to feel more comfortable with myself and took time to focus on the process it was leading me through. Now I know it is okay to struggle as an advocate sometimes. It gets difficult believing in the change for such a major issue. But with dedication and unbreakable passion, advocacy can become a major constituent to freedom.
Read MoreA decade ago, I was 11-years-old. A decade ago, I was on a sailboat at summer camp. A decade ago, I was laughing and sailing the days away with someone who would impact my life in a way I never expected.
Read MoreSela Designs is a nonprofit jewelry company which donates 100% of its profits back to charity, each piece of jewelry created from ethically sourced materials and made entirely by hand in the United States.
Read MoreWe can start by understanding that sexual assault occurs in all forms of human trafficking, even what may seem to be intimate partnerships. It is also important to understand the complexity of the dynamics between sexual assault and human trafficking. Once we can understand that, we will be able to develop a compassion for the sufferers and not fall into the victim-blaming mindset. It is easy to look at these situations as bystanders and question why the victim does not seek help from authorities or simply walk away. But knowing and understanding that there is so much more at stake than we can understand is what will allow people to feel safe in coming forward and speaking up.
Read MoreWhat if I told you superheroes were real? That everyday, all over the world, superheroes were fighting some of the worst crimes. Would you believe it?
Read MoreCarole Murphy is an activist in the movement of women, working as the founder of two powerful organizations: Purse for the People and Gratitude 4 the Goddess. She spends her days redefining fashion and using her organizations to encourage and uplift women. She uses her gifts to make other women feel important and empowered. I was fortunate enough to interview her.
Read MoreI am about to tell you something about my story that, literally, maybe five people know. It will be surprising to most, and may possibly make you see how traffickers really do use any means to get what they want.
Read MoreWhen it comes to human trafficking, an injustice so wrong that it makes anyone want to run to the nearest brothel and kick some doors down, the average person might begin to feel a little powerless. We all want every slave to be freed, but we also want to feel like we have a part to play in that fight. Sometimes, it can be difficult to see how we can help at all.
Read MoreHas anyone ever told you that you’re too young to change the world? Let me introduce you to Corah Stephens, the 9-year-old world-changer who is shattering that lie. This is her first year of Dressember advocacy, but she is already making a huge impact through raising $800 in the first 10 days of December, and boldly talking about human trafficking in her daily encounters.
Read MoreFast fashion describes the rapid movement of inexpensive garments from the runway to the store in order to keep up with trends. It stocks stores with beautiful, on-trend items that are hard to say “no” to because of their low prices. But would we consider thinking twice before buying if we knew how that garment was made? If we were to meet the man or woman who made that article of clothing, talked to them about their salary or working conditions, and put ourselves in their shoes - would the $10 skirt be worth it?
Read More“Intentionality” is an important word in Dr. Rachel Hammond’s vocabulary. “It’s easy to think too much, but if you only think about something, it isn’t going to happen,” she told me when I asked for her best piece of advice.
Read MoreThere are times that we let things get in the way of our influence. There are times when we use excuses like, “I don’t have enough time,” or “I don’t know enough,” or “I’m not old enough.” These thoughts can get in the way of raising our voice when we see something unjust, but today we want to let you know that it doesn’t have to be that way. Whatever time you have to give, whatever knowledge you have, however old you are - you can be an advocate fighting against trafficking.
Read MoreWhen you find a cause that strikes a chord in your heart and makes you want to fight for something, it’s normal to expect everyone around you to catch the same fire. However, this isn’t always the case. As much as we would love our passions to be universal and for all people to be enthusiastically fighting for the same thing, that’s not typically the reality. We might not all fight the same thing, but we can all still support each other in the many different movements against injustice. Even so, it’s easy to get frustrated when trying to share your passions when the response isn’t on par with your enthusiasm. So, here is a helpful guide on how to have conversations about injustice that are beneficial to you and everyone else.
Read MoreAt Dressember, individuals choosing to commit to wearing dresses for the month of December whilst fundraising and spreading the word about trafficking are not just called participants. They’re called advocates. You might consider the difference between these terms subtle. In fact, when I first decided to join the movement, I used the words interchangeably. After all, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a participant as, “one who takes part or shares in something.” Was that not exactly what I would be doing by donning dresses and campaigning? Over time, as I became more familiar with the vision and heart of Dressember, I have come to understand the significance of the choice of word advocacy. Today, we’ll unpack what it means to be an advocate in the anti-trafficking movement through Dressember.
Read MoreBeing a younger advocate, sometimes it can be hard to figure out ways to raise awareness and money. However, being on campus can have several advantages when it comes to advocating and fundraising.
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 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 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 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.
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