1 00:00:00,083 --> 00:00:03,878 Thank you for tuning in to Voices for Freedom, an anti-human trafficking 2 00:00:03,878 --> 00:00:04,838 podcast. 3 00:00:04,838 --> 00:00:07,132 We want to acknowledge that the content we discuss 4 00:00:07,132 --> 00:00:11,052 can be emotionally challenging and may evoke strong reactions. 5 00:00:11,052 --> 00:00:14,889 The stories we share often delve into tough subjects related to human 6 00:00:14,889 --> 00:00:18,518 trafficking, which may be difficult for some listeners to hear. 7 00:00:18,518 --> 00:00:20,770 Our goal is to raise awareness and promote 8 00:00:20,770 --> 00:00:24,607 understanding of the complexities surrounding human trafficking. 9 00:00:24,607 --> 00:00:27,610 Listener discretion is advised. 10 00:00:33,158 --> 00:00:33,700 Coming up 11 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:36,995 on Voices for Freedom, an anti-trafficking podcast: 12 00:00:37,787 --> 00:00:41,583 I know of four generations of women 13 00:00:41,583 --> 00:00:45,837 in Central Florida at a certain strip of a street 14 00:00:45,837 --> 00:00:49,424 where they have been trafficked and just - it 15 00:00:49,424 --> 00:00:53,678 passes down to their child. 16 00:00:53,678 --> 00:00:55,889 You know, you've got the grandmother, the great grandmother, 17 00:00:55,889 --> 00:00:58,600 the grandmother, the mother, and then the child. 18 00:00:58,600 --> 00:00:59,350 Right. 19 00:00:59,350 --> 00:01:04,272 And they're growing up, and they're not going, not going, "Hey. I have been sex trafficked." 20 00:01:04,272 --> 00:01:05,440 That's just normal to them. 21 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:06,441 That's just everyday life. 22 00:01:06,441 --> 00:01:08,068 That's every day. That's survival. 23 00:01:08,068 --> 00:01:10,195 That's survival mode. 24 00:01:10,195 --> 00:01:12,530 That's, "This is all I know." 25 00:01:18,411 --> 00:01:21,164 Welcome to the Voices for Freedom podcast. 26 00:01:21,164 --> 00:01:23,500 My name is Jessica Mass with OUR. 27 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:26,795 And I am here with my friend and the founder 28 00:01:26,795 --> 00:01:30,882 and CEO of Empowered to Change International. 29 00:01:30,882 --> 00:01:32,509 Thank you for being here, Michele. 30 00:01:32,509 --> 00:01:36,304 I'm so grateful to get this chance to talk with you today. 31 00:01:36,304 --> 00:01:37,847 Thank you for having me, Jess. 32 00:01:37,847 --> 00:01:40,642 It's like old times, right? 33 00:01:40,642 --> 00:01:45,105 Just talking about the things that matter and give us passion. 34 00:01:45,105 --> 00:01:46,231 Yeah. 35 00:01:46,231 --> 00:01:49,442 And I've had the privilege of knowing you since 2001 36 00:01:49,442 --> 00:01:52,821 when we did the Super Bowl outreach in Florida. 37 00:01:52,821 --> 00:01:54,072 2021. 38 00:01:54,072 --> 00:01:56,032 So it was the Super Bowl of 2020. 39 00:01:56,032 --> 00:01:58,701 That one, yes. So we're four years now. 40 00:01:58,701 --> 00:02:00,495 This is amazing. 41 00:02:00,495 --> 00:02:01,579 It totally is. 42 00:02:01,579 --> 00:02:06,167 I remember meeting you and trying to piece together everything you did 43 00:02:06,167 --> 00:02:09,504 because there's so many different things you do. 44 00:02:09,504 --> 00:02:13,133 And I had never heard of some of the things that you are 45 00:02:13,133 --> 00:02:15,135 specifically focused on. 46 00:02:15,135 --> 00:02:17,095 So could you tell us a little bit about 47 00:02:17,095 --> 00:02:18,888 Empowered to Change International, 48 00:02:18,888 --> 00:02:21,683 what you guys do, what you're all about? 49 00:02:21,683 --> 00:02:23,768 At Empowered to Change International, 50 00:02:23,768 --> 00:02:29,232 we are ten years running now. And myself and the other founder, Coral Shepard - 51 00:02:29,232 --> 00:02:33,027 we just had a passion for broken women 52 00:02:33,027 --> 00:02:37,824 that were trafficked, abused, have addiction problems, 53 00:02:37,824 --> 00:02:41,995 all stemming from being vulnerable and experiencing trauma. 54 00:02:41,995 --> 00:02:44,539 So we started at a booth 55 00:02:44,539 --> 00:02:49,377 in Chick-Fil-A because we just believed that we could create 56 00:02:49,377 --> 00:02:53,506 something better than what we knew that was out there. 57 00:02:53,506 --> 00:02:56,467 Empowered to Change International we empower the broken, 58 00:02:56,467 --> 00:03:00,638 to heal, the voiceless to speak, and communities to come together. 59 00:03:00,638 --> 00:03:05,810 And we do that by providing safe housing and programs. 60 00:03:05,810 --> 00:03:09,063 So that's the nutshell version of what we do. 61 00:03:09,147 --> 00:03:12,942 We do have homes for men and homes for women 62 00:03:12,942 --> 00:03:15,653 because we realize that trauma is just 63 00:03:15,653 --> 00:03:18,781 it's just across the board, isn't it? 64 00:03:18,781 --> 00:03:19,532 Yeah. 65 00:03:19,532 --> 00:03:22,160 And the things are happening to our people - 66 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,955 you know, if you don't catch it when they are children they're children, the grow up 67 00:03:25,955 --> 00:03:30,293 to be broken adults. And we have found that the common 68 00:03:30,293 --> 00:03:34,255 denominator is they need a safe place to stay. 69 00:03:34,255 --> 00:03:37,258 They need a safe place to figure it out 70 00:03:37,258 --> 00:03:42,305 and to have structured programs based upon honesty, 71 00:03:42,305 --> 00:03:46,226 accountability, transparency, communication. 72 00:03:46,226 --> 00:03:48,186 And that's who we are. 73 00:03:48,186 --> 00:03:51,522 That's what we're about. It's incredible. 74 00:03:51,522 --> 00:03:54,275 One of the things I remember so vividly 75 00:03:54,275 --> 00:03:57,987 from when we first met is that you said that you had homes for men. 76 00:03:57,987 --> 00:04:00,573 And I hear all the time, 77 00:04:00,573 --> 00:04:04,077 Well, men don't get trafficked or sexually abused or go through 78 00:04:04,077 --> 00:04:07,997 these different types of situations. 79 00:04:07,997 --> 00:04:13,753 And so, when I heard that you had homes for me, they really stood out to me. 80 00:04:13,753 --> 00:04:18,007 So what was it that sparked that idea for you 81 00:04:18,007 --> 00:04:21,094 to have homes for men and for women? 82 00:04:21,094 --> 00:04:22,595 Well, what originally sparked the idea 83 00:04:22,595 --> 00:04:26,557 is we were in various courtrooms. And in Central Florida, 84 00:04:26,557 --> 00:04:29,852 they have actually therapy courtrooms. 85 00:04:29,852 --> 00:04:34,649 And the judge at the time asked us to please open up some homes for men 86 00:04:34,649 --> 00:04:38,403 because there were men in their therapeutic court 87 00:04:38,403 --> 00:04:41,239 and they didn't have a safe place. 88 00:04:41,239 --> 00:04:44,158 And so, I think it was in 2015, 89 00:04:44,158 --> 00:04:51,082 I decided to just do a running survey just with our participants current. 90 00:04:51,082 --> 00:04:55,336 And 92% of our adult men, 91 00:04:55,336 --> 00:05:00,425 92% of them were sexually traumatized 92 00:05:00,425 --> 00:05:05,305 and had some form of sexual trauma and being sold 93 00:05:05,346 --> 00:05:08,349 or trafficked for financial gain 94 00:05:08,349 --> 00:05:09,767 against their will. 95 00:05:09,767 --> 00:05:12,145 Wow. Wow. 96 00:05:12,145 --> 00:05:16,357 I feel like that statistic says so much about what 97 00:05:16,357 --> 00:05:18,985 men go through, and it's so hard 98 00:05:18,985 --> 00:05:23,531 for men to disclose that sometimes for embarrassment 99 00:05:23,531 --> 00:05:26,492 or other reasons, where they're like, "Well how do I even get help? 100 00:05:26,492 --> 00:05:30,413 Do I even want to go down this road of what I've been through?” 101 00:05:30,413 --> 00:05:34,083 The shame, the stigma of it. You know, and I think there's such 102 00:05:34,083 --> 00:05:39,047 an identity crisis going on with men. 103 00:05:39,047 --> 00:05:42,675 And then you tackle the trauma on top of that, 104 00:05:42,675 --> 00:05:47,472 you tackle on, you know, they're supposed to just 105 00:05:47,472 --> 00:05:48,514 suck it up, right? 106 00:05:48,514 --> 00:05:50,016 Don't talk about it. 107 00:05:50,016 --> 00:05:50,933 And it's shameful. 108 00:05:50,933 --> 00:05:52,894 And, you know, 109 00:05:52,894 --> 00:05:54,771 why would they want to do that? 110 00:05:54,771 --> 00:06:00,276 And so, there are such layers of trauma and how people respond. 111 00:06:00,276 --> 00:06:04,155 So when we work with men and women 112 00:06:04,155 --> 00:06:09,786 that are returning citizens from prison or they have 113 00:06:09,786 --> 00:06:11,537 charges, local charges. 114 00:06:11,537 --> 00:06:12,288 Right. 115 00:06:12,288 --> 00:06:15,500 And we really assess what happens. 116 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:20,630 You know, what happened? What led you to be here right now? 117 00:06:20,630 --> 00:06:25,051 And when we do further assessment, we find out, 118 00:06:25,051 --> 00:06:28,679 okay, there's sexual trauma. They've been raped. 119 00:06:28,679 --> 00:06:31,474 They have been held against their will. 120 00:06:31,474 --> 00:06:36,729 And somehow, we expect people to process that 121 00:06:36,729 --> 00:06:39,649 and somehow 122 00:06:39,649 --> 00:06:42,735 deal with it. Wow. 123 00:06:42,735 --> 00:06:46,823 So a lot of people - if somebody goes to prison, they give up on them. 124 00:06:46,823 --> 00:06:48,741 That's the end of the road for them. 125 00:06:48,741 --> 00:06:53,329 They feel like that, you know, that if they've committed certain crimes, 126 00:06:53,329 --> 00:06:56,332 then there's no hope for actual recovery. 127 00:06:56,374 --> 00:07:00,503 So you work with people who have been sexually exploited, trafficked, 128 00:07:00,503 --> 00:07:03,256 and they're coming out of prison. 129 00:07:03,256 --> 00:07:05,550 And so, for some reason, 130 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:08,553 you believed that there was hope still for healing. 131 00:07:08,594 --> 00:07:09,595 We do. We do. 132 00:07:09,595 --> 00:07:12,849 And that's, you know, sometimes, I think 133 00:07:12,849 --> 00:07:16,853 for all of us, you know, in helping 134 00:07:16,853 --> 00:07:19,856 broken people get on to a healing road 135 00:07:19,856 --> 00:07:22,984 of redemption, restoration. 136 00:07:22,984 --> 00:07:27,071 And we are very careful at Empowered to Change International 137 00:07:27,071 --> 00:07:30,700 that we look at each person - what they presented. 138 00:07:30,700 --> 00:07:34,704 For example, you could have a young boy 139 00:07:34,704 --> 00:07:38,374 that had been sexually traumatized. Right. 140 00:07:38,374 --> 00:07:39,750 They grow up. 141 00:07:39,750 --> 00:07:41,961 They're angry. 142 00:07:41,961 --> 00:07:44,422 They get in with the wrong crowd. 143 00:07:44,422 --> 00:07:48,176 They're dealing drugs or committing crimes. 144 00:07:48,176 --> 00:07:50,136 And we are not okay with that, by the way. 145 00:07:50,136 --> 00:07:52,680 We are not making excuses for people. 146 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,391 We say, "Okay, let's deal with it.” 147 00:07:55,391 --> 00:07:58,853 Let's go. What brought you here? 148 00:07:58,853 --> 00:07:59,896 What brought you here? 149 00:07:59,896 --> 00:08:02,273 Okay. You did your time. 150 00:08:02,273 --> 00:08:05,776 Now you're returning, you're a returning citizen. 151 00:08:05,776 --> 00:08:06,986 Now what? 152 00:08:06,986 --> 00:08:09,530 What is going to make you change your pattern, 153 00:08:09,530 --> 00:08:11,324 change your thinking pattern. 154 00:08:11,324 --> 00:08:14,035 So we provide safe housing 155 00:08:14,035 --> 00:08:18,206 for men and women to go through trauma therapy. 156 00:08:18,206 --> 00:08:22,543 We have various types, and we partner with several amazing 157 00:08:22,543 --> 00:08:25,713 organizations in Central Florida. 158 00:08:25,713 --> 00:08:29,300 And just give them the time and the space. 159 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:32,470 I think so many people think, "Oh well, 160 00:08:32,470 --> 00:08:36,557 you know, a 30-day something or another is gonna to make it all better. 161 00:08:36,557 --> 00:08:40,228 And sometimes it's, you know, at least a year 162 00:08:40,228 --> 00:08:43,523 just to scratch the surface, you know, 163 00:08:43,523 --> 00:08:47,360 and we're just, we're honored to be a part of that process. 164 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,946 It's a process. Yeah. 165 00:08:49,946 --> 00:08:54,909 And you bring up a good point where if you have a 30 to 90-day type of program 166 00:08:54,909 --> 00:08:59,038 for people coming from such extreme trauma 167 00:08:59,038 --> 00:09:02,250 and from prison, then 30 to 90 days 168 00:09:02,250 --> 00:09:06,629 probably isn't going to be the full change 169 00:09:06,629 --> 00:09:09,632 and empowered to actually change that 170 00:09:09,632 --> 00:09:10,258 they need. 171 00:09:10,258 --> 00:09:15,429 And so, you guys have programs that are based on individuals. 172 00:09:15,429 --> 00:09:20,851 So if somebody needed 12 months or 24 months, are they allowed to have either, 173 00:09:20,851 --> 00:09:25,147 or how do you guys work around that time frame? 174 00:09:25,147 --> 00:09:27,024 Okay. So that's a good question. 175 00:09:27,024 --> 00:09:32,780 We work with various courtrooms and in Florida at the Department of Corrections. 176 00:09:32,780 --> 00:09:37,743 So the time frame could be anywhere from seven months to 12 months. 177 00:09:37,743 --> 00:09:42,456 However, if they need more time, we give them all the time they need.. 178 00:09:42,456 --> 00:09:47,545 So we don't - as long as they're complying with our core values, our core 179 00:09:47,545 --> 00:09:53,926 principles, which is being honest, accountable, communicate, 180 00:09:53,926 --> 00:09:56,721 a zero tolerance for criminal activity. 181 00:09:56,721 --> 00:10:00,433 As long as they are on that road, right. 182 00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:03,269 And we have a - we have very structured programs. 183 00:10:03,269 --> 00:10:06,439 And they feel that they're not ready 184 00:10:06,439 --> 00:10:10,484 to move out or to, you know, go to the next level. 185 00:10:10,484 --> 00:10:14,363 It's very important that we listen to that. Its trauma-informed care. 186 00:10:14,363 --> 00:10:20,411 They know better than anybody what's going on in their process. 187 00:10:20,411 --> 00:10:22,747 And it's also building relationships. 188 00:10:22,747 --> 00:10:32,214 We have an incredible staff at Empowered to Change International that we - it's face to face. 189 00:10:32,214 --> 00:10:35,134 It's weekly. It's touching - 190 00:10:35,134 --> 00:10:37,803 we can them touchpoints where we touch base. 191 00:10:37,803 --> 00:10:40,306 Hey, we haven't seen you. We need to see you. 192 00:10:40,306 --> 00:10:41,766 We will go into the home. 193 00:10:41,766 --> 00:10:44,977 We have peer coaches and peer specialists, 194 00:10:44,977 --> 00:10:48,731 which I firmly believe that people 195 00:10:48,731 --> 00:10:51,859 that have been down the healing road 196 00:10:51,859 --> 00:10:55,112 and they want to be a peer specialist 197 00:10:55,112 --> 00:11:00,576 and use their lived experience to actually make a difference. 198 00:11:00,576 --> 00:11:03,287 You know, they've gone through the work. 199 00:11:03,287 --> 00:11:04,580 They've done the work. 200 00:11:04,580 --> 00:11:06,374 They're walking on their healing road. 201 00:11:06,374 --> 00:11:08,501 We don't say that, you know, everybody's arrived. 202 00:11:08,501 --> 00:11:10,419 I haven't arrived. Right. 203 00:11:10,419 --> 00:11:15,174 But what we have obtained, we say, “Keep going.” 204 00:11:15,174 --> 00:11:17,468 Keep pressing forward, 205 00:11:17,468 --> 00:11:19,970 moving forward. Yeah. 206 00:11:19,970 --> 00:11:20,888 Michele, that's amazing. 207 00:11:20,888 --> 00:11:23,265 Could you tell me - you touched on it briefly, 208 00:11:23,265 --> 00:11:26,519 so could you just tell me a little bit more about what 209 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:31,982 is therapeutic court? In a nutshell, how would you describe that? 210 00:11:31,982 --> 00:11:36,070 Because a lot of people have never heard of therapeutic courtrooms. 211 00:11:36,070 --> 00:11:39,198 So, that's a general term. 212 00:11:39,198 --> 00:11:41,075 Around the nation, 213 00:11:41,075 --> 00:11:42,868 it would be drug court. 214 00:11:42,868 --> 00:11:43,619 Drug court. 215 00:11:43,619 --> 00:11:49,500 Some courts have specialized courtrooms for prostitution. 216 00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:53,087 And I'm very careful because I, 217 00:11:53,087 --> 00:11:55,923 I need the grace not to have all the perfect language. 218 00:11:55,923 --> 00:11:56,590 Right. 219 00:11:56,590 --> 00:12:00,428 Because what they are, in fact, are prostitution courts. 220 00:12:00,428 --> 00:12:03,889 That's the official title that the state of Florida has given them? 221 00:12:03,889 --> 00:12:07,184 It's not just the state of Florida, and it's around the country. 222 00:12:07,184 --> 00:12:10,062 And they could have a different name for it. 223 00:12:10,062 --> 00:12:12,148 You know, and I just want to be careful. 224 00:12:12,148 --> 00:12:14,358 they can just - I'll just make up a name. 225 00:12:14,358 --> 00:12:17,945 Sunshine. 226 00:12:17,945 --> 00:12:19,363 Sunshine Court. 227 00:12:19,363 --> 00:12:19,739 Okay. 228 00:12:19,739 --> 00:12:24,577 Something that says, "Hey, we're here. We know what this is." 229 00:12:24,577 --> 00:12:29,165 And it is for a therapeutic road. 230 00:12:29,165 --> 00:12:34,044 You know, if there's a prostitution charge, misdemeanor or felony, 231 00:12:34,044 --> 00:12:37,798 they could get pulled into these specialized courtrooms. 232 00:12:37,798 --> 00:12:38,549 Okay? 233 00:12:38,549 --> 00:12:43,429 And then they get evaluated and then further evaluation. 234 00:12:43,429 --> 00:12:48,267 And we've had people come into our program, court-ordered, and they're - there. 235 00:12:48,267 --> 00:12:51,353 when I say court-ordered, everybody has a buy-in. 236 00:12:51,353 --> 00:12:51,771 Okay? 237 00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:55,399 Nobody is forced to come and get help. 238 00:12:55,399 --> 00:12:58,694 No one's forced to go down that therapeutic road. 239 00:12:58,694 --> 00:13:01,781 They want to. They have to want to. 240 00:13:01,781 --> 00:13:04,742 And when they do come in, 241 00:13:04,742 --> 00:13:09,288 that is, many times, where we go, okay. No 242 00:13:09,288 --> 00:13:15,127 little girl aspires to grow up and prostitute herself on the street. 243 00:13:15,127 --> 00:13:20,966 And what we find out time and time again is, 244 00:13:20,966 --> 00:13:22,635 they were vulnerable. 245 00:13:22,635 --> 00:13:27,223 They ran away from a domestic violence situation, 246 00:13:27,223 --> 00:13:30,976 or they aged out of foster care, or they got in with the wrong crowd 247 00:13:30,976 --> 00:13:35,564 and the boyfriend saw dollar signs after a bet. 248 00:13:35,564 --> 00:13:39,985 And then, they stumbled into prostitution. And then, they stumbled 249 00:13:39,985 --> 00:13:43,781 into being trafficked because then, they're being held against their will. 250 00:13:43,781 --> 00:13:47,743 They're there to do their sexual services 251 00:13:47,743 --> 00:13:51,705 and then turn the money over to whoever is controlling them. 252 00:13:51,705 --> 00:13:56,001 Well, And that's when we find out, once they've already come into our program, 253 00:13:56,001 --> 00:14:02,299 we're like, wow, this is very layered and deep. 254 00:14:02,299 --> 00:14:03,676 Well, thank you, Michele. 255 00:14:03,676 --> 00:14:07,721 We are going to take a quick break and tell you about one of our sponsors, 256 00:14:07,721 --> 00:14:12,685 but don't go away because this conversation is meaningful 257 00:14:12,685 --> 00:14:17,189 and insightful and I think will really help us have a better understanding 258 00:14:17,189 --> 00:14:21,569 of what trafficking is, what it's like for those that have been trafficked 259 00:14:21,569 --> 00:14:25,072 and then end up in prison, and what it's like for them coming out. 260 00:14:25,072 --> 00:14:28,492 So stay tuned as we take a short break. 261 00:14:28,492 --> 00:14:32,037 We want to give a shout-out to our sponsor, the OUR Store. 262 00:14:32,037 --> 00:14:35,833 Are you looking for a shopping experience that goes beyond the ordinary? 263 00:14:35,833 --> 00:14:37,543 Well, look no further than the 264 00:14:37,543 --> 00:14:41,505 OUR Store, where every purchase makes a difference. 265 00:14:41,505 --> 00:14:43,465 But it's not just about shopping. 266 00:14:43,465 --> 00:14:44,717 It's about our values. 267 00:14:44,717 --> 00:14:48,304 We responsibly source products that spark conversations on human 268 00:14:48,304 --> 00:14:52,600 trafficking to increase awareness or directly aid survivors. 269 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,812 Join the movement. Visit store.ourrescue.org. 270 00:14:56,812 --> 00:15:00,399 That’s store.ourrescue.org. 271 00:15:00,399 --> 00:15:05,279 And use the code Voices10 for 10% off your total purchase. 272 00:15:05,279 --> 00:15:08,240 Voices10 and shop with a cause. 273 00:15:10,451 --> 00:15:11,285 Welcome back. 274 00:15:11,285 --> 00:15:14,413 My name is Jessica with Operation Underground Railroad, and 275 00:15:14,413 --> 00:15:18,626 I am here with Michele from Empowered to Change International. 276 00:15:18,626 --> 00:15:21,837 And we're having this interesting conversation about what 277 00:15:21,837 --> 00:15:26,634 sexual exploitation and trafficking looks like in different situations. 278 00:15:26,634 --> 00:15:29,845 So Michele, thank you for talking about drug court 279 00:15:29,845 --> 00:15:32,598 and therapeutic courts and things like that 280 00:15:32,598 --> 00:15:36,685 because I think that that really does give us a deeper understanding 281 00:15:36,685 --> 00:15:39,563 of what trafficking is, what it looks like. 282 00:15:39,563 --> 00:15:40,648 I'm honored to be here. 283 00:15:40,648 --> 00:15:44,360 And I think people don't even know that these type of 284 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,904 judicial systems are even out there. 285 00:15:46,904 --> 00:15:50,240 I actually didn't know until you educated me a few years ago, 286 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,327 and I've been working in anti-trafficking for a long time. 287 00:15:53,327 --> 00:15:59,124 And so, I think giving that insight is so powerful and helpful for us to understand. 288 00:15:59,124 --> 00:15:59,875 So Michele, when 289 00:15:59,875 --> 00:16:03,754 somebody is coming out of prison 290 00:16:03,754 --> 00:16:05,547 or from a different situation, 291 00:16:05,547 --> 00:16:09,343 how do they end up in your organization at one of the safe homes? 292 00:16:09,343 --> 00:16:12,221 How do they even end up there with you? 293 00:16:12,221 --> 00:16:12,888 Okay. 294 00:16:12,888 --> 00:16:16,350 Well, there's different formats, if you will. 295 00:16:16,350 --> 00:16:19,895 So, for example, when we're discussing 296 00:16:19,895 --> 00:16:23,941 the prison system in Florida, 297 00:16:23,941 --> 00:16:27,361 we have a great relationship with the Department of Corrections. 298 00:16:27,361 --> 00:16:31,657 And I just want to give kudos to the Department of Corrections. 299 00:16:31,657 --> 00:16:35,202 The reformations that have been happening over the years 300 00:16:35,202 --> 00:16:38,163 that we have been involved - 301 00:16:38,163 --> 00:16:39,832 I can tell that they're making a difference. 302 00:16:39,832 --> 00:16:42,084 And there's some incredible people 303 00:16:42,084 --> 00:16:45,421 in the Department of Corrections that truly care 304 00:16:45,421 --> 00:16:50,050 what happens to an individual once there, once they leave. 305 00:16:50,050 --> 00:16:54,722 And so, what happens with - I'll just use women as an example, okay. 306 00:16:54,722 --> 00:16:59,977 Lowell Prison is the largest women's prison in the United States, 307 00:16:59,977 --> 00:17:01,061 last I checked. 308 00:17:01,061 --> 00:17:03,313 The largest in the United States? 309 00:17:03,313 --> 00:17:07,276 That's the stats that we understand, and that's Central Florida. 310 00:17:07,276 --> 00:17:10,821 So we have an office there 311 00:17:10,821 --> 00:17:14,158 and a home for returning citizens coming out of Lowell 312 00:17:14,158 --> 00:17:19,747 And not just Lowell but other institutions in Central Florida 313 00:17:19,747 --> 00:17:21,081 or South Florida. 314 00:17:21,081 --> 00:17:24,001 And what we do is, we go inside the prisons. 315 00:17:24,001 --> 00:17:26,587 We talk about who we are. 316 00:17:26,587 --> 00:17:26,962 All right. 317 00:17:26,962 --> 00:17:32,092 We understand that there are groomers in the prison, 318 00:17:32,092 --> 00:17:34,553 that there are traffickers 319 00:17:34,553 --> 00:17:38,849 that are aware of women and their outdate. 320 00:17:38,849 --> 00:17:44,104 And we understand that they are waiting and preying on the vulnerable. 321 00:17:44,104 --> 00:17:49,693 And when I mean by vulnerable is, okay, you have a woman that's been incarcerated, 322 00:17:49,693 --> 00:17:54,740 whether 18 months or 10 years, five years, 20 years. 323 00:17:54,740 --> 00:17:56,950 All right. Everybody's got a story. 324 00:17:56,950 --> 00:17:59,953 And when they leave, 325 00:17:59,953 --> 00:18:03,165 the trafficker is waiting and going, "Hey.” 326 00:18:03,165 --> 00:18:07,878 “I don't know if you have a place to go, but I have a job for you”. 327 00:18:07,878 --> 00:18:09,922 And it sounds like a legit job. 328 00:18:09,922 --> 00:18:13,550 I mean, your number one thing is where am I going to move? 329 00:18:13,550 --> 00:18:14,760 How am I going to make a living? 330 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,012 How am I going to pick up the pieces? 331 00:18:17,012 --> 00:18:20,599 And so, Empowered to Change - 332 00:18:20,599 --> 00:18:24,645 our heart is to build relationships with 333 00:18:24,645 --> 00:18:28,065 people in the prison, with the Department of Corrections, 334 00:18:28,065 --> 00:18:34,696 and the corrections officers, but also educate and make aware of the women 335 00:18:34,696 --> 00:18:40,202 in the prison, who we are and for them to think about it and to have a plan. 336 00:18:40,202 --> 00:18:43,914 And so, that's where it starts for us. 337 00:18:43,914 --> 00:18:48,502 And when they do have the outdate and they do choose 338 00:18:48,502 --> 00:18:51,755 to come into our program, 339 00:18:51,755 --> 00:18:55,217 then our staff will meet them, 340 00:18:55,217 --> 00:18:59,304 whether it's at the gate, whether it's at the bus station. 341 00:18:59,304 --> 00:19:03,142 We just take it from that moment 342 00:19:03,142 --> 00:19:08,313 and just walk them through and - understanding that it could be 343 00:19:08,313 --> 00:19:14,444 a very huge shock for these women, depending on how long they've been in. 344 00:19:14,444 --> 00:19:15,445 Yeah. 345 00:19:15,445 --> 00:19:18,949 So you and your staff actually go into the prison, 346 00:19:18,949 --> 00:19:23,162 let the women know who you are, that there's hope when they get out. 347 00:19:23,162 --> 00:19:26,373 And you also touched on, you said groomers inside 348 00:19:26,373 --> 00:19:30,419 the prison and traffickers waiting for them on the outside. 349 00:19:30,419 --> 00:19:33,922 Who are these groomers inside the prison, and what are they doing? 350 00:19:33,922 --> 00:19:37,718 So we've experienced - and I have to say that 351 00:19:37,718 --> 00:19:41,096 groomers also happen in local county jails as well. 352 00:19:41,096 --> 00:19:43,098 And I had more experience. 353 00:19:43,098 --> 00:19:46,602 We, our team, had quite a bit of experience 354 00:19:46,602 --> 00:19:49,479 with groomers in the local county jails. 355 00:19:49,479 --> 00:19:51,899 But, in prison, 356 00:19:51,899 --> 00:19:55,611 there are other women in the jail, in the prison 357 00:19:55,611 --> 00:19:58,572 that get to know who they are. 358 00:19:58,572 --> 00:20:02,242 The constant them is, "Hey. What are you in here for?” 359 00:20:02,242 --> 00:20:04,036 “How long you in here for?” 360 00:20:04,036 --> 00:20:07,247 And getting to see the vulnerable, inside the prison, 361 00:20:07,247 --> 00:20:10,667 the vulnerable being, they have no family visiting. 362 00:20:10,667 --> 00:20:16,089 They have no money on the books, no commissary, no extra snacks, no coffee. 363 00:20:16,131 --> 00:20:17,799 You know what I mean? 364 00:20:17,799 --> 00:20:20,969 It is recognizing who is vulnerable 365 00:20:20,969 --> 00:20:23,847 and the women in the prisons 366 00:20:23,847 --> 00:20:27,226 that are going around and taking a look and seeing 367 00:20:27,226 --> 00:20:29,603 who's vulnerable, well, they're being used 368 00:20:29,603 --> 00:20:33,482 by the traffickers. And how they are being controlled or, 369 00:20:33,482 --> 00:20:38,278 you know, the carrots being dangled is that they get money on their books. 370 00:20:38,278 --> 00:20:42,658 So the traffickers are using women that are incarcerated 371 00:20:42,658 --> 00:20:46,286 and then giving them certain benefits 372 00:20:46,286 --> 00:20:49,539 or extra snacks, food, things like that 373 00:20:49,539 --> 00:20:53,377 in order to find the vulnerable - the other women 374 00:20:53,377 --> 00:20:55,170 that are incarcerated, that are vulnerable, 375 00:20:55,170 --> 00:21:00,133 that could potentially be trafficked once they get out. 376 00:21:00,133 --> 00:21:03,762 Once they get out and finding out, how long are they in for? 377 00:21:03,762 --> 00:21:05,639 You know, they're not gonna waste 378 00:21:05,639 --> 00:21:08,892 any time for people that are, you know, in for 15 years. 379 00:21:08,892 --> 00:21:15,148 But if your outdate is in six months or 12 months, developing that relationship 380 00:21:15,148 --> 00:21:19,778 and courting, if you will, saying, "Listen. My buddy on the outside - 381 00:21:19,778 --> 00:21:24,741 he has a place. He has an apartment. He has a legit job." 382 00:21:24,741 --> 00:21:28,328 You know, they might even talk on the phone, or, 383 00:21:28,328 --> 00:21:32,291 you know, even visit. And you just, you know 384 00:21:32,291 --> 00:21:36,378 on the inside going, "Yeah, I really - what am I gonna do?" 385 00:21:36,378 --> 00:21:36,962 Right. 386 00:21:36,962 --> 00:21:40,090 So you might not even know that that is out there. 387 00:21:40,090 --> 00:21:41,091 And it's interesting 388 00:21:41,091 --> 00:21:44,720 that we're talking about this. Because I did stumble on a report Jessica. 389 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:49,725 And I stumbled on this by the University of Colorado, 390 00:21:49,725 --> 00:21:53,687 Mei-Ling McNamara. "Out of Prison and Onto the Streets: 391 00:21:53,687 --> 00:21:58,317 the Trafficking of Incarcerated Women and just how 392 00:21:58,317 --> 00:21:59,568 they did a study 393 00:21:59,568 --> 00:22:03,447 it basically supports what we have 394 00:22:03,447 --> 00:22:08,577 found in the prison and the local county jail. 395 00:22:08,577 --> 00:22:11,872 I mean, we had a situation not long ago 396 00:22:11,872 --> 00:22:16,543 where we had a young lady who was 397 00:22:16,543 --> 00:22:18,003 in for a drug charge, 398 00:22:18,003 --> 00:22:21,381 had been trafficked in her life, lots of trauma. 399 00:22:21,381 --> 00:22:24,051 And she had been groomed 400 00:22:24,051 --> 00:22:28,180 while she was inside the local jail. 401 00:22:28,180 --> 00:22:29,306 They [said], "Oh, 402 00:22:29,306 --> 00:22:31,600 I got your back. 403 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:33,810 Here's money. I’ve got you. 404 00:22:33,810 --> 00:22:36,897 You know, and providing them 405 00:22:36,897 --> 00:22:41,360 with some type of sustainability - snacks inside. 406 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:47,074 But when they get out, you know, providing a cell phone, providing clothes and food 407 00:22:47,074 --> 00:22:51,244 and even a job - a legit job until 408 00:22:51,244 --> 00:22:54,247 the switch is flipped. 409 00:22:54,247 --> 00:22:54,706 Yeah. 410 00:22:54,706 --> 00:22:59,252 And a lot of what I hear you saying is the vulnerabilities that anyone has 411 00:22:59,252 --> 00:23:03,006 when they're getting trafficked or they're being groomed. 412 00:23:03,006 --> 00:23:07,886 But I think the specific thing where you are saying we go into the prisons, 413 00:23:07,886 --> 00:23:11,473 that is not a place that normally we think of. 414 00:23:11,473 --> 00:23:15,185 And that's why I love some of the things that you guys do where you're building 415 00:23:15,185 --> 00:23:18,313 relationships, report. You're letting them know that there's hope, 416 00:23:18,313 --> 00:23:21,483 and you're helping them know what trafficking is. 417 00:23:21,483 --> 00:23:24,361 Because a lot of the women and men that you've worked with, 418 00:23:24,361 --> 00:23:27,781 my understanding is they didn't even know that they were being trafficked. 419 00:23:27,781 --> 00:23:28,949 Is that correct? 420 00:23:28,949 --> 00:23:34,496 That is correct. Because when you grow up in such dysfunctional 421 00:23:34,496 --> 00:23:37,707 home, a home of abuse, 422 00:23:37,707 --> 00:23:42,087 a home of, you know, the actual parents may be there. 423 00:23:42,129 --> 00:23:43,213 They may not be. 424 00:23:43,213 --> 00:23:45,841 Other people are taking care of them. 425 00:23:45,841 --> 00:23:47,342 Their sexual trauma. 426 00:23:47,342 --> 00:23:52,722 There's, you know, I know of four generations of women 427 00:23:52,722 --> 00:23:56,977 in Central Florida at a certain strip of a street 428 00:23:56,977 --> 00:24:00,564 have been trafficked. And just - it 429 00:24:00,564 --> 00:24:04,818 passes down to their child. 430 00:24:04,818 --> 00:24:07,028 You know, you've got the grandmother, the great grandmother, 431 00:24:07,028 --> 00:24:09,739 the grandmother, the mother, and then the child. 432 00:24:09,739 --> 00:24:10,490 Right. 433 00:24:10,490 --> 00:24:15,412 And they're growing up and they're not going, "Hey. I have been sex trafficked." 434 00:24:15,412 --> 00:24:16,580 That's just normal to them. 435 00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:21,334 That's just everyday life. That is survival, that is survival mode. 436 00:24:21,334 --> 00:24:23,670 That's, this is all I know. 437 00:24:23,670 --> 00:24:27,674 I mean, I know several women where 438 00:24:27,674 --> 00:24:31,595 all they can remember is using their bodies, 439 00:24:31,595 --> 00:24:33,930 and they didn't ask for it. 440 00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:37,809 You know, but when they're growing up, that's all they know. 441 00:24:37,809 --> 00:24:40,812 And they have to understand 442 00:24:40,896 --> 00:24:45,901 that not only is it wrong to be treated that way, 443 00:24:45,901 --> 00:24:51,907 but that they're worth so much more, that the value of human life 444 00:24:51,907 --> 00:24:54,910 and the worth of that individual - man, 445 00:24:54,951 --> 00:24:59,664 woman, child - they are worth more. 446 00:24:59,664 --> 00:25:01,708 And that's where we just begin you know. 447 00:25:01,708 --> 00:25:04,711 It's not for the faint of heart, for sure. 448 00:25:04,753 --> 00:25:07,506 We just start loving them. 449 00:25:07,506 --> 00:25:11,384 And part of that love is telling them the truth. 450 00:25:11,384 --> 00:25:15,680 It's not - we have this saying around Empowered to Change. 451 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:17,682 We say, "E.T.C." 452 00:25:17,682 --> 00:25:20,310 No blind eye. No deaf ear. 453 00:25:20,310 --> 00:25:23,647 So we love on them, but we are not afraid 454 00:25:23,647 --> 00:25:27,400 to press in and say, "Listen. You don't have to lie anymore. 455 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:32,656 Did you know that? You can actually live a life without lying." 456 00:25:32,656 --> 00:25:34,115 The truth sets you free, right? 457 00:25:34,115 --> 00:25:35,075 That's what we learn. 458 00:25:35,075 --> 00:25:41,122 We learn that in so many different areas, and they don't have to lie anymore. 459 00:25:41,122 --> 00:25:42,332 They don't need a, quote, 460 00:25:42,332 --> 00:25:46,503 sugar daddy because they never thought, "Hey, I can have a legit job. 461 00:25:46,503 --> 00:25:51,925 I can learn how to manage my money, pay my own bills, 462 00:25:51,925 --> 00:25:55,762 and I can learn how to stand on my own two feet.” 463 00:25:55,762 --> 00:26:00,141 That's amazing. Because that's the life transformation that you're talking about. 464 00:26:00,141 --> 00:26:04,604 And one of the things that I've experienced through my years 465 00:26:04,604 --> 00:26:08,525 of working in anti-trafficking and at OUR is people have this 466 00:26:08,525 --> 00:26:11,861 myth that a trafficker looks a certain way. 467 00:26:11,861 --> 00:26:17,867 They're like a creepy, dirty person that's just lurking in the dark. 468 00:26:17,867 --> 00:26:23,164 But I know that you've worked with all different types of situations, so 469 00:26:23,164 --> 00:26:26,918 is it just the creepy person that's super poor 470 00:26:26,918 --> 00:26:29,504 and they're just trying to exploit somebody to get more money? 471 00:26:29,504 --> 00:26:33,800 Or is there different types of traffickers that you've worked with or survivors 472 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,343 that you've worked with with 473 00:26:35,343 --> 00:26:37,012 that have worked with different people? 474 00:26:37,012 --> 00:26:41,600 I can tell you I always think I've seen it all, and I'm not shocked. 475 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,268 But I do get shocked. 476 00:26:43,268 --> 00:26:45,520 I do get shocked all the time. 477 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:51,151 And just this idea that men don't get trafficked. 478 00:26:51,151 --> 00:26:57,032 So in our in our line of work, we came across, stumbled upon 479 00:26:57,032 --> 00:27:00,452 a guy who was from Europe 480 00:27:00,452 --> 00:27:04,331 and was on one of those social media apps 481 00:27:04,331 --> 00:27:08,960 and flew all the way over to Miami 482 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,297 to meet a doctor. 483 00:27:12,297 --> 00:27:15,925 And, you know, thought, "This is an awesome opportunity, 484 00:27:15,925 --> 00:27:19,679 and I'm going to meet this wonderful person.” 485 00:27:19,679 --> 00:27:25,769 And he was being groomed by a doctor and 486 00:27:25,769 --> 00:27:29,022 over the course of time, just 487 00:27:29,022 --> 00:27:33,276 got him to move in with him in another location in Florida. 488 00:27:33,276 --> 00:27:38,907 And miraculously, his passport goes missing. His ID goes missing. 489 00:27:38,907 --> 00:27:42,452 There is a huge drug problem. They're using together. 490 00:27:42,452 --> 00:27:46,289 So many of the traffickers start off to be, you know, 491 00:27:46,289 --> 00:27:50,377 boyfriends, girlfriends, trusted people. 492 00:27:50,377 --> 00:27:51,378 Right. 493 00:27:51,378 --> 00:27:56,549 So, over the course of time, he was being used to, 494 00:27:56,549 --> 00:28:00,637 You know, there's no - there are no boundaries with traffickers. 495 00:28:00,637 --> 00:28:06,810 And, you know, this person owned everything about him. 496 00:28:06,810 --> 00:28:09,354 You know, if you want to eat, if you want to stay here, 497 00:28:09,354 --> 00:28:12,023 you're going to run this over here. You're going to do this. 498 00:28:12,023 --> 00:28:17,153 You know, there's no there are no boundaries with with traffickers. 499 00:28:17,153 --> 00:28:18,238 You know, 500 00:28:18,238 --> 00:28:22,158 I've heard people go, "Well is it human trafficking or sex trafficking? 501 00:28:22,158 --> 00:28:27,997 Did he use them for sex or employment or drugs? 502 00:28:27,997 --> 00:28:30,959 And the answer is yes. 503 00:28:30,959 --> 00:28:32,919 A lot of times it all goes together. 504 00:28:32,919 --> 00:28:37,465 There's no honor among these type of people. 505 00:28:37,465 --> 00:28:41,678 seeing the vulnerable and taking advantage 506 00:28:41,678 --> 00:28:45,181 and seeing how they can benefit financially 507 00:28:45,181 --> 00:28:47,100 in every way. 508 00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:49,477 And it's not always poverty situations. 509 00:28:49,477 --> 00:28:50,437 You said he's a doctor. 510 00:28:50,437 --> 00:28:55,734 So the guy's had this man that he met on a social media platform, 511 00:28:55,734 --> 00:28:58,486 had him fall in love with him, basically, 512 00:28:58,486 --> 00:29:02,323 the whole Romeo trafficking situation. 513 00:29:02,323 --> 00:29:02,949 "I love you. 514 00:29:02,949 --> 00:29:03,992 I care about you so much. 515 00:29:03,992 --> 00:29:06,077 I'd do anything for you." 516 00:29:06,077 --> 00:29:11,791 And then, the script turns, and now it's, you owe me. 517 00:29:11,791 --> 00:29:14,252 You need to go and run these drugs, 518 00:29:14,252 --> 00:29:15,253 or you need to go do this. 519 00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:18,047 And now, I'm also going to sexually exploit you. 520 00:29:18,047 --> 00:29:20,341 And I took your passport or your ID. 521 00:29:20,341 --> 00:29:22,677 You have no way of leaving. 522 00:29:22,677 --> 00:29:24,471 And then what are you going to do? 523 00:29:24,471 --> 00:29:27,348 Because your green card expired, right? 524 00:29:27,348 --> 00:29:30,185 And you don't have any ID 525 00:29:30,185 --> 00:29:34,689 But with this particular person - and I'm only of lived experiences, 526 00:29:34,689 --> 00:29:38,067 and I want to be real careful. I was given permission 527 00:29:38,067 --> 00:29:42,197 just to talk about this person. 528 00:29:42,197 --> 00:29:42,739 But what was 529 00:29:42,739 --> 00:29:46,201 incredible was when this person - 530 00:29:46,242 --> 00:29:50,622 a few years ago - became in our program, he didn't receive. 531 00:29:50,622 --> 00:29:53,374 I tried to say, "Listen, you're worth more than this. 532 00:29:53,374 --> 00:29:55,752 You're being used. You're being trafficked. 533 00:29:55,752 --> 00:29:58,797 And he goes, "No, I know I wasn't." Right? 534 00:29:58,797 --> 00:30:00,173 "No, I haven't." 535 00:30:00,173 --> 00:30:04,344 And then, over the course of time 536 00:30:04,344 --> 00:30:08,056 and in his life, and he's certainly no longer in our program, 537 00:30:08,056 --> 00:30:12,894 but just had different run-ins with law enforcement 538 00:30:12,894 --> 00:30:15,438 or the prison system. 539 00:30:15,438 --> 00:30:19,609 [He] reached out to me and said, "Listen, I just want to thank you for. 540 00:30:19,609 --> 00:30:22,779 Speaking that that to me. 541 00:30:22,779 --> 00:30:25,114 I didn't receive it right away, 542 00:30:25,114 --> 00:30:28,034 but now that I've been here sitting in, you know, 543 00:30:28,034 --> 00:30:31,496 this institution, 544 00:30:31,496 --> 00:30:35,542 I look back and go, "Yeah. Wow, wow. 545 00:30:35,542 --> 00:30:38,503 I was being trafficked." 546 00:30:38,503 --> 00:30:43,174 Whether it can be proved or not, whether it can be prosecuted or not, 547 00:30:43,174 --> 00:30:48,638 the fact remains is that he came to an understanding that he was, 548 00:30:48,638 --> 00:30:51,683 in fact, trafficked, that he has been used 549 00:30:51,683 --> 00:30:54,602 and sold and traumatized. 550 00:30:54,602 --> 00:30:57,689 And his life took a serious left turn. 551 00:30:57,689 --> 00:31:00,066 And just that realization 552 00:31:00,066 --> 00:31:03,945 is the beginning of healing because you have to get to 553 00:31:03,945 --> 00:31:07,198 whatever crud at the bottom that led you here. 554 00:31:07,198 --> 00:31:13,496 And so, that was encouraging, not just for us as a team but 555 00:31:13,496 --> 00:31:17,041 just for him to see his worth, that 556 00:31:17,041 --> 00:31:20,670 he was created for more than that. 557 00:31:20,670 --> 00:31:25,550 And that was exciting, that we could just be just a very small piece 558 00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:29,012 in his hustle, his recovery, 559 00:31:29,012 --> 00:31:31,973 his journey on the healing road. 560 00:31:31,973 --> 00:31:34,934 Which is what you guys are all about, is being a part of somebody's 561 00:31:34,934 --> 00:31:37,145 journey and walking alongside them. 562 00:31:37,145 --> 00:31:41,524 And to what you're speaking to, I do think there's so much power 563 00:31:41,524 --> 00:31:43,610 when we can identify what we've been through. 564 00:31:43,610 --> 00:31:48,323 The trauma that we've been through to help us then start to heal. 565 00:31:48,323 --> 00:31:49,824 So thank you, Michele. 566 00:31:49,824 --> 00:31:53,703 We are going to take a short break. Come back and listen 567 00:31:53,703 --> 00:31:59,000 to the rest of Michele's amazing organization that she started, 568 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:04,339 and learn more about what trafficking is and to be able to identify 569 00:32:04,339 --> 00:32:06,549 in your own community because this is something 570 00:32:06,549 --> 00:32:10,011 that we're talking about that happens right here in the United States. 571 00:32:10,011 --> 00:32:12,388 This isn't just an international problem. 572 00:32:12,388 --> 00:32:13,806 This is here in the United States, 573 00:32:13,806 --> 00:32:16,351 And Michele is tackling this problem head on. 574 00:32:16,351 --> 00:32:19,187 So thank you. Stay tuned. 575 00:32:19,187 --> 00:32:22,440 Hey, listeners! Did you know that the OUR store has 576 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:26,277 survivor-made goods? From unique jewelry to handcrafted goods, 577 00:32:26,277 --> 00:32:28,071 these items aren't just things. 578 00:32:28,071 --> 00:32:29,489 They're crafted by survivors 579 00:32:29,489 --> 00:32:33,326 of human trafficking, empowering them to reclaim their lives. 580 00:32:33,326 --> 00:32:36,579 Each purchase is a step forward in their healing journey. 581 00:32:36,579 --> 00:32:38,039 It is more than a product. 582 00:32:38,039 --> 00:32:40,166 It is a symbol of strength. 583 00:32:40,166 --> 00:32:42,210 Join us in supporting survivors. 584 00:32:42,210 --> 00:32:42,543 Visit 585 00:32:42,543 --> 00:32:47,799 store.ourrescue.org today, and shop survivor-made items. 586 00:32:47,799 --> 00:32:52,053 Let's make a difference together, that's store.ourrescue.org, 587 00:32:52,053 --> 00:32:55,264 where your purchase becomes a beacon of hope. 588 00:32:55,264 --> 00:32:59,352 Use code Voices10 to get 10% off your total purchase. 589 00:32:59,352 --> 00:33:02,522 That's Voices10 and shop with the cause. 590 00:33:03,690 --> 00:33:06,734 Welcome back to the Voices for Freedom podcast. 591 00:33:06,734 --> 00:33:09,529 My name is Jessica, and I am here with Michele 592 00:33:09,529 --> 00:33:13,116 who has been giving us so much insight and different perspectives 593 00:33:13,116 --> 00:33:16,035 on how people get trafficked, how this happens, 594 00:33:16,035 --> 00:33:19,956 and hopefully, provides education for you to be able to identify 595 00:33:19,956 --> 00:33:24,002 trafficking in your own community, know how to report, know what to do, 596 00:33:24,002 --> 00:33:28,256 and also, the encouragement that there are homes out there 597 00:33:28,256 --> 00:33:33,845 for men, for women, for children of all different backgrounds, 598 00:33:33,845 --> 00:33:38,599 for hope that there actually is healing after going through trafficking. 599 00:33:38,599 --> 00:33:40,560 So, Michele, thank you. 600 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:47,817 Michele, one of the things that people criticize sometimes is that 601 00:33:47,817 --> 00:33:52,572 aftercare homes are either faith-based or they're not faith-based. 602 00:33:52,572 --> 00:33:55,116 And depending on where someone falls on 603 00:33:55,116 --> 00:33:58,995 that spectrum is where their criticism usually comes from. 604 00:33:58,995 --> 00:34:03,958 So have you addressed the aftercare side of things 605 00:34:03,958 --> 00:34:06,961 if somebody wants faith or somebody doesn't want faith 606 00:34:06,961 --> 00:34:09,964 to be incorporated? What is your perspective 607 00:34:10,006 --> 00:34:14,260 and insight on how to help somebody in aftercare with that? 608 00:34:14,260 --> 00:34:17,096 We call it the elephant in the room, 609 00:34:17,096 --> 00:34:18,514 and we're not afraid of it, right? 610 00:34:18,514 --> 00:34:23,269 We just press in to these crucial conversations that we have to have. 611 00:34:23,269 --> 00:34:27,523 So, Empowered to Change International is a 501c3 612 00:34:27,523 --> 00:34:29,984 human services charitable organization. 613 00:34:29,984 --> 00:34:32,695 However, myself and Coral Shepherd - 614 00:34:32,695 --> 00:34:38,326 this was founded on the faith of 615 00:34:38,326 --> 00:34:39,702 us women. 616 00:34:39,702 --> 00:34:43,581 So we're women of faith, and we're unashamed over that or unafraid. 617 00:34:43,581 --> 00:34:49,587 However, we want everybody to feel safe and know that they have a choice, right? 618 00:34:49,587 --> 00:34:52,840 So if we have somebody coming in and they say, "You know, 619 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:58,679 I don't want to speak about spiritual matters." Well, then we honor that because 620 00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:01,140 I don't like anything shoved down my throat. Do you? 621 00:35:01,140 --> 00:35:03,142 I sure don't. 622 00:35:03,142 --> 00:35:04,685 So we do that now. 623 00:35:04,685 --> 00:35:09,607 Part of who we are is for communities to come together. 624 00:35:09,607 --> 00:35:14,445 So we do partner with churches, especially post-COVID, 625 00:35:14,445 --> 00:35:18,241 that, you know, are interested in home missions. 626 00:35:18,241 --> 00:35:18,908 Right. 627 00:35:18,908 --> 00:35:21,035 So we, you know, foreign missions - 628 00:35:21,035 --> 00:35:23,037 great. We are all a part of that. 629 00:35:23,037 --> 00:35:26,374 We're excited to support other organizations. 630 00:35:26,374 --> 00:35:29,836 But home missions is, listen, we care about what's happening 631 00:35:29,836 --> 00:35:32,046 in our front yard, right? 632 00:35:32,046 --> 00:35:35,466 So whatever that particular church 633 00:35:35,466 --> 00:35:41,055 has a heart for - so we partner with a church in a small town in Florida. 634 00:35:41,055 --> 00:35:45,977 And they have a heart for men after they have done their time in prison. 635 00:35:45,977 --> 00:35:47,895 And we call it the Mercy House. 636 00:35:47,895 --> 00:35:51,858 And that is a way that we can partner - 637 00:35:51,858 --> 00:35:54,944 the church can partner with them, 638 00:35:55,027 --> 00:35:58,447 come alongside, be a mentor, disciple them, 639 00:35:58,447 --> 00:36:02,285 you know, go through this discipleship program. 640 00:36:02,285 --> 00:36:03,536 And that's all faith. 641 00:36:03,536 --> 00:36:07,039 However, we have all these other homes for women 642 00:36:07,039 --> 00:36:11,002 and men that are not, quote, faith-based. 643 00:36:11,002 --> 00:36:14,463 But hey, we believe in honesty, accountability, 644 00:36:14,463 --> 00:36:18,509 communication, structured programs across the board. 645 00:36:18,509 --> 00:36:20,303 And 646 00:36:20,303 --> 00:36:21,220 you don't have to 647 00:36:21,220 --> 00:36:25,057 talk about spiritual matters to start on that track. 648 00:36:25,057 --> 00:36:25,808 If that makes sense. 649 00:36:25,808 --> 00:36:29,812 Yeah because some people have been through ritual abuse within trafficking 650 00:36:29,812 --> 00:36:35,902 and people have used God and religion to manipulate or control them. 651 00:36:35,902 --> 00:36:37,195 So if they're coming out 652 00:36:37,195 --> 00:36:41,199 and then they're going into an aftercare home that says you have 653 00:36:41,199 --> 00:36:44,118 be a part of Bible study or you have to be a part 654 00:36:44,118 --> 00:36:48,164 of the specific religion, denomination, faith. 655 00:36:48,164 --> 00:36:50,958 Where they got traumatized in the first place. 656 00:36:50,958 --> 00:36:52,376 Exactly. 657 00:36:52,376 --> 00:36:56,255 And so, you never make somebody be a part of that. 658 00:36:56,255 --> 00:37:00,051 But if somebody does say, "That actually is important to me, 659 00:37:00,051 --> 00:37:03,054 then they have a place. They have a different home 660 00:37:03,054 --> 00:37:06,182 where it's structured that way and it's built into the program of healing. 661 00:37:06,182 --> 00:37:07,850 Is that correct? Correct. It is. 662 00:37:07,850 --> 00:37:13,105 And the outcome, the goal is that they're walking and equipped, 663 00:37:13,105 --> 00:37:18,444 empowered to take care of themselves, walking on a healing road, clean 664 00:37:18,444 --> 00:37:23,074 and sober, and able to make conscious decisions for themselves. 665 00:37:23,074 --> 00:37:25,743 Definitely. Definitely. 666 00:37:25,743 --> 00:37:28,746 Michele, there's one other thing I just wanted to talk about 667 00:37:28,746 --> 00:37:32,166 because your experience is 668 00:37:32,166 --> 00:37:35,962 so vast, but you've worked within corruption as well. 669 00:37:35,962 --> 00:37:38,297 You've seen corruption happen. 670 00:37:38,297 --> 00:37:42,301 And could you tell me a little bit about what does that mean? 671 00:37:42,301 --> 00:37:44,762 And I know it's all things that you're like 672 00:37:44,762 --> 00:37:48,057 I personally have seen this - because you're such a positive person still. 673 00:37:48,057 --> 00:37:52,561 Which is amazing that you can be so positive with everything that you see 674 00:37:52,561 --> 00:37:56,607 and that happens. 675 00:37:56,607 --> 00:37:57,775 Yes. So when we're 676 00:37:57,775 --> 00:38:01,696 working with broken people, right, 677 00:38:01,696 --> 00:38:03,281 we stumble on things. 678 00:38:03,281 --> 00:38:07,451 And I'll speak of one incident. 679 00:38:07,451 --> 00:38:12,456 There's so many that we have successful graduates 680 00:38:12,456 --> 00:38:16,544 and they graduate our program. And then they - 681 00:38:16,544 --> 00:38:19,547 we have some that, you know, nine years later, they're clean, 682 00:38:19,547 --> 00:38:20,131 they're sober. 683 00:38:20,131 --> 00:38:21,757 They got their kids back. 684 00:38:21,757 --> 00:38:25,052 They're just amazing, productive people. 685 00:38:25,052 --> 00:38:29,724 And then, some people have, you know, a little bit further to go. 686 00:38:29,724 --> 00:38:30,349 Right? 687 00:38:30,349 --> 00:38:35,688 So we had this young lady who trusted us, trusted me, 688 00:38:35,688 --> 00:38:40,318 and contacted me during a really hard time. 689 00:38:40,318 --> 00:38:43,279 And she was in another 690 00:38:43,279 --> 00:38:47,116 legal battle in Central Florida. 691 00:38:47,116 --> 00:38:51,037 And she was unknown, unrealized, 692 00:38:51,037 --> 00:38:55,166 just not realizing that she was being lured by - 693 00:38:55,166 --> 00:38:58,252 I'll just put attorney slash attorneys 694 00:38:58,252 --> 00:39:02,548 that were in her life. And 695 00:39:02,548 --> 00:39:04,216 when I say lure, it's 696 00:39:04,216 --> 00:39:08,220 the hey, I have, you know, you're an awesome person. 697 00:39:08,220 --> 00:39:12,224 We'll get through this legal battle that you have, but I want you to come 698 00:39:12,224 --> 00:39:15,936 and be my personal assistant. Right? 699 00:39:15,936 --> 00:39:18,272 And, you know, you can stay 700 00:39:18,272 --> 00:39:23,194 in my beautiful home on the beach, and I'll give you this so cool 701 00:39:23,194 --> 00:39:27,656 car to drive, and let's talk about it. 702 00:39:27,656 --> 00:39:29,033 Even if it was just that, 703 00:39:29,033 --> 00:39:33,371 talk about the boundaries being broken there. Yes. 704 00:39:33,371 --> 00:39:36,665 And with this particular young lady, 705 00:39:36,665 --> 00:39:39,919 she was groomed. She was traumatized. 706 00:39:39,919 --> 00:39:44,840 She was violated and left for dead 707 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:45,925 really. 708 00:39:45,925 --> 00:39:48,886 By the attorneys? Yes. 709 00:39:48,886 --> 00:39:50,179 Oh my goodness. 710 00:39:50,179 --> 00:39:53,057 So they promised her all these different things. 711 00:39:53,057 --> 00:39:56,936 Promised her a job, promised her things. 712 00:39:56,936 --> 00:40:01,565 But there was also, you know, drugs involved in a party 713 00:40:01,565 --> 00:40:07,446 while they're talking about it, and she almost died. She was on life support, 714 00:40:07,446 --> 00:40:09,240 not expected to live. 715 00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:15,663 Wow. So the girl that was groomed, promised, and given all these different 716 00:40:15,663 --> 00:40:17,665 probably cell phone, house, 717 00:40:17,665 --> 00:40:21,919 clothes, all these nice things by these attorneys, 718 00:40:21,919 --> 00:40:25,589 and then they drugged her. They sexually exploited her. 719 00:40:25,589 --> 00:40:28,843 They used her, left her for dead. 720 00:40:28,843 --> 00:40:30,803 So she did stand up. 721 00:40:30,803 --> 00:40:31,887 And that's the fear. 722 00:40:31,887 --> 00:40:36,016 If I stand up and say something, will something actually be done? 723 00:40:36,016 --> 00:40:37,476 Or is her life in danger? 724 00:40:37,476 --> 00:40:38,894 And yeah. 725 00:40:38,894 --> 00:40:40,729 And so, from that girl's perspective. 726 00:40:40,729 --> 00:40:41,564 And this was years ago. 727 00:40:41,564 --> 00:40:43,816 I want to say years ago because it turned out - 728 00:40:43,816 --> 00:40:44,900 and I didn't mean to interruptyou there, Jess. 729 00:40:44,900 --> 00:40:47,611 Keep going. 730 00:40:47,611 --> 00:40:49,238 She did stand up. 731 00:40:49,238 --> 00:40:54,118 She wanted to use her voice and say, "This is what happened." 732 00:40:54,118 --> 00:40:58,622 But then you have people that look at her background, 733 00:40:58,622 --> 00:41:02,668 Whoa, you've also been arrested for drugs. 734 00:41:02,668 --> 00:41:04,003 How do I know this is true? 735 00:41:04,003 --> 00:41:05,504 You know these things. 736 00:41:05,504 --> 00:41:11,677 But in the age of cameras and factual basis and how everything 737 00:41:11,677 --> 00:41:19,894 can be laid out, the foundations, you know, and for nothing to happen. And 738 00:41:19,894 --> 00:41:22,021 as far as I know - I haven't heard from her lately - 739 00:41:22,021 --> 00:41:23,939 she's alive and well. 740 00:41:23,939 --> 00:41:26,859 I'm hoping and praying. 741 00:41:26,859 --> 00:41:29,862 But she did have bouts again 742 00:41:29,862 --> 00:41:33,324 with jail and or prison 743 00:41:33,324 --> 00:41:37,161 and just compounded trauma 744 00:41:37,161 --> 00:41:41,665 by organizations that are supposed to be a part of the healing process 745 00:41:41,665 --> 00:41:44,460 and not 746 00:41:44,460 --> 00:41:47,505 to take advantage of a vulnerable person. 747 00:41:47,505 --> 00:41:50,341 Who was beautiful. Beautiful person. 748 00:41:50,341 --> 00:41:51,175 Yeah. 749 00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:55,179 And I think you touch on a piece where a lot of times people think, 750 00:41:55,179 --> 00:41:59,683 there's an intervention and somebody is rescued or whatever 751 00:41:59,683 --> 00:42:01,936 that situation is, and then, it's all better 752 00:42:01,936 --> 00:42:04,355 and they're never going to be exploited or trafficked again. 753 00:42:04,355 --> 00:42:09,777 And in reality, those vulnerabilities sometimes get re-exploited. 754 00:42:09,777 --> 00:42:13,989 And I think with Empowered to Change and other organizations when it's 755 00:42:13,989 --> 00:42:17,618 we won't give up on you, though, as long as there's 756 00:42:17,618 --> 00:42:20,621 still breath in your lungs, we will not give up on you. 757 00:42:20,621 --> 00:42:24,708 And we'll continue to walk this battle with you as you're fighting 758 00:42:24,708 --> 00:42:28,295 the complex trauma that you are speaking to. 759 00:42:28,295 --> 00:42:33,175 And one of the things that I love with having you on, Michele, 760 00:42:33,175 --> 00:42:38,639 is that this specific podcast - we want to have those hard conversations. 761 00:42:38,639 --> 00:42:43,018 We want to say, hey, here's a topic or here's a controversy. 762 00:42:43,018 --> 00:42:46,397 Here's something that people in the anti-trafficking world don't agree on. 763 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:51,443 Let's talk about it, and start to have conversations with each other 764 00:42:51,443 --> 00:42:54,446 and within the anti-trafficking communities. 765 00:42:54,446 --> 00:42:57,449 And like you said, you partner with a lot of different people. 766 00:42:57,449 --> 00:43:02,246 Let's come together in unity so that we can help 767 00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:08,794 the one, and we can continue to be unified in our actual mission, 768 00:43:08,794 --> 00:43:12,381 which is to love people and to help them heal. 769 00:43:12,381 --> 00:43:13,591 100%. 770 00:43:13,591 --> 00:43:19,179 And it's the hard conversations that we can feel like, oh 771 00:43:19,179 --> 00:43:20,806 you don't talk about that, 772 00:43:20,806 --> 00:43:23,726 you know. And Empowered to 773 00:43:23,726 --> 00:43:28,230 Change has just blocked out these things where sometimes 774 00:43:28,230 --> 00:43:32,359 we might be just, you know, okay, so we're in a corner by ourselves, 775 00:43:32,359 --> 00:43:33,652 and that's okay. 776 00:43:33,652 --> 00:43:37,197 You know, it's that we know who we are, 777 00:43:37,197 --> 00:43:41,619 and we always say, it's progress not perfection. 778 00:43:41,619 --> 00:43:46,332 We are fallible people, but it's the heart. 779 00:43:46,332 --> 00:43:49,793 It's the walk of - 780 00:43:49,793 --> 00:43:51,295 but we want to be healed. 781 00:43:51,295 --> 00:43:54,256 And I'll fight for it. I'll fight for my own healing. 782 00:43:54,256 --> 00:43:57,092 And that means I have to be free 783 00:43:57,092 --> 00:44:01,013 to say what has happened in my life. 784 00:44:01,013 --> 00:44:03,057 And it's not to harm other people. 785 00:44:03,057 --> 00:44:05,225 It's not to 786 00:44:05,225 --> 00:44:10,439 cast shade on family members or friends or whatnot. 787 00:44:10,439 --> 00:44:15,486 It's to say, "This is what happened to me and I'm on the other side." 788 00:44:15,486 --> 00:44:21,533 And even the people that I have been hurt by, 789 00:44:21,533 --> 00:44:24,244 they have walked a healing road, right? 790 00:44:24,244 --> 00:44:28,916 So forgiveness and understanding where they were 791 00:44:28,916 --> 00:44:32,836 broken or vulnerable, that's a thing. 792 00:44:32,836 --> 00:44:37,549 And if we just have this understanding that 793 00:44:37,549 --> 00:44:41,220 forgiveness is key and it's not for the person that hurt us. It's for me. 794 00:44:41,220 --> 00:44:44,515 And just understanding 795 00:44:44,515 --> 00:44:47,601 that we have to be safe to talk about it. 796 00:44:47,601 --> 00:44:50,729 We have to press into these hard conversations. 797 00:44:50,729 --> 00:44:52,648 And that's why 798 00:44:52,648 --> 00:44:56,777 Operation Underground Railroad - you guys are the real deal. 799 00:44:56,777 --> 00:45:00,656 And I will say that, and I say it everywhere I go 800 00:45:00,656 --> 00:45:05,911 because you taught me, Jessica, that and your people. 801 00:45:05,911 --> 00:45:10,165 When we first met, you spent three hours 802 00:45:10,165 --> 00:45:12,835 finding out about our organization. 803 00:45:12,835 --> 00:45:16,714 You saw one of the homes. You saw our offices 804 00:45:16,714 --> 00:45:21,260 because building relationships and understanding each other, 805 00:45:21,260 --> 00:45:25,222 that's how we use that discernment to see if we're the real deal. 806 00:45:25,222 --> 00:45:27,683 And I learned that from you guys. 807 00:45:27,683 --> 00:45:30,936 And so, I am thrilled 808 00:45:30,936 --> 00:45:35,441 that you have this platform for people to use their voice. 809 00:45:35,441 --> 00:45:39,153 Well, I get to learn so much, too. 810 00:45:39,153 --> 00:45:43,198 But I do believe in authentic relationships and 811 00:45:43,198 --> 00:45:46,285 also when I mess up or when I say the wrong thing, 812 00:45:46,285 --> 00:45:50,622 then I can ask for forgiveness because we're in real relationships. 813 00:45:50,622 --> 00:45:52,583 And so we've loved partnering with you. 814 00:45:52,583 --> 00:45:55,836 We've loved the ways that we've got to help Empower 815 00:45:55,878 --> 00:45:59,673 to Change International with the house and with different 816 00:45:59,673 --> 00:46:03,802 things that we've got to help with empowering you guys with. 817 00:46:03,802 --> 00:46:08,307 So how can people help you? 818 00:46:08,307 --> 00:46:09,099 We - OUR 819 00:46:09,099 --> 00:46:12,060 has had the privilege of helping you in different ways. 820 00:46:12,060 --> 00:46:14,521 How can a listener help you? 821 00:46:14,521 --> 00:46:16,523 Well, and thank you for that. 822 00:46:16,523 --> 00:46:23,572 They can log on to our website, all one word EmpoweredToChangeInt.org. 823 00:46:23,572 --> 00:46:25,365 And we always are 824 00:46:25,365 --> 00:46:29,203 looking for even from the small donations for people 825 00:46:29,203 --> 00:46:32,414 that are now in a healthy place to get a job. 826 00:46:32,414 --> 00:46:36,668 We help with employment, but they need transportation for that. 827 00:46:36,668 --> 00:46:40,255 So even something simple as a bus 828 00:46:40,255 --> 00:46:43,425 pass, right, or 829 00:46:43,425 --> 00:46:47,012 food, you know, money for food, just until 830 00:46:47,012 --> 00:46:51,308 they get started. On a small scale, that's huge. 831 00:46:51,308 --> 00:46:54,144 And that's always welcome. 832 00:46:54,144 --> 00:46:57,272 But understanding that Empowered to Change International.. 833 00:46:57,272 --> 00:47:00,943 just like Operation Underground Railroad, we're better together. 834 00:47:00,943 --> 00:47:04,780 And we want to uplift and highlight 835 00:47:04,780 --> 00:47:08,867 organizations like yourselves and others that are the real deal. 836 00:47:08,867 --> 00:47:11,078 And it's not all about us. 837 00:47:11,078 --> 00:47:14,373 And, you know, what we can give or get. 838 00:47:14,373 --> 00:47:17,876 So just any way that we can help you guys 839 00:47:17,876 --> 00:47:20,921 is on our plate as well. 840 00:47:20,921 --> 00:47:21,922 Well, thank you, Michele. 841 00:47:21,922 --> 00:47:28,470 And being in unity is what it's all about because sometimes 842 00:47:28,470 --> 00:47:32,099 anti-trafficking organizations will start to not like each other. 843 00:47:32,099 --> 00:47:35,102 And it's like, oh, but our mission is to serve. 844 00:47:35,102 --> 00:47:39,147 So even if we don't agree now, maybe we'll agree in five years. 845 00:47:39,147 --> 00:47:40,816 But if we hurt our relationship now, 846 00:47:40,816 --> 00:47:44,111 we won't have the opportunity to agree in five years. 847 00:47:44,111 --> 00:47:49,074 I always say, you know, this week we get our hands dirty. Why? 848 00:47:49,074 --> 00:47:54,121 Because, you know, broken people 849 00:47:54,121 --> 00:47:55,372 need help. 850 00:47:55,372 --> 00:47:57,833 And there is no, you know, we don't know what... 851 00:47:57,833 --> 00:48:00,919 we're going to get ourselves into, but we have to have the grace 852 00:48:00,919 --> 00:48:04,590 and understanding that we're in it for the right reasons. 853 00:48:04,590 --> 00:48:05,674 And that's important. 854 00:48:05,674 --> 00:48:09,761 So I really appreciate this opportunity. 855 00:48:09,761 --> 00:48:10,345 Well, thank you, Michele. 856 00:48:10,345 --> 00:48:14,474 It's been an honor to partner with you, the homes that you've created. 857 00:48:14,474 --> 00:48:17,394 I've personally seen they're amazing. 858 00:48:17,394 --> 00:48:19,605 I'm glad that we got to purchase an aftercare home. 859 00:48:19,605 --> 00:48:24,026 One of the houses for you because I've seen what you do with it 860 00:48:24,026 --> 00:48:28,322 and how you are truly helping so many people. 861 00:48:28,322 --> 00:48:31,074 And we are grateful because it is that particular house 862 00:48:31,074 --> 00:48:34,411 that OUR are helped us save. 863 00:48:34,411 --> 00:48:39,499 We were - it was going to be shut down right after COVID for the housing reasons. 864 00:48:39,499 --> 00:48:43,670 And it is that particular home that we were going to lose, 865 00:48:43,670 --> 00:48:47,049 and we were also going to lose our presence in that region. 866 00:48:47,049 --> 00:48:50,260 So thank you that 867 00:48:50,260 --> 00:48:54,890 because you know that it us and you 868 00:48:54,890 --> 00:48:57,559 who we are that OUR 869 00:48:57,559 --> 00:49:01,980 just said, no, here. We have the means. We want to help you. 870 00:49:01,980 --> 00:49:07,235 And so, we didn't shut down and thriving even today. 871 00:49:07,235 --> 00:49:08,904 It's incredible. 872 00:49:08,904 --> 00:49:10,739 Michele, thank you so much. 873 00:49:10,739 --> 00:49:14,284 It's been so good to be with you today, and I really appreciate 874 00:49:14,284 --> 00:49:17,454 our friendship and true collaboration. 875 00:49:17,454 --> 00:49:18,830 Thank you. 876 00:49:18,830 --> 00:49:20,040 Thanks for listening. 877 00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:21,750 Did you enjoy this episode? 878 00:49:21,750 --> 00:49:26,296 If so, please leave us a review and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. 879 00:49:26,296 --> 00:49:28,590 If you have ideas for future episodes, 880 00:49:28,590 --> 00:49:32,886 email us at voicesforfreedom@ourrescue.org. 881 00:49:32,886 --> 00:49:35,931 Lastly, we encourage you to join the fight. 882 00:49:35,931 --> 00:49:40,185 Make a difference today by donating at ourrescue.org. 883 00:49:40,185 --> 00:49:46,024 or text podcast to 855-944-5646. 884 00:49:46,024 --> 00:49:51,780 Again, that number is 855-944-5646. 885 00:49:53,991 --> 00:49:56,785 Next week on the Voices for Freedom podcast, 886 00:49:56,785 --> 00:49:58,286 we are going to be talking about 887 00:49:58,286 --> 00:50:02,249 the Super Bowl, about demand, about U.S. trafficking. 888 00:50:02,249 --> 00:50:07,045 My co-host, Matt, and I are going to dive deep into this difficult topic, 889 00:50:07,045 --> 00:50:12,843 and so we encourage you to be a part of that on Voices for Freedom Podcast. 890 00:50:12,843 --> 00:50:13,468 Thank you.