Trenton Soroptimists awarded grant

Pat Bryan, Soroptimist International of Trenton Area
Public Awareness/Awards Committee and Publicist

Once again, Soroptimist International of Trenton Area was awarded another $8550 federation grant from Soroptimist International of the Americas to cover the costs for the purchase of the My Life, My Choice (MLMC) curriculum. This grant, and additional monies from SI of Trenton Area’s fundraising efforts, will finance associated training costs for the WINGS (human trafficking treatment and reintegration program) staff at Vista Maria and related materials for the training and certification.

Michigan is one of three states trending upward in the trafficking of young girls based on a location map of potential trafficking produced by the Michigan State Police, and southeast Michigan is one of the greatest hot spots. Over 7,000 children in the metro tri-county area are vulnerable and targeted for human trafficking.

“A New Beginning: Transforming Victims into Survivors” program is designed to expand Vista Maria’s current capabilities in a residential setting to treat more adolescent girls who have experienced severe and complex trauma from human trafficking. The program includes the care, treatment, education, and community reintegration of eleven to seventeen-year-old female victims of sexual and labor trafficking. The My Life, My Choice curriculum is a survivor-led, nationally recognized initiative designed to stem the tide of commercial sexual exploitation of adolescent girls, which includes mentoring programs and leadership training based on a model of recovery rather than rescue.

Trenton Area Soroptimist members will provide mentoring and host a one-day conference using the Dream It, Be It (DIBI) program and will continue to sponsor more special activities for trafficking survivors at Vista Maria. Since 2013, the women’s organization has had an ongoing relationship with Vista Maria and have devoted much time in contributions and providing various activities for the resident trafficking survivors. Besides the Vista Maria staff, the Girls Advisory Committee, and Soroptimist of Trenton Area members, several potential partners will be enlisted to assist in providing speakers and small group facilitators for the conference. The members of SI of Trenton are also continuing their efforts towards public awareness of the increased trafficking occurring in our communities through documentary presentations and symposiums.

The fundraising efforts of SI of Trenton Area are also contributing to the cost of The Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls curriculum. This one-day conference will parallel the My Life, My Choice program. The DIBI program topics are “Discovering Your Dream,” “Exploring Careers,” “Creating Achievable Goals,” “Rising Above Obstacles,” “Turning Failure into Success,” “Balancing Your Stress,” and “Putting Dreams into Action.”

Mark your calendars for the next big charity event: The 12th annual “Save the Girls” motorcycle ride at Taylor’s Biker Bob’s Harley-Davidson on Saturday, September 12, 2015. The women’s service organization will also present the human trafficking documentary, Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, at the Woodhaven Emagine Theater on November 5.

For more information about Trenton Area Soroptimists and our various events, contact us at Facebook@soroptimistTrenton,MI or Soroptimist.motorcycle.ride@gmail.com.