EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING
No matter who you are, you can do something to help child and teen victims of sex trafficking. Whether you are making a donation, preventing the crime through awareness, supporting professionals who intervene with trafficking situations, or providing aid to victims who are transitioning into self-care and self-empowerment, there are a multitude of effective ways to help. We invite you to explore and contact the following organizations for opportunities like this and much more:
S.h.a.d.E. Movement
S.H.A.D.E. stands for Survivors Healing Advising and Dedicated to Empowerment and was founded in 2015 by Survivor Leader Sarai T. Smith-Mazariegos. Their mission is to empower survivors of sexual exploitation, human trafficking and domestic violence. S.H.A.D.E.'s philosophy uplifts experienced Survivor-Thrivers as the community’s experts in creating effective specific services and policy.
Check out S.H.A.D.E.’s extensive SERVICES to the public and in support of Survivor-Thrivers. VOLUNTEERS are encouraged to apply, beginning with 8 hours of Human Trafficking 101 Training.
DREAMCATCHER HOMELESS SHELTER & YOUTH SERVICES, A program of covenant house california
Since 2000, DreamCatcher Youth Services has been the only safe landing for homeless and disconnected at-risk youth in Alameda County who are between the ages of 13-18. Over 90% who have been through DreamCatcher have moved directly into stable housing, further education or employment. Over a third of their staff are graduates of their program who returned as adults wanting to give back for all they received.
Contact Dreamcatcher to help maintain: the Dreamcatcher Shelter for short-term care solutions; the Youth Wellness Center daily safe-space; Nika's Place, their improved safe-house shelter for kids and teens who have been commercially sexually exploited; Girls Lounge, a drop-in center offering services to girls escaping street exploitation, violence and abuse; and Dream Clinic for medical primary healthcare needs.
ARM OF CARE
ARM’s mission is to use the Arts, Recreation and Movement to restore and empower individuals who have been exploited through human trafficking.
Individuals robbed of love, kindness, gentleness, grace, and courage have a right to reclaim it. They can be reached and restored. People who are able to love, cherish, and take care of themselves are able to lend an “ARM” to others.
Contact ARM of Care to donate or volunteer.
LOVE NEVER FAILS - THE I AM HOUSE
The I AM House of Restoration provides survivors and their children with long term services, in collaboration and support with several community organizations, to allow victims to go through a process that takes them from a place of victimization to a realization that they are powerful, valuable, precious and loved. This long term transitional housing program provides a wide range of flexible and optional services that reflect the differences and individual needs of survivors and their children.
Contact Love Never Fails’ Executive Director, Vanessa Marie Johnson Russell to help the safe-house continue to care for its survivors.
Regina's Door
Regina's Door, owned and operated by Survivor Leader Regina Evans, is a vintage boutique store that is also proud to be a healing artistic space of love and compassion in Oakland. They are honored to be a sanctuary of solace for survivors of sex trafficking, young creatives, at-risk youth, homeless youth and women. As of October 2016, the boutique began a new journey of serving the community by providing healing theater/creative arts for survivors of sex trafficking, Oakland artist/creatives, and women.
Contact Regina Y. Evans to donate or volunteer to help maintain the space as a safe creative haven and thriving vintage boutique for the community.
M.I.S.S.S.E.Y.
Since 2007, M.I.S.S.S.E.Y. has devoted its energy to the heartbreaking epidemic of commercial sexual exploitation by supporting and advocating for youth who are victims of child sex trafficking. M.I.S.S.S.E.Y. stands for Motivating Inspiring Serving Supporting Sexually Exploited Youth. As a survivor-centered, trauma-informed organization, M.I.S.S.S.E.Y. confronts the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Oakland and Alameda County.
For those interested in advocating for federal and state laws to protect victims, please join M.I.S.S.S.E.Y.'s Legislative & Policy Committee Meetings in Oakland by contacting advocacy(at)misssey.org
Interested in becoming a Mentor to a child or teen? Learn more here and sign up for M.I.S.S.S.E.Y.'s mentor training program.
BAY AREA ANTI-TRAFFICKING COALITION
B.A.A.T.C. efforts equip and engage individuals, civic groups, and non-profits with best practices to sustain in the fight against human trafficking in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. They work to build collaboration between local non-profits to establish a stronger continuum of care among victim service providers, and educate activists about how to sustain in their continuum of engagement to intervene on behalf of those who are enslaved.
Contact B.A.A.T.C. to get involved with a variety of events and outreach.
H.E.A.T. WATCH
H.E.A.T. Watch is an anti-human trafficking organization working to end trafficking exploitation in the Bay Area. Under the leadership of Alameda County District Attorney, Nancy E. O'Malley, H.E.A.T. Watch has developed various anti-human trafficking initiatives to engage the community, support the recovery of victims, and hold offenders accountable.
To contact H.E.A.T. Watch click HERE.