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