It’s been almost one year since Brooklyn, a mom of two, escaped the sex trade; and since then, she’s been fighting to stay out of the life she was essentially born into.

My world changed the day I discovered the reality of human trafficking. I was 20, and found myself holding my friend tightly as she tried to jump into traffic in the University District, a college neighborhood in Seattle, WA. She was suicidal, filled with despair, and desperate to disappear.

For survivors of sex trafficking, the road to recovery can be extremely difficult. Many have experienced trauma, physical abuse, lack of basic needs, and loss of dignity. This leaves them feeling helpless, scared, and isolated. Some survivors find strength in turning their stories into tools to help other victims and survivors of sex trafficking.

The last two years have certainly been challenging—for the individuals we serve, for our staff, for us as an organization as a whole, and probably you, too. As we enjoy the Thanksgiving and holiday season, we invite you to join us in acknowledging that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, past and present. We honor with gratitude the land itself, and the Duwamish Tribe.