"Selah Freedom exists to confront the issue of sex trafficking and exploitation through advocacy, training and restorative services."
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Asking why and getting to the root cause of an issue is necessary but not always sufficient. There are those in need of immediate help, approximately 18,000 – 50,000 people are trafficked in the United States every year and exploited. Florida is one of the top three destination states, the Sarasota/Tampa regions being at the top of the list in Florida. There are already people, young people, trapped in this web. They need to get help to escape and regain their freedom. One of several such organizations addressing this need in our area is Selah Freedom.
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I met a woman named Allison Kummery at a networking event, in the course of our conversation she asked if she could share her true passion, helping others in need. She then told me about Selah Freedom and its mission. She told me how children are particularly at risk for being exploited.
They’re having an upcoming event on Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. It is called Dance For Selah Freedom, being held at:
Sashay Ballroom
8209 Nature’s Way
Suite 103
San Marco Plaza
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
The name of the event brought two things to mind, two songs to be exact.
One is “They Dance Alone” by the former front man of the supergroup The Police; Gordon Sumner aka Sting. It was protest song against Augusto Pinochet, centered about a dance by Chilean women who had loved ones that had disappeared. Dance For Selah Freedom will feature dance demonstrations and an original solo dance performance by “Fuzion Dance Artists” as part of its program.
The other song is “Chimes of Freedom” written by Bob Dylan. Part of the description of Selah Freedom on their facebook page reads, “Selah Freedom brings healing to the broken bodies and broken spirits who have been victimized far too long.” It brought to mind these lyrics:
“Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones an’ worse
An’ for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
An’ we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing”
The only way these exploited individuals, these victims of human trafficking will ever hear, see or feel freedom is if someone comes to their rescue. Selah Freedom is one such organization attempting to do this. Here is contact information for the organization:
Help those who can’t help themselves. It only takes one person to make a difference, imagine the difference many joined together can achieve.
To the folks at Allison Kummery and the folks at Selah Freedom; you are everyday heroes, you are community heroes, you are local heroes.
Believe.
Be encouraged.
Donald Czaplinsky
Positive Life Network –CXO (Chief Experience Officer)
