Women and Men Working Together in pain, in Hope Rising Amidst

Please go to 

OATH fights human trafficking in Oregon - YouTube

► 10:01► 10:01

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACLnFgWt...‎for todays visual piece.  

Today is the day I get real with the local circumstance.  

Oregon: Its For REAL

The results of the FBI’s Operation Cross Country III, a nationwide anti-trafficking sting, indicate that the Portland metro area is the second worst hot spot in the nation for commercial sex trafficking. Keith Bickford, head of the federal human trafficking taskforce in Oregon, reports that in Portland alone, he encounters 3-5 child victims of commercial trafficking each week – easily over 200 victims a year. Doug Moawad, a Multnomah County prosecutor who handles trafficking cases, estimates that between 16 and 32 cases of child sex trafficking to his office each year.(5)

Oregon’s location on the I-5 corridor, as a major link to Seattle, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, makes it attractive to human traffickers.

Oregon was recently named to the "Dirty Dozen" list comprised of the 12 states with the weakest human trafficking laws.  Oregon is also noted for its of coordination of victims services.

And HOPE does RISE AMIDST through the efforts of women and men working together. Human trafficking is NOT a woman's issue and so many men are standing in the fight!

Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans www.oaaoregon.com educates and generates awareness

Oregon Oath provides a hotline for help www.oregonoath.org

The Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force is described most fully in the link above.

Catholic Charities of Oregon has a comprehensive program for foreign born survivors.

Abolition Now: www.abolitionnow.com is a collaborative effort of civic and church organizations working together in Oregon to provide advocacy, information, prevention and after care.

I have begun to set up interviews with local organizations that what I learn and bring to people who have suffered being trafficked in Nepal, may bare fruit here as well.  One opportunity bringing many healing moments.  That is my Hope Rising in the midst of me!

I am thankful to report that support has continued to come in. 

 Total funds collected so far = $1,300.00     $3,500.00 dollars still needed.  

Please my friends will you consider what you can do?

Ideas for Raising Change:

My fellow artists, a local coffee shop will hang visual art for em to sell.  Would you consider donating a piece of your art for Change? Contact me at walking gently@gmail.com for further info.

If you live in the greater Portland area, would you consider hosting a dessert or coffee event that I might come and share with your friends, civic groups or church community? What a great way to advocate and Raise Change!

Two Ways to Give Directly

By Check: Make checks out to Sunset Covenant Church with Nepal in the memo

Send to: Nepal

C/O Sunset Covenant Church
18555 NW Rock Creek Blvd, Portland, OR. 97229

Electronically: Go to: Gofundme.com enter my name and follow instructions.

Hope Rising Amidst: Purging REQUIRED!

The Heinous Condition of Human Trafficking just needs to be PURGED!

Forgive me the rawness of this non-gender specific purging! Eradicating human trafficking requires full human participation! We have to work together! 

To purge means both to get rid of and to cleanse.  Their is tremendous complexity involved in getting rid of Human Trafficking and there is tremendous complexity involved in washing clean the painful stains and scars its victims bare.  The women, children, men and transgendered human beings suffering this violation of their humanity do not fit a simple category such as impoverished, or foreigner, or runaway.

Dr. Lauren Martin of the University of Minnesota, in her research shows that in the US a complexity of factors including poverty, exploitation and lack of choice all contribute to the success of the sexual slave trade in the United States. ( The FBI has named Minnesota one of the top locations in the country for trafficking teens, Dr. Lauren Martin is collaborating to intervene, google and read about her good work!)
In an article by Peter Edelman and Rebecca Epstein(Reuters, Oct 11, 2013) one reads that of the 100,000 American children trafficked in America each year, many all though not all, lived at the margins of life before being trafficked.  Being marginalized often includes factors of poverty, trauma, abuse, violence and in some studies neglect is named.
At www.womensrightsandthemedia.wordpress.com you can read an article by Klaudia Mezaros where she explains, in Central America contributing factors to the successful Sex Slave trade include civil wars, coups, ethnic conflicts, drug wars, corrupt government, climate change natural disasters and the impact of global consumer based economics. 
The complexity of this human tragedy is found also in Coleman's article "Heroes, Villains and Victim's: Why the anti-trafficking Discourse is Unhelpful" as she explains that "people trafficking others in sex slavery are not just "pimps" but parents, family members, intimate partners, neighbors, teachers, religious leaders, police officers and other "trusted" authority figures".(The Sojourner Project, March 6, 2013) 

Interventions are not easy either.  The article mentioned above speaks to this as well. 

I said yes to the opportunity to participate in Harambee Arts: Nepal because it is a complex. collaborative effort for healing which contributes both to the ridding and cleansing of this Human Scourge: human trafficking.

1)Harambee Arts provides economic alternatives for women who are free from sex trafficking and enslavement.  It is survivors who have been trained and who will be paid to train our team in the complexities of bringing Expressive Arts and Community Arts practices effectively as healing opportunities for women and children in Nepal, and other global locations.
2)Harambee Arts bases their work in the understanding that we are all suffering in our humanity and we all must pull together for human healing.  The team consists of women seeking to bring and be in arts based healing practices with others that we all may experience greater resiliency, lovingkindness and Hope!
3) Harambee Arts: Nepal is an opportunity to learn from and provide care in the Global community in which Human trafficking occurs.  The trafficking business recognizes no geographical, class, ethnic, age or religious boundaries.  Therefor we must work in Global fashion to end this scourge as well.

GOOD NEWS!
1)I am so thankful to report that $800.00 has been received in donations thus far! 
This leaves a mere $4,000 to be raised!  My goal is to have all economics in by March 30th and yet if it takes longer, well we will just continue!(Ny blog will continue...)
2) I have set up an electronic contribution site through Gofundme! Just go to the site enter my name and donate electronically.  The goal amount is higher on this page to cover the costs of this sites fees.  However, they are effective, quick and have high recommendations regarding information safety.
3) Sunset Covenant Church remains a place for you to send in your tax deductible donations  by Check : Checks should be made out to Sunset Covenant Church with Nepal in the memo please.
Sent to:
Nepal
C/O Sunset Covenant Church
18555 NW Rock Creek Blvd, Portland, OR. 97229

New Ideas!

On March 2 I turn 50! How about hosting a Birthday Party! Inviting guests to come and party and bring their Change for Change!  Like 50 quarters, or 50 dimes, 50 fifty cent pieces or fifty coins of any combination!  Have a blast celebrating the total gathered in the midst of community fun!  I'd like nothing better than increased joy for all of us shared all the way to Nepal! :) 

2-How about designating a portion of your tax return to my efforts of Raising Change for Change? 


Thank you for reading! Thank you for Caring! Thank you for contributing to Change!
Much lovingkindness always,
Mary

Hope Rising Amidst: The Fractures in our midst

Fractures in our Midst

Cracking, crackle, cracks through time
Fracking, fracked, factions defined
Deep Lines

Shattered,
Blood being spattered
Being broken
Ahappenin!

Bearing,
Holy witness, to the fractures, fracked, factions in time.

Bearing healing balm to
Cracking, cracked,  Fracked, Fracking in time.

Hope Rising
Healing Balm
Love bearing seamlessness!
Wholeness
Us, in time.


Fracturing is the breaking and fracturing is the act of breaking.  Both the damage and that which damages, present in the same word.  Human trafficking too has the broken and the one who breaks, held within the word enslaveing.   To think about the people who do the breaking is complex.

Why would someone traffic a woman or child or man for sex?   The fact that selling human beings as commodities is an extremely lucrative enterprise is an understatement as shown in the last blog entry.  On the international front, this is one of Organized Crimes most profitable enterprises, about 32 Billion per year internationally.(Soroptimist)  The Polaris Project, www.polarisproject.com also explains that in addition to high profits, their is low risk of being prosecuted for this crime.  This low prosecution potential is true for both sellers and buyers of women and children and men's bodies.  Soroptimist, www.soroptimist.com a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women also explains, "Because women are culturally and socially devalued in so many societies, there is little conflict with the purchasing of women and girls".  They also explain, "There is a misperception commonly held that all women choose to enter into the commercial sex trade. Could some of the fracturing be happening because many of us have been complacent, blind and unwilling to address other fractures in our social fabric such as gender oppression, racism, classism, and more?

What about the purchaser of sex slaves, the one who rents the trafficked human being? Without demand, there would be no need to supply the product of women and children and mens bodies for sexual usery through enslavement. The research and writing continues....

Bearing forth healing is happening in complex form as well.  In this Blog with every entry I will try and introduce organizations engaged in the fight to bring CHANGE and eradicate Human Trafficking.
www.soroptimist.com is introduced above.
www.sharedhope.com is amongst other efforts producing tools that help educate us all including our teens, increasing the risk for traffickers and hopefully reducing the numbers of victims.  Please head to their website.

As I continue to learn and share and prepare for being in healing arts opportunities with women and children in Nepal, will you continue to consider contributing to RAISING CHANGE FOR CHANGE?

All donations to cover the costs of my work inNepal can be sent to
Nepal
C/O Sunset Covenant Church
18555 NW Rock Creek Blvd, Portland, OR. 97229
Checks made out to Sunset Covenant Church with Nepal noted in the memo.

Even more so, will you help to raise awareness and Change in people regarding this painful human fracture?

Todays Change Raising Ideas!

Youth and Family Pastors and Parents, Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents!
Why Not Purchase a copy of the documentary "Chosen" the true story of America's teens Trafficked from Shared Hope and gather with your communities and watch the video together!  This would give opportunity for extending the invitation for people to contribute Change for Change towards the Nepal healing work?

Make a donation in the name of a teen you know and love and share with them what you did in a Valentine!

Dont forget about those Valentine sweets and treats in the Breakrooms and common spaces at work and friendly gathering spots!

I deeply, warmly thank you all!
Mary




 

Hope Rising Amidst: Bearing Indignity towards Birthing Dignity

Hope Rising Amidst: Bearing Indignity towards Birthing Dignity

Seeking Human dignity, requires seeing and being with humanity's gross indignities that we may choose to work for increased loving, beautiful, transforming presence in this world we live in.

Sexual Trafficking is a Gross Indignity perpetrated by and amongst human beings.
The Sex trade, stripping children, women, men and transgendered human beings of their embodied life giving sensitivity and specifically their sexual beauty is extremely lucrative.

Polaris Project Reports: 1 pimp 3 women/girls
Each women/girl (man/boy or transgendered person) brings in $500 per day.
People who sell people as sex objects make $24,000 per month = $642,000 per year by selling women, girls and men, boys and transgendered human beings.
(300,000 beautifully human children are at risk even today in the US.)

The Covering House, a place of refuge for girls who have experienced this Gross Indignity and Crime against them, in their embodied selves reports that 9.5 Billion dollars is generated in the US annually.

There are less than 100 beds, homes, places of refuge and restoration for people whom are rescued in the US.
I have not yet found any places that exist for Human beings who are transgendered or boys or men.

And people, beautiful human beings are working for CHANGE! 

Hope Rising Amidst comes as people begin to see people as we truly are, Beautiful in the core!  Able to be graceful, merciful, tender, gentle, strong sources of Life and light and peace and LOVE.  As a woman, mother, wife, family member, community and individual psychologist, pastor, and friend; when I have chosen to open myself to the possibility that there is beauty in everyone, I have been blessed with experiencing it!  I am convinced!  I am convinced we can contribute to the transformation of human interactions for increased dignity, increased beauty, increased lovingkindness.

Human beings are responding to the gross indignity of human trafficking in just such ways that seek to end this Global Trade of Death.
International Justice Mission, The Covering House and the Polaris Project are a few organizations bringing  Change and light and life and Love to a very dark place in humanity.  I encourage you to see what they are up to!

Harambee Arts (www.harambeearts.org) is another.  I am so thankful to be one person joining in the effort of being a part of healing opportunities. I am thankful that many of you will also be part of this by contributing what you can from the resources you have.
 
Fundraising: The goal is to raise 4,800.00 in eight weeks.  Such a tiny bit of money compared to what is being stripped from women,children, boys, men and transgendered people by one person who sells 3 human beings for sex for just 3 days.

New Ideas!
My friends and Family who love to run, how about organizing a local 5K with some friends and Raising Change for CHANGE through pledges of support? 
Or find a Run already in place that supports the fight against Sex Trafficking and human enslavement?  Pay the fee to support the organization and ask friends to pledge support to be given to my Nepal fund?  That like a 2 for 1 Special!


All Donations can be sent to:
Nepal
C/O Sunset Covenant Church
 18555 NW Rock Creek Blvd. Portland Oregon 97229

Checks made out to Sunset Covenant Church, Nepal in the memo please.

Thank you for continuing the journey today.  Nepal is the first trip on what is becoming in my heart a commitment to a Long Road.

Peace be with you my friends.
Mary

Beginning the Journey

 

Hope Rising Amidst!

 

In the most unlikely, painful, bleakest of places, Hope Rises Amidst our human struggles, devastating conditions, horrific and terror embedded choices and actions.  Hope rises because Love just comes, so surprisingly, beautifully, powerfully; able to sustain and even transform the human condition of suffering. I believe this.  Love comes in the form of Spirit, in the forms of nature, and love comes through human presence.  Love just comes and brings with it the hope that dignity will be restored to all.

 

For this season of my life, I am drawn to the work of being present with the painful reality that human beings are selling human beings as sexual slaves in a global market. No human community is exempt from the pain and devastation this horrific behavior extends.  I woke up to Oregon Public Radio announcing the conviction of men who had taken women from here and brought them to Hawaii and sold them as if they were "un-souled" bodies ready for mechanical use for the purpose of economic gain.

 

For this season, I am drawn to bringing love and kindness to this suffering along with many many others, that healing and HOPE may RISE unfettered and become transformative of the human race and the earth that holds us.

 

My journey began with the painting above which came as I began to study and listen and learn more deeply about sex slavery and trafficking. Its extensive scope and depth of degradation can only be met if one can identify Hope.  Harambee Arts Nepal is an effort of Hope Rising Amidst women whom have been rescued from sexual enslavement.  I have accepted an invitation to travel to Nepal with a group of 12 women, to bring Expressive Arts Therapy experiences as opportunities of healing for these women and children in Nepal.  Here  is the link for you to learn more about the work of this organization. www.harambeearts.org/   I am so deeply touched by what Gloria, the founder has been doing.  I'm sure you will be as well.  This trip will begin the art making of loving presence and healing for all of us.

 

In committing to this work, I have also committed to raising 4,800.00 by March 30th.  This will cover all training and expenses for this trip. So let the Fundraising Begin!!!

 

Each week, along with keeping this blog, I will be posting ways you can help, ideas for fundraisers you can do, and much gratefulness for all of you my faithful companions for this journey!

 

Sunset Covenant Church in Beaverton Oregon will receive all donations for the cost of this trip.  Therefor donations from individuals will be tax deductible. Please Make all checks out to Sunset Covenant Church with Nepal in the memo!  Thank you all so very much!

The adress is:
Nepal
C/O Sunset Covenant Church
18555 NW Rock Creek Blvd, Portland, OR 97229
 

 

Soooo!

Week 1 of Raising Change!

For any donations of $25 dollars or more that are post marked between now and Valentines Day, I will email you a thank you with the painting above attached that you may use as your screen savor or print and post as a reminder that you have contributed to Hope Rising Amidst!

 

Ideas for you!

 

Cookies, cakes and Roses! If you work with a group of people, large or small, how about making, baking or buying some great confections or roses and leaving them by the tea/coffee pot with a donation jar and a note: Raising Change to bring Change! Wiping out the violent suffering that IS Human trafficking!  and the flier telling about Harambee Arts Nepal?

 

If you love to cook, how about hosting a dinner party, inviting your guests to enjoy a wonderful meal and to bring all their change to contribute to Raising Change to bring Change?

 

For all my musical performance friends, how about choosing a song to play at your events, sharing with your audience that you are committed to Raising Change to bring Change! Wiping out the the violent suffering that IS Human trafficking! Then Pass the Bucket while you Play?!

 

My friends who wait tables and serve coffee, will you consider working with your restaurant and fellow servers to create an evening of Raise Change for Change?  Wiping out the violent suffering that Is Human suffering?

 

So many more ideas to come. 

 

So many links to share with you on this journey, of Hope Rising Amidst the suffering and we can all be helpful beyond raising change.

 

Thank you all, thank you for coming along!

 

Mary