Journey Out

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and we know firsthand at Journey Out how important prevention is. With over 95% of our clients having a history of child sexual abuse or incest, we serve those who didn’t get the help they needed as children. Boys, girls and LGBTQ+ youth are victims of child abuse, child sexual abuse and incest, often by someone they know. Please educate those around you and take the time to check in with the young people in your life, many of whom are suffering in silence.

We are so grateful to the members of the community and Nury Martinez for donating a range of hygiene products and toiletries to our clients. Thanks to their generosity, we are able to provide victims and survivors of sex trafficking with the essentials they need. Every contribution makes a difference!

Join us for the first ever Teen Summit on Human Trafficking with the #FBI! Journey Out Teen Advocates and FBI leaders will highlight the dangers to youth and empower them with tools to safeguard themselves. Register now! https://form-usa.keela.co/teen-summit-on-trafficking

At Journey Out, we know firsthand the links between sexual assault and sex trafficking are huge. Over 90% of our clients have a history of child sexual abuse. Self-report studies show that 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident (Crimes Against Children Research Center). While it is estimated that 54% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police (Hope Alliance), chances are that people close to you have experienced this. We are thinking especially of victims and survivors of sexual assault right now - we hope you will join us in lending support and solidarity.

Today and every day, including this #transdayofvisibility, we stand with and celebrate the lives and stories of every trans and non-binary person around the world. Trans activist, doctor and artist Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju put it best: It’s important that we cultivate a culture wherein hatred simply isn’t tolerated. It isn’t enough simply not to be transphobic; it is important to stand firmly and actively against transphobia, when it is expressed by friends, parents, relatives, teachers, professors, governments. It is important that a cis person uses that space of privilege to amplify our voices and stand by us as we fight for our rights.

These are some of the women who boldly, tirelessly, powerfully carry out the mission of Journey Out. Each of their unique stories, backgrounds and upbringings equips them to do the important work of service provision, fundraising, and advocacy. We couldn’t close out Women’s History Month without recognizing them for their profound contributions to empowering women and bettering society every day. Who do you salute? Tag a woman who makes a difference!

We could not agree more, @gabunion!

We are deeply grieved by the attacks on the API community, a population we continually serve. Here are some ways we can all take steps to unite, take a stand, and fight back against Asian hate.

All too often, black girls are overlooked and not given the care and resources they need for support. This has to change!

It's that wonderful time of year again - Case Manager Certification time! Do you know someone who works with those at risk of, experiencing, or overcoming commercial sexual exploitation? This training is PERFECT for them! Featuring experts in the field and in accordance with California Evidence Code 1038.2, this training is ideal for case managers, law enforcement, attorneys, and anyone who wants to get an inside look at how to best provide services for those in the Life. Every Tuesday for six weeks over zoom. Register here: https://revenue-usa.keela.co/virtual-session-human-traffick

Guess what? Our partners at Rotary International are being featured by CNN for #MyFreedomDay! RAGAS (Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery) partners with organizations to fight slavery across the globe. You can learn more about their incredible work here: www.RotariansFightingHumanTrafficking.org. We are proud to do this work together!

Happy International Women’s Day! Because all women deserve to be celebrated

Sex trafficking continues to thrive. Are you aware of these booming sources of exploitation?

Why are black girls trafficked at a younger age than their peers? 1. Adultification: black children are perceived as older than they actually are (Georgetown Center on Law and Poverty); Compared to white girls of the same age, survey participants perceive that Black girls need less nurturing/protection Black girls need to be supported and comforted less Black girls are more independent and know more about adult topics/sex... This causes an erasure of black childhood and often results in them being vulnerable and taken advantage of at an earlier age (Georgetown Law Study Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood) Let's change these numbers. The first step is learning what the problems are. PLEASE SHARE!

UPDATE: Thanks to your generous hearts on #givingtuesday, we were able to raise $3,528.24 to feed and serve our clients. We’ve provided 22 victims and survivors with groceries, some more than once. We are so grateful that you have made those who’ve been exploited a priority, something so many of them had never experienced before coming to Journey Out. There’s still time give for the holidays - go to https://donate-usa.keela.co/helping-clients-through-covid-19 if you’d like to be part of the movement! *results based solely on donations contributed through our COVID-19 fundraising campaign (https://donate-usa.keela.co/helping-clients-through-covid-19) and via PayPal.

Huge shout out and thank you to our incredible charity partners at Whovian Running Club for their generous donations this year. Check out their virtual Fanthropy Yule Ball, where they furthered their mission to create global communities, harnessing the power of fandom to inspire individuals to better themselves and the world around them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmoZEYFZKYw <3

The latest reckoning: Fashion mogul Peter Nygard indicted for human trafficking, rape and sexual assault of women and children in a class-action law suit with 57 victims. https://www.npr.org//former-fashion-executive-peter-nygard

Join us NOW for a conversation on the trafficking of black women and girls!

Don’t miss this important conversation on the trafficking of black women and girls with @bougie_girl_cyber_happy_hour - streaming live on YouTube AND Facebook! Make sure you tune in, 12/11! See you then!