You won't want to miss this!  On Thursday May 16th we will premier the documentary "Chosen" specifically to students in the Portland Metro area and Southwest Washington.  This event is free and is open to all student or youth groups.  If you are planning to attend, please RSVP your group to Liz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

"Chosen", a 20 minute film, tells the shocking true story of two "all-American" teenage girls deceived into trafficking.  Eighteen-year-old Brianna was an honor-roll student and cheerleader and worked at a local cafe.  Thirteen-year-old Lacy was an active member of her youth group, and a volunteer in her community. 

Both were manipulated.  Both were exploited.  Both were chosen.  Each year in the United States, at least 100,000 children are exploited in the commercial sex industry.  Because sex trafficking is an issue rarely discussed at home, in school, or in church, parents and children are unaware of the dangers that face America's youth.  Shared Hope International is reaching ou with the truth - to equip and protect kids from being "Chosen".

Visit sharedhope.org to order your copy of Chosen today!

We need your help!  The Portland Mayor's proposed budget slashes the following services:

$247,000 for Janus Youth Services - Funds all three victim advocates from Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC).  These advocates are the ones the police call on to talk to the girls as soon as they are in custody.  They help the girls realize they are victims and not criminals and walk beside them through the legal process, which also helps them to be good witnesses against their pimps.  Some of this money also go to fund part of Athena House (the Janus run shelter for victims) which gives the girls the option for a new life, instead of going back to their pimp.  Losing this funding will make prosecuting pimps much harder, which will cost more money in the long-run, and will also make it harder for the girls to realize they can change their life and that help is available.

$247,000 ($100k general fund and $147k Portland police grant funding) for LifeWorksNW - the New Options for Women (NOW) program is used to help the victims heal from their addictions and trauma.  It's also used to fund the John School - teaching men the true story behind what is going on.  The Johns are fined for part of this cost and 1/3 goes to the Portland Police in their efforts to fight trafficking.  Without NOW, we will not be able to provide the John School and there will be no services for adult women.  As we know, just because a victim is now 18 does not mean that she didn't start her trauma as a youth, and still needs healing, often with an even longer record of abuse/exploitation.

$137,000 for the Deputy District Attorney - An active member of Prostitution Coordinating Team (housed at East Precinct) and runs the John School.  They work directly with the police to help make evidence against the pimps solid. There has been a significant increase in prosecution rates with the addition of this position, which again, will lead to more costs in the long run if the position is cut.  The John School has also helped reduce recidivism of this crime.

It would be extremely helpful if you could attend any of the budget hearings listed below!  If you cannot, PLEASE take a few minutes to contact any or all of the city council members listed below.  Even one email can make a big difference, so let's be the voice for the least of these!  Spread the word!

Here is a letter to email if you cannot make the meetings.

• Charlie Hales (Mayor) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /503-823-4120
• Amanda Fritz - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /503-823-3008
• Nick Fish - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /503-823-3589
• Steve Novick - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /503-823-4682
• Dan Saltzman - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /503-823-4151 

Budget Hearings:

• Thursday, May 16th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm-City Hall Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
• Saturday, May 18th, 3:00pm to 5:00pm-Warner Pacific College, 2219 SE 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97215
• Thursday, May 23rd, 6:30pm to 8:30pm- Jackson Middle School, 10625 SW 35th Ave., Portland, OR 97219

Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth is a documentary about domestic minor sex trafficking and the modern day abolitionist movement fighting to stop it.  Since September 2009, the crew has traveled to over 30 states and conducted over 75 interviews with federal agents, victims, politicians, activists, psychologists, porn-stars, among others.

For more information about this film visit the official website at www.sexandmoneyfilm.com.

This film is not rated and is not appropriate for children under 13.

Suggested Donation

The youth victimized in CSEC are often hungry and poorly clothed when police and advocates initially make contact with them.  We ask that in order to support the work we are doing to end CSEC that you bring one of the following items to donate:

• A gift card for a local fast food restaurant (i.e., Burgerville)
• A gift card for a local store where ne clothing/supplies may be purchased for the survivor (i.e., Target, Fred Meyer)
• A new clothing item appropriate for a teen girl or boy

It's here!  The 1st Annual Portland Free Them 5K Fun Run/Walk to fight human trafficking on Saturday, May 25, 2013.  This annual event in Seattle has drawn thousands of participants over the years and now it's headed to Portland!  Last year (the 5th Annual in Seattle), the event drew nearly 2,000 participants and raised $143,000 to protect women and children from trafficking.  The event is a fun, tangible way to take a stand against one of the most horrific crimes of our generation.  The Free Them 5K raises awareness and funds for World Concern's anti-trafficking programs, which help protect the poor and vulnerable, providing opportunities for education and to earn income safely.

Event Schedule

• 8:00am-Registration/Will Call Opens
• 9:30am-Run/Walk Starts
• 12:00pm-Event Ends

As a part of this event, you can create a personal fundraising page and raise money for the cause.  View fundraising prizes.

As Christians we seek God's justice on issues of poverty, homelessness, hunger, health care, human trafficking and stewardship of our natural resources.  A vital question is how best to make systemic changes for the common good.

Churches, nonprofit organizations and individuals clearly are critical to resolving issues of economic injustice.  Does the Bible give us any clues to the role of the public sector in seeking economic fairness?  Can churches work collaboratively with local, state and federal government to help bring God's kingdom to earth?

Come join us for a conversation to explore these questions as we seek to engage as the body of Christ, in promoting the common good and well being of all.  Bring your questions, hopes, wisdom and experience to share with others, who also long for God's kingdom here on earth.

RSVP requested.

A coalition of groups including Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH) and Portland City Club sponsor these monthly meet ups to discuss Oregon's high rate of human trafficking-and how to stop it. 

Speakers include: Kristin Lumm, MS, QMHP, Program Coordinator for New Options for Women of Lifeworks NW; and a discussion on the book "Half the Sky".  Free and all ages included. 

RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Children as young as the age of 12 years old are being targeted by traffickers.  According to the Clackamas County District Attorneys office, there are over 300 sex buyers at any given time in the greater Portland area and there are about 150-200 teens from the age of 13-17 being trafficked.  By sponsoring or playing in this event, you will help fund programs that educate the public, search for missing children, and provide self defense classes to our children.

Golf Invitational Sponsored by the Clark County Sheriff's Office, BYU Alumni Association, Crossroads Community Church, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church, LDS Churches, and The Mission International.

Cost:

Team of four $400

Individual $125

Includes round of 18 holes, dinner, and the opportunity to win prizes.

Nefarious Merchant of Souls is a hard hitting documentary that exposes the disturbing trends in modern sex slavery.  From the very first scene, Nefarious ushers you into the nightmare of sex slavery that hundreds of thousands experience daily.  You'll see where slaves are sold (often in developed, affluent countries), where they work, and where they are confined.  You'll hear first-hand interviews with real victims and traffickers, along with expert analysis from international humanitarian leaders.

Refreshments provided.  Contact: Chelan @ 503-784-0292

Through video and the physicality of dance, the Free Body Film explores how we are altered when faced with the daunting truth of human trafficking.  How do we reckon with the understanding that this human rights abuse is happening to women around us?  How do we make a difference?

To be filmed on the vibrant streets of Portland, Oregon in June, the Free Body Film unites dancers in Portland with dancers and anti-trafficking advocates in Kolkata, India.  Although we are continents apart, we are connected through the universal language of dance and the desire to live in a world free of human trafficking.  The film will be set to stirring original music composed by filmmaker, Elspeth Duncan which blends Kolkata street sounds with the voices of survivors.

The Free Body Film unites dancers and activists to help raise awareness of human trafficking while addressing the urgent need of freedom, healing, and dignity for all.  Through the Free Body Film, we recognize the universality of movement to raise awareness about this important issue, reaching audiences both near and far.

How you can help:

Your funding will support equipment costs, permits, editing, post-production, awareness-raising and promotional materials, as well as equipment rentals.  We have big dreams for the Free Body Film; your support will allow us to bring the film to life as well as hold screenings across Portland and throughout the West Coast.  Thanks to you, we will be able to bring the discussion of human trafficking to wider audiences in a profound new way.

Follow Free Body Project on facebook!

Join us at a benefit concert for the Defenders at Crossroads Church in Vancouver, WA on June 1, 2013 from 6:30-9:00pm.  Featuring local bands Ninth & Final and James Younger.  All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Defenders program, which will help us continue to defend, protect, and restore women and children exploited through the commercial sex industry.

Suggested Donation Minimum-$3 Per Ticket

Learn more about the Defenders here.

As most of you are aware, the trafficking of humans has become one of the world's most lucrative criminal activities.  Particularly horrifying is the trafficking of women and girls into the commercial sex industry.  In these enterprises, girls are little more than inventory and commodity.  But to all of us, each one is valuable and worth all that we can do.

As a Compassion First Golf Participant, you have the opportunity to help raise awareness and funding necessary to provide Restoration, Healing and Hope for the girls in our care.  When you register, you will have access to your own personal fundraising page.  There, you can share your story and why you've decided to participate on her bahalf.

The efforts of last year's Portland participants made the inaugural event and amazing success; an event we'll never forget.  With just 54 golfers, we raised over $45,000!  Our goals for this year's golf marathon are very ambitious as we fully expect to recruit 2 full fields, that's 108 players!  The fundraising potential within this event format is huge and, when translated to the number of lives being restored, priceless.

Proceeds for this event will go toward our CF Police and Legal Training Initiative Budget.  Trainings are funded and coordinated by Compassion First and conducted in tandem with Sergeant Mike Geiger, Supervisor for the Portland Police Bureau's Human Trafficking Unit. 

Watch the 2013 Promo Video Here.

34.  The number of children every single hour in the U.S. that are forced into prostitution right her on our own domestic soil.  Every child deserves freedom, help us spread awareness for America's Forsaken Generation this summer in your own neighborhood and community.  Walk for 34 minutes to celebrate Freedom for All.

We are asking you to spend 34 minutes of your time doing something you likely do every single day...walking.  You can walk anytime you want, we recommend forming a group of walkers, and walking 1 hour prior to your city's largest fireworks display.

Don't want to walk but still want to be involved?  No problem!  You can participate in the virtual walk on Facebook by simply posting a picture of video on you page and ours!

To find out how visit http://www.forsakengeneration.com/#!freedom-walk/cvj1

Community involvement and empowerment are key components in a movement that changes our sexualized culture.  Freedom's Breath will achieve these components with an annual bike ride, rotating through each of the three US circuits (Western, Eastern, and Southern) that traffickers use to exploit people.  In September of 2013, Freedom's Breath will host a ride of the western circuit from the Canadian boarder to San Diego, CA.  There will be two art shows, in Portland, and San Diego.  Also, there will be a coordinated century ride in the 100 miles before Portland.

By the second year of the annual bike ride, art show/festivals will be scheduled in each major city along the circuit.  Individuals and/or teams will fundraise for Freedom's Breath to ride part or all of the circuit with scheduled dates, times, and mileage for each part of the ride.

Freedom's Breath is currently looking for volunteers that would like to help coordinate the annual ride.  Anyone that would like to get involved can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of this amazing event!

Freedom't Breath is currently scheduling art events in collaboration with Volviendo the documentary.  The goals of these art shows and festivals are to empower survivors, create awareness, activate the community, and connect volunteers to organizations in the local community.  These art events would include a large display of both survivor art and supporting artists, documentary screening, live music, and booths from other community organizations focused on anti-trafficking and community empowerment.

Freedom's Breath is currnetly looking for volunteers who would like to help coordinate these art events.  If you would like to find out more send and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Adorned in Grace Design Studio is an outreach to at risk teens in our own Portland neighborhoods.  It is the desire of Design Studio volunteers to connect with young girls at perhaps the most vulnerable time of their lives to tell and show them they are incredibly valuable, uniquely created and deeply loved.

The Design Studio is hosting weekly workshops where middle and high school age girls can create their own fashion from wedding and prom dresses, enjoy finger foods and hang out with friends.  These workshops will be held on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 5:30.  There are also monthly Saturday workshops.

To find out more, or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please email Linda at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .