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Hello #ChangeMakers!
Like you, I’ve been looking for something to help push me through the post-election malaise. And girl did I find it! In the past couple of weeks, Deeds Not Words was proud to join the Nest Foundation, the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders (in Austin), the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy and Skyline High School (all in Dallas) for public forums aimed at shining a light on the issues of human sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. Through a curriculum designed by the Nest Foundation, young women and men at these schools had previously learned how they could avoid falling victim to people who might exploit them. Students were taught about tactics used by traffickers who prey upon vulnerabilities of the people that they victimize. They learned to be more savvy about their own use of social media and how to avoid getting lured in by strangers with ulterior motives. And they learned what to do if they or a friend falls victim to a trafficker.
Talking with young people about sex trafficking might be the last place you’d expect to find inspiration. But the Nest Foundation - led by its founder, Libby Spears - is dedicated to the idea that we can’t avoid talking with young people about this issue just because it might be uncomfortable. She believes strongly in the idea that we have to trust young men and women with information that will empower them. And her curriculum does just that.
To say that these students created a powerful impression would be an understatement. I was honored to moderate a conversation between them and experts from the social and criminal justice worlds on the issues surrounding human trafficking. And I was blown away by the comments, the perspectives and the insight of these young leaders. Particularly striking was the wisdom they displayed -- not just intelligence or learned understanding, but wisdom. I left each of these forums feeling so hopeful about the future of this country.
In this issue, find a link to Libby Spears’ powerful documentary on human trafficking and learn more about its prevalence and concrete actions that you can take to make a difference.
Our future is in the hands of some amazing people, #ChangeMakers …. YOURS!
xo,
- Wendy
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