About the Organization
Inspired by Portlanders’ passion for repurposing, and by people all over the world using creative enterprise to address human trafficking, upstARTpdx is a new social enterprise that combats human trafficking through creative, income-generating opportunities, while promoting upcycling and environmental awareness. We do this through collecting materials and creating and selling fashion accessories involving vulnerable women in every stage of the process. upstARTpdx is a project of Rahab’s Sisters, a ministry of hospitality and presence for women marginalized by the sex industry, homelessness, and/or drug addiction.
How You Can Help
- Donations: Got fabric, craft supplies, or jewelry you’d like to donate? You can drop it off at 2800 SE Harrison Street in Portland. Contact [email protected] to make a date. To make a cash gift to upstARTpdx, you can mail it to us at 2800 SE Harrison Street, Portland, OR 97214. Organize a donation drive at your place of business, church, book club, office, or school.
- Creative Co-Op: Have creative skills or expertise you’d like to share? Or just want to be involved in the creative process? Volunteer to help make stuff at a creative co-op or lead a workshop. We want to make creative co-ops available to women for whom creative work in the company of other women is normally a luxury. We are particularly interested in bringing creative co-ops into facilities where women trying to transition out of the sex industry are being cared for. Women donate some of their new creations back to upstARTpdx as they are so moved, and these are sold along with other upstART creations and all profits reinvested into this creative process.
- Referrals: Are you a service provider and would like to learn more about referring clients to upstARTpdx, or having us come visit you to and lead a creative co-op?
- Speakers Bureau: Want someone from upstARTpdx to come and share with your organization about how we’re combating commercial sexual exploitation through creativity?
There are as many ways to volunteer for upstARTpdx as there are people. If you’d like to learn more, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or email us at [email protected].
