The second annual Walk for Freedom is coming up fast!  It is just two weeks away and we all are getting excited! We have started pre-registration and already have 90 people signed up! The details are to meet at Forest Square Park, by the Buena Vista Chamber at 1:00 for registration and to pick up your t-shirt if you pre-registered.  Once everyone is ready we will walk about a mile downtown then back to the park for some great Fair Trade coffee and snacks.  Please join us in remembering those who are trapped in slavery all over the world.  There is no charge,but if you call Lora at 966-5234 by October 6th we will order you a t-shirt.  See you there!

HOPE, it describes the goal for so many causes.

Well, I just couldn't help but share this with you all.  After all, her title has our name in it, "journal-from human trafficking to HOPE" by Lucy Allesio. I am so encouraged when I see individual people giving it their all to help others in human trafficking. I know if we all do what we can individually that the huge problem will be solved globally!  Check out this link to kickstart.  It explains her mission and is asking for support if you choose.  Either way you will be encouraged by reading her words. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/803530775/journal-from-human-trafficking-to-hope

When Spring doesn't look like Spring and Slavery doesn't look like Slavery

Well here it is a few days after the official day of spring and we are shoveling ice and snow.  Pretty typical for Colorado actually.  It's a case of Spring not really looking like our definition of Spring. That is the same as it is with slavery.  Our definition is typically people in chains or behind fences being forced to do hard labor. However, there is so many other kinds of slavery, ones that don't even look like slavery from the outside.  Bonded labor is one of those situations.  The men, women and children that are working look like they are in a normal working environment.  It can be anything from cleaning rooms, building fences, sewing, dyeing silk or a brothel.  They sometimes get paid but not enough to ever get on their own feet, or they are told they have to work till their debt is paid which never happens.  Here is another organization that is helping.  It is called Restore International and they work all over the world to get people out of these situations. They get them healed, trained and back on their feet.  Check it out on this link http://restoreinternational.org/ and join them or us at HOPE.  What ever you do, keep fighting for freedom for those who cannot fight for themselves!

One day after the Shine a Light on Slavery Day and I am tired!  A good tired for sure.  Thank you to Lora Mascarenas, Luz Stella Diaz-Porter, Lisa Woolmington, Sue Greiner, Lisa Webb, Diana Griffin, Kirsten, Mackey and Adelynn Campbell, and Gina Lee for making it all happen.  Thank you to the  Brown Dog, The View, The Roastery, Cool Beans and The Lettuce Head for letting us use your business to spread the word about slavery in our world.  We made a difference in our community, THANK YOU! I also wanted to let you know about a new organization I found out about. Fair Trade Friday Club.  Check it our on their website http://fairtradefriday.club/eotm/.  They have a truly original idea.

Valentines Day Chocolate

Well, it's that time again... time to buy the one you love chocolate, right?! I heard yesterday it is the most given gift at Valentines day with flowers and jewelry close runners up.  But here's the real news. Most chocolate is grown and harvested by slaves. Many of which are children.  The documentary "The Dark side of Chocolate" reveals it all. Here is the link to the you tube film.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vfbv6hNeng
One way we can make a difference is to make an educated choice when we buy chocolate.  There are so many now to choose from! Check out the list on the Fair trade USA website http://fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/cocoa.  Happy Valentines day and may your chocolate be Fair Trade!

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

So many governments are speaking out against human trafficking!  It's encouraging to see and raises hope that soon we will see a decrease in the number of people in slavery.  The USA has made January national Human Trafficking Prevention month. Follow this link to see what congress is voting on this month related to human trafficking.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachna-choudhry/slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention_b_6543924.html?,congress.  This month I want to highlight an organization I found out about through my sister.  It is called Streetlight USA.  They have a three pronged approach of direct care in homes for trafficked girls, prevention of more girls ending up as victims and awareness of the public to these problems.  Check out their website  www.streetlightusa.org for more information.  Again I invite you to contact us and let us know about organizations that support fair trade, fight human trafficking or increase awareness of slavery.  I would love to put them on our blog.  Do something this month to make a difference!  Check out our website www.bvhope.org for ideas.

As 2014 comes to an end we look back and see what we have done this year.  It has been the birth year for HOPE.  We have started the local organization for the A21 campaign to join in the fight against human trafficking.  A small but awesome group has formed around the cause and has done many things.  We have a website www.bvhope.org, and email buenavistahope@gmail.com, instagram BV_A21_HOPE, and of course this blog.  We have joined the chamber of commerce for Buena Vista, CO and have our flyers and business cards there. We now have our own HOPE letterhead. We had a Freedom Walk in October and had 100 people attend!   We have had the opportunity to talk to two of our local schools about human trafficking and how to be safer.  We have presented the A21 curriculum to the local schools and some of them will be using parts of it to teach students about human trafficking.  We have talked to the Buena Vista town council about the increasing threat of human trafficking and the need to increase awareness in our area and had great support.  We had a booth at the Christmas Fair and talked to many people about human trafficking and handed out informational flyers. 2014 has been a huge success for HOPE.  We are looking forward to 2015 and many more awareness and fundraising events.  Please join us!  Check out our website and calendar to see where you can plug in and make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. If you don't have time to join us make an end of year donation to enable us to continue the work of HOPE.