S*X TRAFFICKING IN SOUTH FLORIDA DOCUMENTARY: Beauty From Ashes™ was honored to participate in the docmentary created by the University of Miami, Love Colored Black. The creative piece explores human trafficking happening here in South Florida, what's being done, and includes heart touching interviews with overcomers. Watch by CLICKING HERE.
FLORIDA SAFE HARBOR ACT PASSED: On Tuesday, June 12th, Governor Rick Scott signed Florida's Safe Harbor Act. The legislation, consisting of two bills, protects the young victims of the s*x-trafficking industry from prosecution and also provides a course for them to reenter society. It will potentially be an avenue for funding channels to agencies that provide victim services. Additionally, the bills toughen penalties for people who prostitute children and it provides new investigative and prosecution tools. READ MORE
STOP PORN CULTURE: Contemporary Radical Feminism in the Age of Porn Conference, 6/18-6/19 from the University of San Diego will be LIVE STREAMED.
EXPANDED OUTREACHES: Beauty From Ashes™ (BFA) is pleased to announce that we are expanding our outREACH program. On Wednesday, June 27th, we'll begin doing weekly outREACHes into an inner city area of Fort Myers known for high levels of drugs and prostitution. These outREACHes are in collaboration with Grace Church, located in the heart of this neighborhood. Every Wednesday evening, they serve 150-200 meals and provide recovery groups and a service for those that want to attend. Our outREACH team will be partnering with their staff and team, with the goal of identifying victims and building relationships with them. If you are interested in being a part of BFA's outREACH team, please email us at volunteer@beautyfromashes.org or call (239) 939-9218. Training is required and provided.
LIFE SKILLS & SUPPORT GROUP: Every Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 in central Fort Myers, we provide a closed life skills and support group for women who have been s*xually exploited, abused, or trafficked. If you are a woman working in or desiring to exit from the s*x for sale industry, this group is for you. The group is led by a master's level mental health clinician, who is an overcomer. For more information and to register, call (239) 939-9218 or email christa_hicks@beautyfromashes.org. Free child care is provided.
EVENTS: Since December of 2011, we've presented 52 events to 3,499 people. These events range from human trafficking awareness, intervention, and prevention to ages 8 through the elderly. Venues include churches, universities, colleges, health departments, and nursing associations, to Girl Scouts and country clubs. Additionally, our multi-media presentations, ranging from 30-90 minutes, are given by master's level overcomers of s*xual exploitation and abuse. To see our upcoming events, CLICK HERE. To schedule an event or BFA to be at your event, CLICK HERE.
SUMMARY OF SERVICES: Beauty From Ashes™, through community partnerships, is able to provide free of charge, comprehensive and integrated services to victims of s*xual exploitation, abuse, and trafficking. Since December of 2011, we've provided direct services to 51 new clients and 226 duplicated clients (received previous service &/or ongoing). Direct services were delivered to 228 clients through our national help line. Our current face to face case load is 59. Services that we provide, in collaboration with agencies such as Lee Physicians Health Care, United Way, the Salvation Army, and Gibbs Law Firm, include medical, mental health, social, spiritual, as well as advocacy, and legal. Additionally, we have partnered with 166 governmental and nongovernmental agencies since December 2011. Services to partnering agencies include consulting, program development, and referral. Furthermore, since December, we've done 220 outREACHes, distributed 212 outREACH gift/care packages (which contain human trafficking information and the Word of God), and trained 20 individuals from across the United States to professionally reach, rescue and restore victims of commercialized s*xual exploitation, abuse, and trafficking. Our services are victim/survivor centered, not funding channel centered. We rely on private donations and gifts to do what we do. We are Florida's first and only, human trafficking, overcomer-led, community service agency. Currently, we have 3 full time staff, a college intern, and a volunteer base of over 100 people.
I'd like to take this time to say THANK YOU to our partners. When I looked at the above report, as I prepared for this quarter's board meeting last week, I was deeply touched, amazed, and incredibly thankful. Thank you for believing in the vision God gave to me for BFA and coming along side me to develop something so much bigger than me. Together, we are making a difference and I could NOT do this without you. This is not my ministry, it's God's, and it's yours, as a partner. Our gains and successes are to be celebrated together and together we will continue to build and sustain, so that ultimately, more victims can receive the integrated and comprehensive services they deserve to receive, locally and nationally. We do what we do, so that they will have the means to become overcomers and lives that reflect beauty from ashes.
As we move into the second half of 2012, I am excited to see what else God will do as we continue to abide in Him with hearts and willing spirits to be His hands and feet. On behalf of our clients, board, and staff, thank you for partnering with us. Know that we love you and are praying for you.
In His love and service,
Julie Shematz
Executive Director/Founder
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