Guest, Author at Shared Hope International

June 24, 2016 by Guest

What Could I Do to Make a Difference?

A Guest Post from Shannon in Virginia.

When I became an Ambassador of Hope, I was passionate about spreading awareness of trafficking in my native state of West Virginia. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by rich natural and cultural resources, it is easy to feel you are far away from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, West Virginia struggles with real world problems, such as severe poverty, drug use and unemployment. I grew up knowing the state I loved lagged behind others in economic growth and the health of its citizens. As I became involved in combatting sex trafficking, it broke my heart to find out that West Virginia also lagged behind in its laws to protect victims and bring justice to the people who exploit them.

As I began encouraging citizens and legislators to ask for stronger laws to protect their children, I have been honored to work with advocates and everyday citizens to educate West Virginians about the topic and ways that they can take action. In a recent visit, I spoke to a roller derby group about warning signs of trafficking while they are on the road traveling to competitions, worked with a women’s organization to hold a community screening of our prevention film Chosen, and was a guest on a radio show to talk about how West Virginia can strengthen its laws.

I was especially humbled to speak to a group of law enforcement officers, child and victim advocates in my hometown. These men and women are on the front lines of the issue and work hard to protect vulnerable populations from people who hurt them. It was exciting to meet the West Virginia State Police corporal (pictured here on the right) that had successfully worked a case I often use to illustrate that trafficking does not have to involve money, but that it can be anything of value exchanged for sexual acts. In this case, a man solicited elementary-age victims over the Internet and lured them with Ugg boots and cigarettes. The perpetrator received a long prison sentence and will be unable to harm other children in the community. Read the story here.

Though West Virginia struggles with issues that make it vulnerable to trafficking, it has heroes like this officer, concerned citizens and legislators that continue to sponsor and push for stronger laws against trafficking. They all recognize that there is a need for awareness and are constantly working to ensure West Virginia lives up to its state motto, “Mountaineers Are Always Free.” I am happy to do my small part.

June 14, 2016 by Guest

Unforgettable and Life-Changing: My Experience as a Volunteer with Shared Hope International

A Post from Stephanie Tynan.

No life is worth another man’s profit.

I had heard about sex-trafficking before I stumbled upon Shared Hope International’s website; I knew that this devastating crime existed in our world. But what I didn’t know, was how sex-trafficking is an international, multi-billion-dollar industry that is so corrupt, so heartless and so gut-wrenching. It strips the life and soul from the victims it captures and so many of the ruthless perpetrators who profit off of human life are hiding behind the shadows, without punishment.

Volunteering with Shared Hope not only gave me the chance to dedicate my time to an organization with a generous mission, but it taught me more about sex-trafficking: the signs to recognize sex-trafficking and ways to help prevent it from happening to someone I know. The employees and volunteers at Shared Hope exude selfless support, love, and encouragement to help the women and children who were or are affected by the evil that this awful crime haunts them with. The staff are friendly and they truly care about the well-being of the people who suffer from sex-trafficking. They shared their resources with me and their knowledge about the issue. I thank them for their kindness to me and for what they do to help others.

I was not aware of how incredible of an organization Shared Hope International is and I am so glad I stumbled across their website that day. Shared Hope International is doing miraculous things. I feel so honored and appreciative that I was able to work with Shared Hope and to join their mission to help end this devastating crime.

Thank you Shared Hope International.

May 18, 2016 by Guest

How our Culture normalizes Sexualization

by Karen Morris, LP, NCPsyA

Linda Smith’s account of her encounters on Falkland Road in Mumbai, in Renting Lacy, brought me to tears in a way I thought would never stop. I was as George Harrison wrote, “drowning in the tears of the world.” I knew then I had to stop tuning out the pervasive commercial sexualization of children, and do something. Compassion and empathy for the suffering of others are basic human civilizing factors. How is it they are seemingly undone and in their places posited the values of cruelty, debasement and torture in the name of entertainment? If 27 million people are enslaved in the world, how many more are willing to victimize and enslave others for profit? This must be understood in order for all victims of trafficking to heal, including those who knowingly and unknowingly profit from the suffering of others.

Recently on “The View,” a conversation began among the female celebrity hosts with a provocative statement about female porn stars having the most desirable of all professional life styles. They went on feigning envy about making “a ton of money” for having sex all day, wearing really sexy clothes, especially shoes, which are of high value for these women. This style of dialogue reinforces class distinctions by inciting primitive feelings of greed and envy. Commoditizing women as sex-objects powers the desire to imitate that life style for those left behind in the national/global craze for porn. Those who crave “the look” put forth by “The View” as desirable become a link in the chain of normalization of trafficking. Perhaps they are not aware of the more than 20 million child pornography websites, some containing millions of images of children for sale, 10 million sites of which are based in the United States. The intention of commercialization is to enslave, evident in speech, mannerisms and fashion, perceivable in every form of media. Their drive is to get us to want more, wasting lives and resources. Civilization thrives only when conditions support the development of Wisdom and valuing of human potential.

Karen Morris is a PA Ambassador of Hope and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City and Honesdale, PA. She is an award winning author and poet. Her book CATACLYSM and Other Arrangements (Three Stones Press), received the Gradiva Award for poetry (2015, NAAP). She is co-author with visual artist John Tomlinson, of RAGE: The Misery of Men::Hope: The Dawning of Men (2016), and co-founder of Two Rivers Zen Community in Honesdale, PA.

May 18, 2016 by Guest

Finding Yourself in the Flow of Fighting Sex Trafficking

By Beth Edmonds

Yesterday I was listening while driving to the NPR talk show:Ted Radio Hour featuring Maslow’s Human Needs. I’ve been fascinated with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and often feel it’s intended to flow from the “bottom-up” with not just an individual person at its crux, but as a “we the people” all needing to flow from the “bottom-up” in order for there to ever be self-actualization experienced. It has to be done as a group. There was a part of the program that I resonated with. It was self-actualization, but that it comes only in brief interludes, and in what they called in the Ted Talk as being “in-the-flow.” It was something that you may experience but that it is only a temporary, fleeting thing: being “in-the-flow.” And then you go back to striving for “self-actualization” again. It was thought provoking as I drove into Portland.

This week I’ve been working the Shared Hope International booth at the United Methodist Church General Conference with 8000 people from around the world in attendance. (That’s a whole other story) It was kind of slow at the booth; all the attendees were occupied with church business. But somebody came by the booth so I drew them in with, “Where are you from?” The guy says, “I’m from San Jose” to which I replied, “I’m from San Jose!” He responds with, “I’m the pastor of Santa Clara UMC.” I say, “I’m speaking at your church in June!” He got so excited about meeting me (which really was a needle in a haystack kind of experience) and then asks if he can take a selfie with me so he can take it back to his congregation. It felt like one of those “in-the-flow” moments, and I found that exciting.

Originally the event in June was going to be just me talking to the United Methodist Women only, and then the door opened to present to their entire church, followed by a potluck dinner. That’s progress. That’s movement. Again, it feels like being “in-the-flow.”

This message of Sex Trafficking is for everybody in the church, which is described as the body of Christ – youth, women, men, and clergy. It’s not just for some to get involved, although all of our involvement will look differently.I’m involved in fighting sex trafficking because I feel like I have a purpose when I’m in-the-flow. Some like to call it purpose. I say it just feels right.

May 13, 2016 by Guest

She Fought Cancer so She Could Fight Sex Trafficking – Sharing Passion

What Motivates our Ambassadors?

We asked this question of several Ambassadors across the nation, and here’s one story:

A few years ago was the first time I came face to face with human trafficking. My family had the opportunity to live in Italy for my husband’s work. I began to notice women standing by the side of the road and learned they were from other countries, and had been promised jobs in hospitality. They were now being forced into prostitution. Discussing this with several friends, we were heartbroken by the day-to-day reminder of these women standing by the road, but we weren’t sure what we could do to ease their suffering.

At a regular appointment, my doctor said she had found something wrong with my throat. We flew back to the United States for a few weeks for surgery and planned to return to our beautiful new country we called home. Arriving in the United States, I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and told that I would need to undergo surgery and seven weeks of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation. We were told the survival rate for the type of cancer was twenty-eight percent. We would never return to our home in Italy or be able to say goodbye to our friends.

I went through the treatment surrounded by love and support from our friends and family. They cared for our son, moved our things back from Italy and encouraged us during my treatment. It was a great celebration when after several months, I was declared cancer free. However, the road to recovery was far worse than we had anticipated. I felt like my world had turned upside down as I lost my voice and my ability to swallow. I was in a lot of pain and frustrated because I couldn’t communicate.

I leaned heavily on my relationship with God and struggled to learn to speak and eat again, praying for guidance on what to do. In the silence of my new world, my mind kept going back to the women that I had seen trafficked in Italy. I read about the issue of trafficking and was horrified to learn that our own children were being bought and sold in the United States for sexual exploitation.

Although still unable to speak, I was outraged and determined to do something about the issue as soon as I had the strength. Over several months, as I began to recover, I also began volunteering with an organization that provides employment for women who have overcome situations like trafficking and domestic abuse. I wanted these women to feel as supported and loved and encouraged as I had during my darkest time. Then, the unthinkable happened. After a surgery attempt to restore my ability to swallow, I woke up in the ICU with a tracheotomy and breathing with the aid of a respirator.

I felt defeated when I lost my voice for a second time and had to learn to speak again. Leaning on God, I pushed through a very long and painful recovery. I was driven by a determination that now, more than ever, I would give a voice to those who could not speak.

As soon as I regained my voice, I began speaking to educate others about domestic minor sex trafficking. I am honored to serve as part of a nationwide network of Ambassadors of Hope and grateful to Shared Hope for equipping us with the resources to spread awareness in our communities. My story isn’t about cancer. I believe God restored my voice to speak for others who cannot. And I won’t stop.

Shannon Langford, VA Ambassador of Hope

How can you use your voice to let YOUR story be heard and motivate others to support the work of Shared Hope International?

You can help us raise funds for Shared Hope and the Ambassador Advocacy Program as our first line of defense against traffickers and abusers! Protect the young women and children in your life and community and #ShareYourPassion! Our goal for the fundraiser is to raise $15,000 by June 10th.

Did you know that last year our Ambassadors reached over 21,000 people! Let’s recruit Ambassadors and reach 50,000 people in 2016!

Get started today and #ShareYourPassion by clicking HERE!

Thank you for working to raise funds and friends!