Compelled: Fighting the Injustice of Human Trafficking

In our Season 4 finale, Jacob speaks with Patrick McKenna about the complicated and nuanced argument for & against decriminalization, criminalization, and legalization of sex work.  Freedom 4/24 is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non profit. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. We'd love to hear from you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or shoot us an email at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a written review where ever you are listening! Resources: Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking: www.vcaht.org Criminal Record Relief Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/httpsvcahtorgtakeaction?source=direct_link  

Compelled Podcast co-host, Jacob Valliere, speaks about men and trafficking. Men are not just the perpetrators of this injustice, but the victims as well. Jacob also shares practical ways for men to get involved in the fight for freedom and justice. Freedom 4/24 is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non profit. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. Resources: www.freedom424.org malesurvivor.org

40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ (Polaris Project). Traffickers look for youth with vulnerabilities they can meet: housing, acceptance, love, etc. This week on the podcast, we sat down with Lisa Hansen, Founder & Education Director of Power Over Predators & Cliff Rogers and Wendy from Covenant House DC  to learn more about an LGBTQ individuals increased risk for trafficking and exploitation. Freedom 4/24 is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non profit. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. Resources: Polaris Project report on LGBTQ communities & trafficking: https://polarisproject.org/lgbtq-communities-and-human-trafficking/ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children report on child molesters: https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/pdfs/publications/nc70.pdf Power Over Predators: poweroverpredators.org Covenant House DC: https://covenanthousedc.org/

On this week's episode, Emily sat down with Linda Ellis-Williams, Senior Managing Director of Victim Services of the YWCA of Central Virginia. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  Linda speaks about why the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community is statistically trafficked more and how race creates vulnerabilities in an individual's life that can lead into trafficking.  Freedom 4/24 is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non profit. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listening platform and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: YWCA of Central Virginia- https://www.ywcacva.org/ Domestic Violence Hotline- 1-888-528-1041 Sexual Assault Hotline- 1-888-947-7273 The Case for Reparations- Ta-Nehisi Coates 

In this episode, Jacob and Emily had a conversation with Maria Rolf, the Mission Advancement Officer at Impact Living Services. Impact Living Services is dedicated to dynamically altering outcomes for at risk children and their families by delivering services designed to increase resiliency and strengthen relationships. Maria shares about the increased risks and vulnerabilities that children in the foster care system face and how we can support them.  Freedom 4/24 is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non profit. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listening platform and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: Impact Living Services- https://impactlivingservices.org/ Donate to Impact- https://impactlivingservices.org/donate Become a Foster Parent- https://impactlivingservices.org/fosterwithimpact

Jacob and Emily had the privilege of speaking with Mike Sloan, Director of Safeguarding at GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). GRACE seeks to empower Christian communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse. Mike shares the realities of sexual abuse within the Church and other Christian environments, how this perpetuates a culture of exploitation and violence, and what we can do to combat these injustices. Freedom 4/24 is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non profit. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listening platform and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: GRACE- netgrace.org Online Trainings- netgrace.org/online-training www.freedom424.org

Introducing Season 4 of Freedom 4/24's podcast, Compelled: Fighting the Injustice of Trafficking & Exploitation. In Season 4, we are giving a voice to the often voiceless victims of human trafficking. We believe every human life deserves to be free from exploitation and trafficking. Join us as we seek to listen, learn, and protect our most vulnerable populations. 

Sneak peek of what is to come in Season 4 of the Compelled Podcast! We will be back soon with new episodes. If you have questions or topics you'd like to hear us discuss, email us at info@freedom424.org.

In our Season 3 finale, we chat with local business owners and Freedom 4/24 supporters, Daryl & Johanna Calfee and Karl Miller, about how they are using their businesses to bring freedom and justice. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a  Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listen platform, and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: Business Resources Corporate Community Partnership

Local college student, Dae Thomas, shares her experience working with victims and survivors of exploitation in Uganda and how she uses her passions to advocate for freedom and justice on her university's campus.  If you are interested in starting a Freedom 4/24 Club at your school, email us at info@freedom424.org. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a  Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: Freedom 4/24 Club at Liberty University Internships Volunteer

Hanna Flippo is a wife, mother, and educator living in Orlando, Florida. She shares her experience of exploitation within the school system and how teachers, educators, and parents can protect our youth from this injustice.  If you are interested in learning more about Freedom 4/24's Awareness & Education Initiative and the tools and resources we provide, please visit www.freedom424.org/educate. Resources: Prevention Resources for Parents Prevention Resources for Youth Occupation-Specific Training Report child exploitation online

Guest host, Joy Cover, speaks with President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), John Clark. John shares about the magnitude of online child exploitation and what each of us can do to end this injustice. Since 1984, NCMEC’s mission has been to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent child victimization. The organization has helped law enforcement recover more than 327,000 missing kids, distributed billions of missing posters, operated a 24/7 missing children hotline, offered comfort to countless families and trained and provided free resources to law enforcement and other professionals across the country. John has served as NCMEC’s leader for four years. He has extensive law enforcement background, including 28 years with the United States Marshals Service. Before joining NCMEC, John was director of security at Lockheed Martin Corp., the nation’s largest defense contractor. Resources: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: missingkids.org NCMEC Cyber Tipline: cybertipline.org | 1-800-THE-LOST NCMEC education resources: https://www.missingkids.org/education

Guest host, Rachael Smith, speaks with attorney Patrick McKenna about criminal record relief laws and the impact they can have on a survivor's healing process. Rachael and Patrick also discuss how we can join the legal fight against trafficking.  Patrick McKenna is a co-founder of the Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking, an alliance of service providers, attorneys, survivor-advocates, and community members on a mission to remove barriers preventing survivors from achieving a full and healthy life through public awareness campaigns, policy reform and enacting survivor-centered human trafficking legislation. Resources: Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking Petition to pass vacatur bill in Virginia  Take Action Shared Hope International State Report Cards for Policy and Legislation 

Annie Lobert is a survivor of more than a decade of sex trafficking -- working as an exotic dancer and a high-class escort prostituted in Hawaii, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas. She is an internationally recognized expert and advocate of ministry to men and women in the commercial sex industry from her personal experience. Annie is the president and founder of Hookers for Jesus, a survivor-led outreach and safe house for women looking for an escape from the sex industry. Annie shares her story of abuse and exploitation and how she was set free. Annie also shares how she is using her freedom and redemption to help other men and women caught in the commercial sex industry. Resources: Hookers for Jesus Annie's I Am Second video Fallen: Out of the Sex Industry & Into the Arms of the Savior

Originally from the United States, Libby Bundrick currently resides in Pattaya, Thailand with her family and serves as the Media & Design Manager of Beginnings Foundation, Freedom 4/24's Thailand partner. Beginnings Foundation fights to end exploitation of women and girls in the sex trade in Thailand, through prevention, intervention, and aftercare. They believe in a holistic approach to freedom, by providing for a quality education, vocational and life skills training, spiritual mentorship, and a safe place to belong. Libby shares about her role at Beginnings and how they are fighting to end the generational cycle of exploitation and trafficking of girls and women in Thailand.  Resources: Beginnings Foundation website: www.beginningsfoundation.org BF Instagram: www.instagram.com/beginningsfoundation BF Facebook: www.facebook.com/beginningsfoundation

Introducing Season 3 of Freedom 4/24's podcast, Compelled: Fighting the Injustice of Trafficking & Exploitation. Our founder Christine Gelatt has always said Freedom 4/24 has given the opportunity to do a little or a lot, but nothing is not an okay answer. We all can do something in the fight against human trafficking.” In Season 3, we are talking to educators and business owners, lawyers and college students because we all have a part to play in bringing freedom and justice to victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Our vision at Freedom 4/24 is to live in a world where slavery is eradicated and justice prevails, and we do this together

The impact of sex trafficking is felt by victims all around the world. Today, our President, Joy Cover, and Freedom 4/24 staff members, Emily Worsham and Rachael Smith, discuss the global issue of sexual exploitation and their experiences visiting our partners in India, Thailand, and Uganda. We also look into the  problems that lead to exploitation. Joy joined Freedom 4/24 in 2015 as National Race Director, a role that enabled her advocate for those with no voice. She now serves the organization as President of Freedom 4/24. Emily is Freedom 4/24’s Office Manager and has been on staff since 2014. Emily has had the privilege of leading teams to each of our three international partner organizations over the last four years. Rachael serves as Freedom 4/24’s Program Manager. She has travelled to India 8 times working with victims and survivors of human trafficking and had the honor of serving women in the right light districts of Kolkata for a six month internship. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a  Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listen platform, and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: 4/24 Ally Program: freedom424.org/ally Education Resources: freedom424.org/educate Our Partners: freedom424.org/partners Outreach Trips: freedom424.org/trips

Freedom 4/24’s newest domestic partner organization, Zera House, provides a safe home for women who have been trafficked and sexually exploited where they can come and heal while experiencing the love, hope, and grace of Jesus Christ. Ariel Wagner, co-founder of Zera House, shares her story of overcoming sexual trauma and how she is using her experience to bring freedom to exploited women in West Virginia. We also learn about what trafficking and exploitation looks like in West Virginia and many other parts of the United States. Ariel is the Co-founder and CEO of Zera House. Human Trafficking was introduced to Ariel over a decade ago and ignited a flame inside her to do something. After walking through her own healing from abuse, she was moved to start a house for women who have been sex trafficked and exploited. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a  Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listen platform, and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: Zera House: www.zerahouse.org Freedom 4/24 Trips: www.freedom424.org/trips Freedom 4/24 Ally Program: www.freedom424.org/ally

The effects of human trafficking are more than physical—they are also emotional and mental. Today, Dr. Kevin Conner shares with us the lasting trauma that human trafficking leaves its victims with. We also learn about the risk factors and indicators of those who may be more likely to become victims of human trafficking. Dr. Conner is a psychology professor at Liberty University, and specializes in human trafficking. He has led numerous groups of students on class trips to countries to help fight against human trafficking. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a  Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. Be sure to subscribe on any listen platform, and leave a review. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: Pysch Today article regarding link between childhood abuse/exploitation and future trafficking - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-trauma/202003/domestic-sex-trafficking-hidden-in-plain-sight Freedom 4/24 Awareness & Education Resources: www.freedom424.org/educate

Faith Towles is the prevention education manager. Her desire is to empower parents with the tools and knowledge to start conversations about human trafficking and exploitation, to help prevent it from happening to them. She also shares with us the story of her family housing a human trafficking survivor, and the journey that was for her and her family. Prior to recording this episode, Faith led an 8 part series on Facebook called, Open Up, where she shared how parents, teachers, and guardians can talk to children and teens about trafficking and exploitation. You can find a link to those recordings at www.freedom424.org/educate-parents. If you would like more information about Freedom 4/24’s Prevention and Education Initiative please visit our website at www.freedom424.org/educate-youth. We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, comments, or want to become a  Freedom 4/24 Ally, visit our website www.freedom424.org or email us at info@freedom424.org. For more information about our new campaign, please visit www.freedom424.org/compelled. We are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Resources: Parent Education Resources- https://www.freedom424.org/educate-parents Other Education Resources- https://www.freedom424.org/educate