News from Shared Hope International

October 4, 2019 by Guest

How to Stay Engaged with #JuST2019 on Social Media

By Gunnar Simonsen

As we begin the final countdown to this year’s JuST Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 15-17, we want to share with you strategic ways you can get the most out of it, whether you are attending or not.

What Is The JuST Conference?

The JuST Conference is an unforgettable and inspiring conference that features today’s most pressing issues in the anti-sex trafficking field. Presentations and workshops focus on skill-building, survivor experiences, cross-discipline collaboration, task force development, case studies and lessons learned. The JuST Conference continues to stand by the motto that each person has a role to play in preventing and ending commercial sexual exploitation and that a collaborative community response is critical. Whether you are just getting started or have been working on the issue for years, the JuST Conference will have something for everyone.

How Can Attendees Maximize Their JuST Conference Experience?

If you are attending this year’s conference, here are some ways that you can maximize your experience by taking it online and getting social with it.

Do you use social media? If so, please be sure to be following Shared Hope International on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter!
- Facebook – facebook.com/sharedhopeinternational
- Twitter – twitter.com/sharedhope
- Instagram – @sharedhopeinternational
When posting from the JuST Conference, be sure to use the official hashtag, when applicable: #JuST2019
If you were a reporter, what would you share on social media from the conference? Pictures, quotes, questions, ideas, solutions, and so much more! But whatever you post, just be yourself. Your unique perspective is so valuable to us all.
Tag presenters on Twitter! When appropriate, tag them and share what you took away from their presentation. This is a great way to continue the discussion long after the presentation is over.
Remember, if social isn’t in social media, it’s just media. And that’s the difference between a monologue and a dialogue. Be sure to engage others who are posting using the hashtag as well as replying to comments made by others on posts. A rising tide lifts all boats, so let’s grow together in our knowledge and in doing so, help spread awareness across social media.

How Can Non-Attendees Glean From The JuST Conference?

The power of social media and the accessibility it offers can take people from all over the world and place them right at the conference itself. Two places you can expect to see a lot of activity from this year’s conference on Twitter and Instagram Stories. With Instagram stories, we’ll seek to provide a viewpoint from behind the scenes of what’s happening at the conference. From inside looks at workshops and plenaries to attendee testimonies, this will be a great way to see the JuST Conference without physically being in Cincinnati with us.

On Twitter, you can both follow and engage our conference hashtag, #JuST2019 by retweeting, commenting, and taking part in the dialogue with a community of Twitter users utilizing that hashtag from the event.

Of course, be sure to be following Shared Hope on Facebook and watch for our daily updates that you can like, comment, and share with your network, too. And don’t be afraid to reply to comments made by others. In this, we all might just expand our reach, by increasing our network.

The more we comment and share the more people we will reach with a message that needs to be heard.

Follow Shared Hope On Social Media

Facebook – facebook.com/sharedhopeinternational

Twitter – twitter.com/sharedhope

Instagram – @sharedhopeinternational

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*Please refrain from photography or videography of presenters, attendees or PowerPoint materials unless authorization is granted by Shared Hope staff and/or the workshop presenter This conference has many individuals in attendance that do not wish to have their identities or materials shared on public platforms If you would like to take photos with your peers for social media, please do so with a neutral background and be sure to gain permission to post the photo from all parties involved Be sure to check out our Instagram story and Facebook posts! Search for Shared Hope International Thank you for respecting the privacy of our attendees and presenters

August 16, 2019 by Marissa Gunther

Nowhere to Hide: Shared Hope’s New Tools Shine Light on Predatory Grooming and Internet Safety

By: Marissa Gunther, Director of Growth Strategies, Shared Hope International

As I prepared this announcement for Shared Hope’s Internet Safety Series, the children in your life were on my mind.

And, transparently, I have a son of my own. He turned eight earlier this month. He is curious, creative, and energetic – imagine a walking, talking pile of puppies – that’s him. And much like your kids or grand-kids are to you, he is my heart walking outside of my body.

While I’d like to tell you his favorite toy is Legos, I am certain he would quickly correct me and tell the world that his Kindle Fire is his actual favorite, thank you very much! So, despite being allowed one hour of heavily controlled tablet time per week, my son and his tablet stayed at the forefront of my mind as our Growth Strategies and Awareness team researched predatory online grooming and technology dangers.

As we’ve peeled back layers of the online world as experienced by children and teens, one emotion has grown stronger the deeper we’ve dug…

Fear.

Predators are luring kids on any internet device that may come to mind. They are using tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, even video game consoles, and multi-player gaming. In these online venues, children and teens are being enticed, entrapped, and then sold for sex.

That common saying – where children play, predators prey – it’s so true.

We experienced this predatory behavior firsthand at Shared Hope, and you need to know what we saw and what we were asked to do.

While researching commonly used mobile apps, our staff member posing as a 15-year-old female was solicited within minutes by an adult male. She was sent pornographic images, asked to remove her clothing, and in one case to meet in-person. Another adult male groomed her with friendship over several days; then, his messages started to become sexually explicit. His profile picture was a puppy.

Worse still, the solicitors were decades older… decades!

Screenshots taken by Shared Hope’s staff researcher

Seeing and experiencing the evidence right before my eyes, I thought: How do I keep my son safe in an ever-changing, anonymous digital world? How do we help other parents and caregivers keep their kids safe? How do we help kids develop healthy boundaries and resilience when they are being tricked and fooled?

The answer?

We start the conversation now and we do it together – with courage, persistence, and the facts in our hands.

Thanks to the work of our team here at Shared Hope, and with the input and support of our Ambassadors of Hope, survivors, and law enforcement, we now have new tools available to start the conversation. We are thrilled to be able to put these important resources on Internet Safety in your hands today.

A new Internet Safety Guide on grooming tactics and warning signs to help keep children from being enticed by online predators.
A new resource and supporting research on mobile apps commonly used by children and teens.
A new educational video series to you help navigate the latest technology and apps that predators use to target children and teens — facilitated by Kelly, Shared Hope’s Community Engagement Manager and internet safety specialist.
And coming this month a comprehensive Internet safety toolkit — with information and resources on technology dangers, parental controls, networks, mobile apps, gaming, and sexting, along with “how-to” safety tips.

These resources will empower you to:

Teach your children and teens about grooming and sex trafficking.
Navigate the latest technology and apps that predators use to target children and teens.
Let friends and family know they can learn to identify the warning signs.
Make children aware of the dangers of the online world and what they can do to develop safe, healthy boundaries and resilience.

But we’re not stopping here. With an ever-changing digital world, our team is making a promise to stay on top of the latest technology to get new information into your hands as it develops.

You can sign-up for our Internet Safety newsletter HERE

I’d say at this point that I’ve said enough, but we can’t stop here friends. We just can’t. We need to have this conversation with as many people as possible – to get these resources in as many hands as possible – to keep the conversations going.

Let’s start a ripple. Let’s shine a light in every community across the nation.

The more people are equipped to spot the dangers and signs of predatory grooming and child sex trafficking, the easier it will be to put an end to it. There will be nowhere left for predators to hide.

I hope this information empowers you to ensure the safety of the kids in your life. I truly believe that, together, we can be lights in the darkness….

…in our homes, in our communities…and online.

August 12, 2019 by SHI Staff

An Unexpected Friendship – 2019 JuST Conference Closing Plenary

We are excited to announce that Marian Hatcher and John Pulley will be joining us on the JuST Conference plenary stage as our closing plenary!

Marian and John will be presenting, Conversation with a Reformed Buyer – “I Represent the Worst of What Happened to You” on Thursday, October 17 at this year’s JuST (Juvenile Sex Trafficking) Conference in Cincinnati, OH. Visit justconference.org/just2019 to review our workshop agenda and for more information on how to register.

Interested in learning more? Review their blog post below.

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An Unexpected Friendship

by Marian Hatcher, Rev Dr., Policy Analyst & Victim Advocate, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Public Policy and John Pulley, Co-Founder, ManAlive Expedition

John Pulley: Last summer I had the privilege of speaking at the JuST Faith Summit. I was thrilled to be included in the program and about as nervous as a person can be. Public speaking was not the issue. Speaking as a former buyer to a room full of survivors, advocates, and crusaders was the driver for my nerves.

Marian Hatcher was taking the stage immediately after my session. Based on what I knew of her being a survivor and her history in the abolition movement, I was not sure how my presentation would be received.

A wise person once said, “Unexpected friendships are the best ones.”

Marian’s grace towards me that day forged one of those unexpected friendships. She showed deep kindness in the words she spoke to me publicly before she began her presentation.

As we have had the opportunity to get to know one another through phone calls, text messages, and social media, I have come to respect her dearly. We have discussed the work towards ending slavery. We have discussed our families and history. We have prayed together. We have also given each other insights and perspectives that we would not have gleaned otherwise.

The friendship has been one of mutual respect and honesty and has brought more than its share of the unexpected.

We are genuinely excited to be able to present at the JuST Conference in October.

Marian Hatcher: Yes, we are excited and no, I never expected to be associated with a former buyer let alone become “chums”. Our unexpected friendship is a testament to Gods love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. It was just the thing to do. On the stage in Minnesota that day, I felt such compassion and understanding as John shared with such courage, a part of his journey.

I remembered sharing parts of my story years ago. Of course, I shared as the victim not the victimizer, so there was, in my eyes a different kind of courage required by him. One steeped in deep humility and acknowledgment of terrible, awful actions on his part. All to satiate his appetites for sexual gratification.

As a Christian, as a human being, who has also done terrible and awful things, I found forgiving John a way to free myself of a continuing mental/spiritual bondage, previously unrecognized. My healing continued that day, as did his.

It’s unfortunate his name is “John”(LOL), because today, he’s a pretty good guy. How about we call them what they are “sex buyers”.

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Marian Hatcher has been with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for 14 years where she is now, Policy Analyst & Victim Advocate in the Office of Public Policy. She coordinates several of CCSO’s anti-trafficking efforts such as the “National Johns Suppression Initiative,” a nationwide effort targeting the buyers of sex as the driving force of sex trafficking and prostitution. Marian is a national expert on combating the demand, sitting on numerous boards (including Shared Hopes Advisory Board) and facilitating trainings for the FBI and Homeland Security. She has been featured in numerous documentaries, including I AM JANE DOE. Marian is a 2014 recipient of the Pathbreaker Award and in 2016 she was honored by President Obama with a Presidential lifetime volunteer achievement award.

John Pulley

John Pulley is an author and public speaker. Speaking openly, honestly and without shame, he speaks boldly to the hearts of men who are dealing with sexual addictions of all kinds. As a former buyer and sex addict, he knows firsthand the devastation hidden and minimized sexual issues are causing to individuals, marriages and communities. He is currently finishing a book about his journey into and out of addiction. John is also a consultant to the anti human slavery organization Fierce Freedom and co-founder of ManAlive Expedition, a ministry that is a raw, honest journey into the deep desires and passions of the heart of a man. Like his passion for speaking, the core and primary objective is to create an environment that allows men to connect with and hear from the Father directly – allowing Him to interpret and speak insight directly into their lives.

August 7, 2019 by Sarah Bendtsen

How to Make an Ocean Rise – Celebrating Cyntoia Brown’s Release

“Ripples. When you create a difference in someone’s life, you not only impact their life, you impact everyone influenced by them throughout their entire lifetime. No act is ever too small. One by one, that is how to make an ocean rise.” –Danielle Doby, Author

Eight months ago, we learned that Cyntoia Brown, a survivor of child sex trafficking, was

facing a potential turning point in her life story. In 2004, at 16 years old and in the throes of life experiences that no child should have, Cyntoia killed a man who had purchased her for sex. Despite overwhelming evidence of horrific childhood trauma and current exploitation, she was tried as an adult and convicted of murder. Instead of providing protection and services appropriate for Cyntoia’s trafficking victimization, the state handed her a sentence of life in prison.

Almost 15 years into her sentence, and after years of tireless cries for justice by advocates across the country, we learned that Cyntoia’s case was being considered for clemency. And so we turned to you—advocates from all walks of life—to demand justice for Cyntoia. In less than three weeks, 4,590 of you took action, signing a petition to Tennessee Governor Haslam, asking that he use his authority to grant clemency to Cyntoia. We celebrated when, on January 7th, the outgoing Governor Haslam stood on the side of justice and granted clemency to Cyntoia. And we celebrate again as we witness Cyntoia’s long-awaited release from prison today.

We celebrate this moment of justice for a survivor. We celebrate the policy advancements this specific case, and the resulting dialogues have inspired. We celebrate as we anticipate the effect Cyntoia’s case will have on other survivors of sex trafficking who may face unjust responses from the juvenile and criminal justice systems. We celebrate because we see an ocean rising.[easy-tweet tweet=”We celebrate as we anticipate the effect Cyntoia’s case will have on other survivors of sex trafficking who may face unjust responses from the juvenile and criminal justice systems.” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”SharedHope, StoptheInjustice” url=”https://sharedhope.org/2019/08/07/how-to-make-an-ocean-rise-celebrating-cyntoia-browns-release/” template=”dark”]

When you took action, you impacted Cyntoia’s life. Resultantly, we know Cyntoia will have an extraordinary impact on her community and in this movement. The ripples from your signature, your call, your social media post will continue. Because of that, we know we have arrived at the door of critical and sustainable change.

With both immense admiration for Cyntoia’s strength and gratitude for the relentlessness of fellow advocates from across the county, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursue justice for all survivors of sex trafficking. We invite you to join along and seek protection, not punishment, for youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Together, we can make the ocean rise.

August 2, 2019 by Marissa Gunther

What Does Being a “Four-Star Charity” Mean?

By Marissa Gunther, Director of Growth Strategies, Shared Hope International

For the 6th consecutive year, Shared Hope International has achieved the coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest independent evaluator of charities. Following a thoroughly comprehensive review, Shared Hope earned 92.73 points out of 100 overall for the Fiscal Year 2018.

So what exactly does that mean?

Here is what Charity Navigator President and CEO Michael Thatcher had to say about our score in a letter dated August 1, 2019:

“Only 9% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 6 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Shared Hope international exceeds industry standards and outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets Shared Hope apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

Aiming to achieve a four-star rating is our commitment to our donors, supporters and the vulnerable adults, girls, and boys we serve. We specifically strive for:

Sound fiscal management
Commitment to accountability and transparency

Our mission is preventing the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restoring and empowering survivors, and bringing justice to vulnerable adults and children. We cannot accomplish our mission without the trust of our donors, collaborators, legislators and the public.

And so, we are throwing all the confetti and popping all the corks celebrating this achievement today. We hope that our continuous efforts to be financially healthy, transparent and accountable prove to be worthy and deserving of your trust.

We celebrate YOU, too!

Thank you for trusting us with your donations, your volunteer time, and your belief in our mission. Your support means the world to us, and to the vulnerable adults, girls, and boys that we serve.