STOP-IT Initiative Against Human Trafficking http://sa-stopit.org STOP-IT does not discriminate against anyone who meets the definition of Human Trafficking and desires assistance in working toward freedom of their trafficking. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:34:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Calling All Volunteers http://sa-stopit.org/calling-all-volunteers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=calling-all-volunteers http://sa-stopit.org/calling-all-volunteers/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 18:12:06 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=289 Join us in one week – Tuesday, May 22, 2012 – for a Volunteer Interest meeting. It will take place at The Salvation Army Irving Park Corps at 4056 N. Pulaski Road in Chicago from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Please come if you are interested in specific volunteer opportunities, in general volunteering, or if you simply want more information regarding potential volunteer positions to see if it is something in which you are interested! We look forward to seeing you there!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/calling-all-volunteers/feed/ 2 Volunteer Opportunities! http://sa-stopit.org/volunteer-opportunities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=volunteer-opportunities http://sa-stopit.org/volunteer-opportunities/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 14:28:12 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=283 They are finally here! Please, support the STOP-IT program by volunteering with us. You’ve asked, we’ve answered. There is a desperate need for volunteer support for the STOP-IT program. Please check out our Volunteer Opportunities through the Salvation Army Family and Community Services. All you need to do is complete the volunteer application online and you will have begun the process of formally volunteering with us!

We are so excited about this new avenue of community engagement. Our first major volunteer event is coming up quickly! We are in need of many volunteers to help support the Chicago Late Night Six Glo Run, the proceeds of which go to STOP-IT! So please, sign up to volunteer today. We need your help!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/volunteer-opportunities/feed/ 0 Local Event: Flight http://sa-stopit.org/local-event-flight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=local-event-flight http://sa-stopit.org/local-event-flight/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:35:49 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=277 Check out this exciting event being hosted by our partners at Buy Art, Not People! They are hosting an exciting art exhibit entitled Flight: The Art of Refuge. If you are available on Saturday, May 19, please support them – the proceeds from the event will go to Anne’s House, of the PROMISE Program. Hope to see you there!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/local-event-flight/feed/ 0 EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! http://sa-stopit.org/exciting-announcement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exciting-announcement http://sa-stopit.org/exciting-announcement/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:34:58 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=272 We are so excited to announce that STOP-IT is partnering with All Community Events to host the Chicago Late Night Six Glo Run. The proceeds from race registration and donations will be going to the STOP-IT program.

Here are the details:
Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012
Time: Race begins at 9:30pm
Distance: 6K/3.7mi
Start/Finish Location: 1100 S Columbus, Chicago, IL
Participant Perks: Glow in the Dark Print Shirt; Glow in the Dark accessories, Glow paint
Entertainment: There will be a live, on-course DJ and an after party

So help us out. Sign up for the race – the registration proceeds go directly to STOP-IT. And while you’re at it, raise support/donations – that goes to us too.

For those of you who are not inclined to run, you can always hang out with me on the sidelines – but we’ll put you to work; we need some good volunteers too!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/exciting-announcement/feed/ 0 Furniture Needed http://sa-stopit.org/furniture-needed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=furniture-needed http://sa-stopit.org/furniture-needed/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:09:08 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=267 What a beautiful morning! We were able to spend it loading a truck with furniture donations for a client. We are so greatful for the generous gift which was very much needed. Which brings me to the real motivation behind this post (aside from wanting to extend a public thank you to the family for their great gift!); the STOP-IT program currently has at least two more clients in need of basic furniture. I know it seems as though we only post on here when we are asking for donations, but there is great need out there. Please, reach out to your friends and family-if anyone has anything they want to get rid of, or were going to donate to someone anyway, let us know. Our clients do not ask for brand new, expensive items. We just ask that they are in good condition-fabric is relatively clean, no tears or holes, etc. If you have anything to donate, or know someone else who does, please contact us!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/furniture-needed/feed/ 0 Plea for help http://sa-stopit.org/plea-for-help/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=plea-for-help http://sa-stopit.org/plea-for-help/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:43:27 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=257 The STOP-IT Program is in need of some immediate help. Imagine leaving a situation of exploitation. You are finally independent. You finally have a home to call your own. For the first time in your life, you have your own bedroom. As you walk into this dream-turned-reality it hits you: while you have this new home, you have absolutely no way to furnish the home. You have no cooking or cleaning supplies, no dishes or cookware, no towels or bedding.

Please, if you are able, sponsor a client, providing her with the ability to live comfortably in her new home. Let us know if you are able to help in this way. It would be more greatly appreciated than you can imagine.

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/plea-for-help/feed/ 0 Exploiting the Combat of Exploitation http://sa-stopit.org/exploiting-the-combat-of-exploitation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exploiting-the-combat-of-exploitation http://sa-stopit.org/exploiting-the-combat-of-exploitation/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:09:59 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=244 Trafficking Conference Scams

Check out the article above. It should not come as any surprise, and yet it does. Human trafficking is a popular area of attack for social justice advocates around the world. Why, then, would it be of any surprise that people are willing to use the topic to scam those looking to help? Afterall, in all of the STOP-IT trainings we bring up the concept of profit and its influence on the existence of human trafficking. Human trafficking exists because there is a profit to be made by exploiting individuals. So for those of you interested in learning more about human trafficking on a local, national, or global level, make sure to investigate the conferences you are interested in attending and the organizations you plan on supporting. There are many powerful conferences hosted throughout the country. And there are many amazing organizations that really are doing exciting, innovative work to combat human trafficking. Make sure that you connect with those programs and not the ones that are just trying to make money. Feel free to contact us if you want more information regarding the work that we are doing or if you are interested in getting involved with the STOP-IT program in Northern Illinois!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/exploiting-the-combat-of-exploitation/feed/ 0 Waterfront Community Church http://sa-stopit.org/waterfront-community-church/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=waterfront-community-church http://sa-stopit.org/waterfront-community-church/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:28:16 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=181 We were so excited to be able to share our Sunday morning with the Waterfront Community Church. The church is so very generous in supporting the STOP-IT program. Through their gift, we will be able to provide household supplies for our clients as they begin to rebuild their lives in their new homes. It is amazing to be able to share with people who are passionate about combating human trafficking, not only in a one-time gift manner, but also in an ongoing partnership. We look forward to working with their church in the future. Very exciting relationships are being developed!

]]> http://sa-stopit.org/waterfront-community-church/feed/ 0 Human Trafficking Awareness Day http://sa-stopit.org/human-trafficking-awareness-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=human-trafficking-awareness-day http://sa-stopit.org/human-trafficking-awareness-day/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:39:21 +0000 Elyse http://sa-stopit.org/?p=170 Wednesday, January 11, 2012 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day.  We are always excited when there is a way to get the word out about the existence of human trafficking within our own communities.  STOP-IT is thrilled to be able to spend the day working with our partners at Safe Families to better equip the community to serve STOP-IT clients in their time of need.

So join us in raising awareness this Wednesday-human trafficking exists, not only in other countries, but in our own state, cities, and communities. What will you do to help? Watch a film about the issue? Attend an event, there is a great event hosted by Traffick Free: An Evening of Spoken Word? I challenge you to at least talk with five people about human trafficking. After all, awareness is as simple as that.

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