This week I had the opportunity to go back a few years in my life and listen to Craig Gross speak again. Craig is the founder of xxxchurch.com. I had the opportunity a few years ago to work with him along with some others in LasVegas. The stories of being in brothels, strip clubs and porn conventions came flooding back. Thats where my passion took root and where my heart lies. Later that day I had the opportunity to meet some people that worked in aftercare of women that have gotten out of sexual slavery. A day full of so many different ways people are involved. A question that was brought to my attention was "where do you fit in all this". Its a question that I have asked myself for a while.
This is what I have learned about myself....
First, be Lovely has been one part of my passion for a while. Being able to use the talents I have been given and offer a product that is used by most women (makeup) to bring awareness to something that I have personally seen the awful affects of. So with be Lovely, comes awareness and empowerment. Both of which are much needed.
Another thing that is needed is aftercare. When someone gets out of a life that has physically and emotionally enslaved them, they need that love, care and support of others to get back on their feet. This is where organizations like Breaking Free come in. They are an amazing non profit that does just that. Helps victims get the support and resources they need to live out what they have been created for.
I want to stress that awareness and aftercare are two VERY important and needed steps in being apart of this fight against sexual slavery, and the need for individuals and organizations to work together to make that happen is a huge need. There is one step that I havent talked about yet and I've realized that step is where I have the deepest connection.
For some reason, the need for justice is so deeply engrained in me that awareness isnt enough for me. I personally need to get my hands dirty in a way that touches the lives of the victims that are enslaved at the moment. Dont get me wrong, this isnt for everyone and I am fully aware of that. Someone else raising awareness is how I found out about human trafficking and I will forever be grateful for the video "Constance" for that reason. There is a huge need to be apart of the womens lives that are in the strip clubs, brothels, on the streets. When they are actually living this awful life...who is there to love them in those moments? How will they know there is a way out unless there is trusting people that can show them how important, loved and worth it they are? One who is in the environment that they have to be in every day. When I was in Vegas that is what we did....and since then I cant shake the intense urgency I have to do that again. Putting myself in places like these are my next goal. I'm not sure how yet but it aches my heart knowing that there are women and girls that dont think they are worth more, loved and supported as human beings.
Without ALL of those steps (awareness, loving during, and loving aftercare) it would create an even bigger battle for us all. We all fit somewhere, we just have to find it and live it.
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