The Truth About Trafficking: Jesus Said Love Podcast
The Truth About Trafficking What does sex trafficking actually look like? Who are the buyers? What can I do to fight it? In this episode of Jesus Said Love’s podcast, Unbound Now Waco’s Jessica Sykora and McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Detective Joseph Scaramucci discuss these questions and more. *Listener discretion advised: Discussion of elements of […]
Unbound’s Underground: A Drop-In Center for Youth
A 2012 study* by WestCoast Children’s Clinic showed that 75 percent of trafficked youth were exploited for two or more years before being recovered or identified as a victim. 50 percent of these youth were age 14 or under when the exploitation started. 75 percent do not view themselves as victims.
If we wait for these vulnerable youth to ask for help, they may never receive the services they deserve. We must take action now to intervene earlier in the process, and to prevent this from happening in the first place.
That’s why Unbound is opening The Underground, a drop-in center for trafficked and exploited youth, which will be the first of its kind in Tarrant County, Texas.
When your mom doesn’t want you anymore…
Many children are made more vulnerable to exploitation or trafficking as a result of feelings of inadequacy or rejection from their families. Unbound’s Youth Prevention Program provides a unique opportunity to connect with children in a way that helps them feel safe to share their feelings and seek assistance.
As the Director of Youth Prevention, one of my favorite things to do is facilitate a 5-week series to empower students with an in-depth understanding of human trafficking. I am a licensed facilitator for both Love146’s Not a #Number curriculum and the iEmpathize Empower Youth Program. Spending 5 weeks with the students gives me a chance to get to know them, build trust, and create space for them to share their vulnerabilities and learn how to overcome them.
I am continually amazed at how students will open up and share their deepest fears and pains.
When a Child’s Heart is Compelled to Make Grown-up Choices
The two classes I had just taught at the high school went great. The students were engaged and asked many relevant questions. As a facilitator, I felt our Keeping Students Safe curriculum on Human Trafficking was being well received by the students, and they were understanding the core concepts regarding students who had been trafficked.
But the 3rd period class taught me a lesson I will never forget…
What Happens When the Lights Go Dark
We miss being face-to-face with students! Unbound Fort Worth Youth Prevention Director, Sonya Brooks, is taking this time to share what it’s like to speak value into youth and empower them to stay safe from trafficking and exploitation.
During the presentation, I looked around the room and noticed a few girls biting their nails and looking extremely uncomfortable. The teens were learning about risk factors that might make youth more vulnerable to being trafficked.
The teens viewed a video of how easily one can be manipulated and tricked into an unhealthy relationship, thinking this will be their “happily ever after.” The reality is that these relationships can become filled with fear, rape, abuse, degradation, and pain.
After seeing the video, the room was silent.
Your child is home, but are they safe?
It’s plain to see that the world is rapidly changing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—not just on a global scale, but on a personal level. As schools and businesses close, families are exploring what it means to stay home and try to continue life remotely through various technologies. As students transition to learning from home using amazing online resources to continue their education, we as parents need to be vigilant and aware of our kids’ social media and internet activity. In times like these, technology can be an incredible gift, but the internet also has a dark side. For your children, increased time online means increased risk of being targeted by predators who are taking advantage of the uptick in kids’ online activity. The potential for exposure to pornography is also increased as more time is spent on electronic devices.
Chelsea: Survivor Advocacy at Unbound Waco
Chelsea is the lead case manager at Unbound Waco, providing comprehensive case management services to all types of human trafficking victims and survivors. We asked Chelsea some questions to better understand her role.
What does your role look like at Unbound Waco?
“My role involves journeying with human trafficking survivors through their processes toward healing and restoration. My first priority is ensuring their safety and meeting any immediate needs–food, clothing, shelter, etc. My second priority is building a client-worker relationship centered on trust. I build trust by listening to their stories, taking them to eat at their favorite restaurant, and remembering their birthdays. I build trust by discovering their strengths and dreams. It takes time to build trust, but it’s an important foundation for effective advocacy and case management.”
A Conversation with Unbound Advocates
Unbound Houston Advocate Xala shared how she is able to help survivors find resources and healing in a society where “most people don’t slow down enough to just walk next to them.”
Xala described her position as an “advocate case manager.”
“I’m somebody who can walk next to them and help guide them in their daily journey of merging back to society,” she said.
According to Xala, this can range from having a cup of coffee together to discuss how the survivor is feeling, to driving them to an interview. She said that she focuses on “taking them from point A to point B,” which sometimes means enrolling them in a GED program, assisting them throughout the process of obtaining a driver’s license, and helping them find basic resources like food and shelter.
Unbound College Exposes Waco Community to “Nefarious” Reality of Human Trafficking
Waco, TX — The Unbound College Team in Waco recently hosted a viewing of the documentary Nefarious, exposing Waco students to the ugly truth of human trafficking in a world where this issue often flies under the radar.
Students gathered at local coffee shop Common Grounds to watch this documentary that Unbound College leader Jessica Ullrich described as an “intense movie that acts as a wake-up call of the dark realities that are affecting local individuals.”
The documentary emphasized how shame plays a large role in perpetuating the cycle of human trafficking, and how redemption is available for each individual.
“Shame is the common factor that makes this issue relatable for anyone,” Ullrich said. “Human trafficking is the type of issue where once you’re exposed to it you can’t look away, and you have to do something because it’s so horrible and disgusting. As people look at this issue in the face for the first time, we have full expectation that people are going to get passionate about it and get angry.”
Unbound BCS approved for outreach in Brazos County Detention
Traffickers target individuals during vulnerable times, where needs and desires are heightened. That’s one of the reasons Unbound BCS will start providing prevention and awareness education in the Brazos County Detention Center, where they’ll have the opportunity to interact with women reentering the community. Women leaving incarceration may have increased risk factors for trafficking, including […]
The Faces of Unbound Now: Brian, Matthew & KOT
“Personally, I wanted to learn how to engage the issue and make a difference in my community. I also felt like boys need to be informed so that they know how to support and protect their peers who could be at-risk.”
Unbound Around the World, 2018
2018 was a foundational year for Unbound. Our number of chapters remained consistent, and the quality and quantity of impact through each chapter was remarkably strengthened. This report serves as an overview of Unbound activities around the world, focusing on a few of the key impact areas for each chapter and project. We are hopeful […]
The Faces of Unbound Now: Julia
At Unbound, we believe that every person has a unique part to play in bringing an end to human trafficking. That’s why we encourage everyone (regardless of your career, age, or background) to get involved. Volunteers, survivors, and partners are truly the faces of Unbound; we wouldn’t be who we are without you! Below is […]
The Faces of Unbound Now: Liz
At UnBound, we believe that every person has a unique part to play in bringing an end to human trafficking. That’s why we encourage everyone (regardless of your career, age, or background) to get involved. Volunteers, survivors, and partners are truly the faces of UnBound; we wouldn’t be who we are without you! Below are […]
The Faces of Unbound Now: TJ
At UnBound, we believe that every person has a unique part to play in bringing an end to human trafficking. That’s why we encourage everyone (regardless of your career, age, or background) to get involved. Volunteers, survivors, and partners are truly the faces of UnBound; we wouldn’t be who we are without you! We chatted […]
On the Front Line: Bus Drivers
Each one of us has a part to play in the fight against human trafficking, but some professionals are in a position that we’d consider the front lines. In their roles, they have a unique ability to identify and intervene in trafficking situations. In this post, we explore how bus drivers in the Houston area are […]
The Faces of Unbound Now: Carrie & Rebekah
At Unbound Now, we believe that every person has a unique part to play in bringing an end to human trafficking. That’s why we encourage everyone (regardless of your career, age, or background) to get involved. Volunteers, survivors, and partners are truly the faces of Unbound Now; we wouldn’t be who we are without you! […]
The Faces of Unbound Now: Jason
At UnBound, we believe that every person has a unique part to play in bringing an end to human trafficking. That’s why we encourage everyone (regardless of your career, age, or background) to get involved. Volunteers, survivors, and partners are truly the faces of UnBound; we wouldn’t be who we are without you! Below is […]