Wild Hearts Cant Be Broken

When I was younger I was not the type of child who was in to your normal Disney movies. I didn't watch Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan or any other normal childrens movies. I mean, after all, Goofy creeps me out to the fullest! 

I was the type of child who liked the musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and a movie based on a true story called, Wild Hearts Cant Be Broken. I watched the movie so much that I can remember how annoyed everyone got with me always watching it.

Since I am leaving for college, I decided to watch Wild Hearts Cant Be Broken for the first time in YEARS! It's a VHS people! You can't imagine how young I felt again! Granted,  this is coming from a 19 year old but still!

Now, this movie is a, if you fall, get right back up and never back down, type of movie! If you ever have the  chance to see it, SEE IT!

In life we get knocked down, just like Sonora in the movie, we try and conquer a new challenge, but end up flat on our face or on our rear end. It happens and its a bummer,  but get up! Dust yourself off and try to conquer your goal again!

Would you like to know a secret?  This method of thinking, can totally be used when looking at sex trafficking! Kind of cool to think about right?! For one, sometimes sharing about sex trafficking with others can lead to a large variety of reactions. And sometimes those reactions are negative and a bit of a downer. Don't worry though! Get a smile back on your face! For ever person who thinks fighting against the sex trade is crazy, pointless and or stupid; there is plenty more people in the world who will think it is awesome! 

On a second thought, and this is speaking from personal experience,  what if you see your sticky note in the trash.  (For those of you who haven't read "Lets Explain Our Mission" Janice and I highly encourage you to do so! It is our first blog post and will explain what sticky noting is) I had gone to the movies one day this summer with my mother.  I had put a sticky note in the stall before the movie and after the movie I saw it crumbled up in the trash. In all honesty, my heart felt like it dropped down to my toes. 

Something I'm so passionate about, and someone crumbled it up, and tossed it out to go fill up some land fill somewhere. But what did I do? I took the advice I am giving you! I picked myself up and continue on sticky noting!  What better thing to do!?

When someone says can't, I say can. When I see my work tossed in  the trash,  I work that much harder so others know about sex trafficking.  In the end its all a matter of, is the glass half full or half empty. Though, when all is said and done the way you look at it is totally up to you! But don't forget to keep going and never back down!

The journey may be long but don't give up,

Nicole and Janice

PS have you been sticky noting? Have a cool story about how you are making a difference in yhe fight against sex trafficking? Have a story how you refuse to be broke?  Email Janice and I at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to share your stories! 

Run, Walk, Jog and Make a Difference

Hello our beautiful readers! I hope you're doing well this fine day! Currently, I want to tell you about a cool event. But to understand the event let me give you the history of it! So sit back, relax and enjoy the story.

This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of meeting a rather remarkable woman. Her name is Jenny and her and her husband host the Justice Run here in Colorado. Last Wednesday we were able to sit down and talk at a park for awhile until the rainy Colorado weather made us part in our separate directions. The rain was a little bit of a downer but sitting and talking with such a wonderful women definitely was not!

The run started when friends of Jenny and her husband needed money to help with a non profit in Germany call the Justice Project. The Justice Project goes into Red Light Districts and invites girls to a Spa Day. When they are at the spa day they get hair cuts and things like that. But, while the girls are there, and away from their pimps, they are asked if they are being held against their will. If they are the organization helps the young girls get out. Is that not just totally awesome!?

The first time Jenny and her husband did the run it took a long time to plan! 200 people showed up and they were able to raise $7, 500! From there the numbers have gone no where but up! This year it is estimated that 700 to 1, 000 people will show up to run! Isn't that awesome!? Over the past 4 years the numbers have continued to grow!

Half the people who show up to the event, which will take place in Colorado on October 6th of this year, come to run, the other half come to support the cause. So, say you want to get involved and join the Justice Run but you aren't much of a runner. That's totally okay! You can walk the Justice Run! 

Want to know something else? Say you are one of our readers from a different country, you would love to help but you can't make it to the U.S. in time. That is okay as well! On the Justice Run's website there is a place where you can donate! The website is www.thejustice run.com!

Now, hold on! Before you start asking how much of your money is actually given to help people who are trafficed, let me answer that for you! All of it goes to helping people who have been trafficked! Here is how it works. The cost to get the run up and running is totally taken care of by the sponsers and from Jenny and her husband. That way all of the money you pay to run goes completely to helping others! Cool! Right?!

Though, when Jenny first started doing the run she was only raising money for one Nonprofit, the Justice Run now raises money for three Nonprofits. The Justice Project, Street Hope (which is a local Denver project) and a nonprofit in Africa! All 3 nonprofits are awesome!

At the Justice Run there is also a run for kids. It is $5 and its, "kids protecting kids from trafficking." That's pretty clever isn't it?!  The money raised from the kids go to an orphanage in Uganda to help street kids from being trafficked.

Now, for you business members out there you can become a sponser of the Justice Run! Go onto their website and see how you can become a sponser! It takes around $5,000-7, 000 to get a race started and you can help!

And, to you awesome nonprofits, go on to the Justice Run's website and see how you can get a booth up at the run! You have to, in some way, be helping in the fight againt sex trafficking! And if you want to check into selling items you can! All the money you make at the event needs to go to helping in the fight against sex trafficking!

This year there will be painters at the run who will have paints based on their experience with the matter of sex trafficking!

Now, for people who don't want to walk or run, you can always volunteer at the run!  Invite your friends and family to come with you!  Get a group from your school or church to come and volunteer with you! With an event like this there will definitely be ways you can help!

For Jenny to get a race like this going it takes about 10 hours a week. And when the race gets closer its about 20-30 hours a week she spends getting the race ready! And did you know, for you local Coloradians, you can help volunteer in the weeks leading up to the race?! You can! And you totally should!  Plus, Jenny helps get other Justice Runs in other states started! This year there will be one in North Carolina!

Remember!  This event is an actual race! There is awards! There is food and fun for kids and booths that will be set up for people to find out more on trafficking and how they can help!

Check it out!

Important Information:

Date: October 6th

Time:
Race Day Reg 7:30 am
10k Run: 8:35 am
5k Run and Walk 9:00 am
Kids Run 10 am
Awards and raffle 10:15

Website: www.thejusticerun.com

Check it out!

Have fun and hope to see you there,

Nicole and Janice

Ps. Do you know of events like this? Let us know! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Silence Isn't Always Golden

Silence.  We keep our secrets. We hold them tightly  to ourselves and never let them  go. But then what happens if your secret could save someone's life? What if your secret could save many peoples lives? Would you still keep your secret to yourself?

I wouldn't, at least at this point in my life I don't think I would. But, here is the thing. I have not been beaten,  starved, raped or threatened to keep my mouth shut. I have not had so much fear put in me that I refuse to talk to people.

Sex trafficking is kept secret.  And a lot has to do with the fact that not a lot is known about sex trafficking,  not many people know the details. And when a person is rescued out of sex trafficking they, generally, refuse to talk. Why is this you may ask? Well, the men and women who hold these girls captive use different, cruel tactics to keep their victims from talking.

Rape by captors and by blunt objects, threats against family members, starvations, beatings, long periods of isolatons are some of the tactics that are used to instill fear into young girls. So, even if a girl is free, more often then not the girl will refuse to talk.

Because of this, though this girl is free, other girls are kept hidden in the sex trade. The silence means that the people who run the sex trafficking industry can keep on getting away with what ever they like, there is not great volumes of people and information to stop them. Silence is on their side.

So, to the men and women who talk to people who have been rescued from trafficking, know that you are doing a good job. Though it may be hard at times, a difference is being made.

I was always told when I was younger that secrets don't make friends. And in cases like this it couldn't be more true. It could cause people to actually lose their life. But when dealing with a situation like this it is important to know that by a girl keeping her silence, she could actually be saving her own life or the life of a family member. That's one reason why this matter is so unstable in my eyes. What side would you want to choose?! I mean, I want everyone in the world to be safe and able to sleep at night.

So, the next time you sit and think to yourself. "Why don't they just tell what they know?!" Remember, the situation could be more complicated then you realize. Threats against the young victims family could have been made and threats on her own life could have been made as well.

Silence on some matters is good while on other matters, silence is a bad thing. Sex trafficking is not a matter that should be kept quiet.  We need to speak up and share what we know with the people around us!

Raise up tour voice for those who are force  to be silent,

Nicole and Janice

PS have tou been doing your sticky notes? Have an awesome story how you are changing the world? Email us your story at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to share your story!

Make the Most of Your Time

There has to be a song some where out there in the world that totally fits the title of this post, but I can't think of one. So, lets just move on.

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day! I hope that your days is full of smiles, laughter, butterflies and love. Am I starting to sound a little cheesy? If I am, I apologize.

In a world like ours it can seem like everything is rush, rush, rush. And lets be honest for a moment, Americans, it seems, are known for this. We are always going, going, going. And then one day we will be gone. Not such a happy thought, right? Okay, I will continue.

I'm not here to tell you that you need to stop and smell the roses. But, hey, if it is something you would like to do in life, by all means, do it! I'm here to ask you what is important in your life. Your family? Friends? Work? Faith? Partying? Saving the whales? Stopping sex trafficking?

I know for me, faith, family, and stopping sex trafficking are all some of the things that are important in my life. So, I make time for these things. I take the time to write some sticky notes, and I do it in bulk! It only takes about 10 minutes to crank out 20 post it notes with a sex trafficking fact and this blogs web address. That's it. Of course a few other things are put on the sticky note, but you got the idea. Then I put my finished sticky notes in a cute little wallet type purse a lady gave me. This is where the sticky notes hang out till they are put into use.

In life though we get busy. We have to run to the grocery story for our family's dinner, we need to get gas in the car, we have to get the little kids clothes when the old ones have holes in them. Well, did you know, that when you are doing this, you have the perfect time to get people aware of sex trafficking. Besides just talking to the people checking you out at the store there are RESTROOMS! Who knew those existed, right?

Bet you didn't see that one coming! Actually, restrooms are my favorite spot to place those sticky notes I mentioned earlier. You can run in and plop it up on the mirror, and if you really need to use the restroom you can also put it in the stall! Or just run in, plop it up, and run out. Easy as that.

Pretty smart idea right? Without even going more then, maybe, 20 feet out of your way. You can help in the fight against sex trafficking. You can help start a domino affect that could save someones life! Awesome to think about, right?!

So the next time you have some spare time, why not just make a few sticky notes to keep in your wallet or purse? Then when you get a chance, post them! It is actually pretty fun to do! And takes hardly any time at all.

When you have done this you can even take a picture of your lovely sticky note, and send it to us (askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com) where we will try and post your story! We want to share the passion with everyone!

So take the 10 or so minutes to put your time into something that can change the world. Janice and I are asking just for some of your time. We aren't asking you to, right now, open your wallets, and give us a chunk of change. We just want to share knowledge with people all over the world!

Remember you can be a world changer too,

Nicole and Janice

Here is an example of one of our sticky notes! Super simple, yet effective.

How I View Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is not always the easiest thing to look into. The facts are harsh and unpleasant and in all honesty a complete downer. So, when I decided to start doing something about the sex trade I really meant it. I wasn't going to do all this for nothing. A change was, and is, going to take place.

So, how do I do it? Digging into the facts and doing my best to make a change?
I view sex trafficking, parts of it, with the mind set of a young school girl with a crush!

Now before you think I'm crazy let me explain.  As most people know, I am a book worm. And one of my favorite book series is the Chronicles of Narnia! In fact,  I'm currently rereading them.

When the new movie The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe came out I was so excited! I couldn't wait to go see it. I was in 6th grade and I was going to see the movie with my class. We had been reading all the books in class.

When the movie started my 6th grade heart fell in love! It must have been love right? I mean, I still to this day, will admit to you with some blushing, embarrassment, I have a HUGE crush on William Moseley and I have since 6th grade.

For those of you who don't know William is Peter, the eldest brother in the movie. He has amazing eyes and great hair plus lets not forget his accent. Let me just stop right there while I'm ahead of myself, though.

Anyway,  when I was younger, with the strong love of William and Narnia I did everything I could do to know more about both subjects.  I watched Narnia all the time! I even watched the commentaries.  While my best friend was looking up stuff on line about her crush from the Star Wars movies,  I was hanging posters in my room of Narnia.

No matter what, I never had enough information on William and on Naria. (Sounds a little stalkerish but I promise I'm not! I was just young) What can I say, I was a crushing school girl. Now, I will only admit he is a crush I have. Searching for information on him and Narnia has stopped (but you can't deny he is one GOOD lookin guy!).

Here is the point to my story! I couldn't get my hands on enough information on William and Narnia when I was younger. I just kept researching and researching. And when I did find information out I always told the people around me. After all, I WAS GOING TO MARRY WILLIAM MOSELEY!   

That is what I do with sex trafficking.  I research and research. And I let people know the information that I find.  Though it is not a topic, like a hot guy, I still get information to other people. The information may not be as desired as information on a hot guy or hot girl (don't want to forget about you male readers out there) but its information that will make people aware. And hopefully put an end to the sex trade.

So, the next time you decide to do a little investigating on the guy or girl you are about to go on a blind date with. Maybe take a moment and do a little investigating on the sex trade.  After all, if conversation is a little awkward,  you have a great topic to fall back on for the date!

With love from your crushing school girls,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. have you been doing sticky notes?  Have a cool story how you arw stopping the sex trade? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com. we would love to share your story.  Dont know what sticky noting is? Check out our first blog post "Let's Explain Our Mission!"

The Adventurous Online Life

I would like to start this off by saying that this subject came from a movie I watched on Friday. Some things I talk about in this post will be issues from the movie. I am not naming the movie because though it gave me some intense insight.. the key word is INTENSE. It was TERRIBLE!!!! I don't mean the acting sucked, or the graphics were bad, I mean it was RAW! It was straight forward, to the point, and sad.

So to start this off I want to say: the subject Nicole and I took on of sex trafficking is not the ideal subject. It is not happy, joyous, or fun in the sun. It is dark, saddening, scary, and cruel. But it is a subject we took on in the hopes that if we share our knowledge and it keeps ONE, just one, person from becoming a victim.. then our whole mission was worth it. All the late nights, writters-block, sadness, frustration, anger, hurt, money, SADDENING research, and fights. It was ALL worth it if we can just save one.

Ok- now since that's off my chest let's get to the main subject of this post. The internet. I used to LOVE the internet. It's a place where you can be whomever you want to be. No hiding behind insecurities or fears. You can say what you want and you don't care what people think because they don't really know you. They can start a ciber fight, but what does that matter, right? You are who you want to be. The person you aren't when you're with your real life friends, but the thing about the internet is you don't know who you're talking to.

I was watching this movie, of which I already said I won't name because it was the saddest thing I've ever seen, and these two girls from Hollywood. Best friends. Schoolmates. Well, they lived seemingly normal lives. One was a popular girl who had tons of friends, got LOTS of guys, partied hard, was super secure, outgoing, and beautiful. The other, well she was shy, insecure, and modest, pretty.. but not model-tastic, not the type of girl most guys notice.

The cofident girl, we'll call her Stacy, met this "hot" guy online. His webcam was broken, so he sent her pictures. Totes legit, right? Anywho, her webcam worked totally fine. So she showed him who she was. Showed him a little more then needed, but he wanted it, and she wanted the attention. She thought he was her age, attractive, sweet. They talk, they flirt, they like each other. So she decides to meet with him. In the back alley of a diner where she lives. Turns out, he's not a teenager, he's not attractive, and he's not into her because he wants to "hook-up". He wants to use her as a sex slave. He kidnaps her, and uses her for his own pleasures as well as others. That's where Stacy's story stops for now.

Now let's move on to her friend, the shy one. We'll call her...Sarah. Well because she was Stacy's best friend, she of course knew about the guy Stacy had met online. Sarah reaches out to this guy after Stacy's disappearence. She asks him if Stacy ever met up with him that night. He of course never met up with her, or so he says. I mean I wouldn't admit to such a crime either. But because Sarah is scared he did something to her best friend she goes to the police and tells them about this mysterious man online that Stacy was going to meet with. Once this guy finds out about what Sarah did, because it's all over the news, he takes her too for fear that she'll get him caught.

In the future scenes it shows what he's done to the girls after taking them. He's raped them multiple times, sold pornographic photos of them on fetish sights, and used them for other sexual things for his gain.

He sex trafficks these girls after kidnapping one of them whom willingly met him in a back alley thinking him to be a hot teenager. The other, he took because she wouldn't keep her mouth shut. This was a true story that took place in 2007 in hollywood. 6 years ago sex trafficking was an issue in the USA. It's only getting worse as time goes on and people allow it to continue without a fight.

Moral of the story #1: Share your knowledge. NO ONE is protected from this crime unless you know you're stuff. If you are niave to the issue how can you protect yourself from it? You can't. So share it. Fight against this issue.  

Moral of the story #2: Don't EVER meet anyone you met online unless it's in a highly public place. Leave out, in your conversations with this person, where you live, your true name, your true age, and don't try to be super sexy by sending them inappropriate pictures. If they like you and are truly who they say they are they will abide by your terms willingly. If they don't then there is something wrong there. Also, listen to your gut. It's not always right, but is right more often then not. If you don't feel like this person is telling you the truth, listen to that gut feeling and stop talking to them. I'd rather you be safe then sorry.

I know this isn't a happy post, but this subject of sex trafficking is not happy at all. Nicole and I are not here to candy coat this issue but to bring it into light. To expose the ugly side of this business. To expose every form of this business.

Please don't take this information and forget about it. Don't read this post and act like it never existed. Please, please, please share the information you gained through this post and do a HUGE part in changing this industry. If there aren't any guys or girls for them to take then it won't thrive.

Thanks for your support, time, and effort!

Janice & Nicole

P.S. Have you been changing the world with sticky notes yet? If not, read our first post "Let's Explain Our Mission" and see how you can make a difference in such a easy way. Once you do email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com and share your stories with us. We would also love to hear about what you're doing to stop this injustice, or a personal injustice of your own. We would love to have your questions, concerns, and comments emailed to us too. We REALLY want to hear from you.

What Crazy News

So, for those of you who have not heard the news of this weekend. One of the largest sex trafficking sweeps, in the United States, currently took place over 3 days this past weekend. Is that not just wonderful!? Sure, the crack down is wonderful but the story is a little hard to digest; but then so are all the facts behind sex trafficking.

Currently, 150 pimps have been arrested from 76 cities, some of which include, Detroit, Chicago, Colorado (where Janice and I live), Oklahoma City (which is right by where I go to college), and San Francisco. It is said the ages of the girls, who were trafficked, are between 13 to 17. The youngest girl who was rescued out of the 105 total was a 13 year old girl.

Now, because of Janice and I being from Colorado, let’s look into that for a moment. The areas in Colorado where the sweep took place were the Denver Metro Area and Pueblo. In Pueblo 10 adults were arrested but no children were, as the news puts it, "recovered." I feel like rescued or saved would be a little bit of a nicer term, but that may just be me. And in Denver 6 pimps were arrested. Areas that were targeted were hotels, casinos, truck stops, social media platforms and places like that. Over all, and this is including Wyoming (Colorado's boarder state), "9 juveniles recovered [children who were trafficked], 6 pimps arrested, 11 pimps identified, 51 adult cited arrests for prostitution, 25 arrests for soliciting a prostitute, 6 adult arrests for other crimes (drugs, warrants, ect.)" (kktv.com).

COLORADO! Have you no shame. I am disappointed. Yes, we are not the only state that made the list in the sex trafficking sweep, but I am still disappointed. In fact, I’m a disappointed in America. Yes, for the sweep I could not be happier, people are starting to really do something about this injustice. But, there is still so much more that needs to be done! Only 105 children were rescued out of the sweep. It is said that 60% of all the children were run away foster children. That breaks my heart. But here is the thing, EVERY YEAR between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. Okay, so this sweep, yes, it made a dent in the sex trade here. But there is so much that still needs to be done, and so many who need to be rescued. After all the U.S. is the third top destination country for trafficking, in the world. The 14,500-17,500 is a yearly estimated number. So, what about all the people who have been trafficked from the years past? The number of people who are being sexually trafficked in the U.S. is continually growing. This still needs to be stopped.

Now, to the people who headed up this sweep and were apart of it, THANK YOU! You are making a huge difference! I take my hat off to you! Keep doing what you are doing, because there is so much more that needs to be done. But, the fact that you are doing something is amazing! The fact that you were even able to rescue the 105 is a total blessing and you should never forget it. Plus, you took people off of the streets that are the root cause of this injustice and I say, "WAY TO GO!" You’re getting the root!

May I now take a moment to share something I am a little worried about? Well, even if you say no, I am going to share it. When stuff like this happens there are people who get all pumped about how a difference is being made. But not long after, the passion dies away. People forget how they felt back in the heat of the moment. And they begin to stop caring.

When Rachel's Challenge came to my high school, when it first came about, many people were gun-ho on the matter! "Let's stop bullying!" But by the end of the year only a few people still had that burning passion for Rachel's Challenge. Now, this might not have been the case for every school, but it was for mine. The same issue that happened with Rachel's Challenge even happens in marriages today. People lose interest and forget the passion they once had and so they just stop what they are doing; they forget and give up, or simply quit.

Please. I beg you please! People who have a passion to see the sex trade stopped, please don't lose your passion. Though it may be sad and hard at times, think of how amazing it will feel when stuff like the 105 being rescued, happens again down the road.

When people keep their passion, that is when a change starts to happen.

Never lose hope and never lose your passion,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you been doing your sticky notes? Have a cool story how you are making a difference in the sex industry? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to hear your story and share it with others to spread the passion! Don't know what sticky noting is? Check out our first blog "Let's Explain Our Mission" and find out!!

Sources for today's post:
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/More-Than-100-Children-Rescued-In-FBI-Bust-Of-Sex-Trafficking-Ring-217419601.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2380852/FBI-rescues-105-children-involved-sex-trafficking-arrests-150-pimps-weekend-sting.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-says-arrested-150-three-days-child-prostitution-154521080.html;_ylt=AwrNUbKQ9fdR_QEAU47QtDMD

Sold

For all of those repeat blog readers of ours out there, well, first off let me say thanks! But, to the main point, I love reading and the repeat readers I am sure have started to notice that. And today, this blog post has to do with another book.

No, I did not just finish reading it. I actually read this book, I believe, my sophomore year of high school. It would have had to have been about 2009-2010. I was in the school library and looking for a book to pass the time. I was in the fiction part of the library and a yellow book with the title Sold jumped out at me. Well, nothing else really caught my eye as I kept walking and so, I went back and grabbed the book.

In all honesty, I don't even know if I took the time to read the back of the book. I went to check it out and the librarian told me that the book I was checking out was a good, but sad book. Well, I should have figured that. There was a girl on the front of the book cover and her head was covered. I knew from that picture alone, this story was going to be taking place in another country. Sweet! At this point in time I had never been out of the country and hey, maybe I would learn something from this fictional book. So, sad was not the first thing on my mind.

Here is the thing. Though this book is fictional I learned so much from it. I ended up reading the book in no time what so ever. I needed to know what happened to the young girl who is the main character in the book.

This book was the first time I had ever seen sex trafficking be apart of a books main story line, and not too many fictinal books have this. The book was great! It totally got me thinking. I looked into sex trafficking, and then, sadly, it faded out of my reach. I was a high school student with no job and no idea how to do anything to help fight against sex trafficking, unlike now.

But, the book did make an impact on my life and look where I am now. Several years later and I still would recommend that you read the book Sold. It was a shocking book and through it I learned enough about sex trafficking to get a fire started in my heart. So, my dear friends, if you are looking for a book to read, check out this book.

Author: Patricia McCormick
Book: Sold
Year Published: 2006



Though this post is short and sweet I hope you are able to get something from it. And if you yourself are not a book reader, why not recommend the book to someone who is! Or maybe just try to read it yourself. If you get it from the library for free nothing was lost in your attempt to read it. It isn't a hard book, at all,  to read and it isn't super long. The perfect working persons book!

Happy reading,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you read any other good books on sex trafficking? (no matter fiction, autobiography or biograpghy) Let us know! We would love to check them out and let others know of the books! email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Raise Your Voice

I love writing, but right now, sometimes it is hard cranking out a post. Sex trafficking can be a hard topic to continually be digging into. I mean, come on! That's why there needs to be a change. Look into the facts and statistics and it, in all honesty, can be hard to come out with a positive attitude. I mean maybe that's why we hear so little about it. It's not really the type of news we want to watch nightly.

There has been reports of sex trafficking in every state in the U.S. and at some point or another, every country. Sex trafficking is one of fastest growing criminal industries and is also one of the largest criminal industries in the world. Not to mention sex trafficking includes child pornography, adult male and female pornography, stripping, false massage parlors, some escort companies, prostitution, mail-order brides, live sex shows, military prostitution... And yes, the list still goes on. In the U.S. 12 is the average age for a young girl to be trafficked into porn and prostitution. Did you know that 55% of all child pornography actually, comes from the U.S.? And did you know that the U.S. is one on the top destination countries for sex trafficking? Land of the free they say. Well with slavery being the highest it has ever been in the history of the world, and  the United States being a major part in this modern day slavery. Unless the definition of free has changed without my knowledge, I am not too sure that I am really living in a free country.

Free in some ways, yes. I can say what ever I want. Like, "I like cheeseburgers! And I think that sex trafficking needs to be stopped. And the people responsible for such horrid crimes of taking young children's, females',  and even older males' innocents needs to be punished."

So, its understood I can say whatever I'd like and not be punished. But here is the thing. It seems no one is speaking up for these victims of modern day slavery, sex trafficking. Yes, we may hear a little something on the matter and get a little upset but that's it. The passion and fire drops off there, like it has just been frozen by some super ICE villain.

Friends, THIS NEEDS TO STOP! We need to do something. And it needs to be more then someone asking for a few bucks to "save the prostitutes!" PLEASE! Know that I think what they are doing is AWESOME! They are doing something that Janice and I currently can't do. You need all parts of the body for it to work.

But, here is the thing that I know everyone can do. INFORM SOMEONE! You can do it! I promise. You could save a life. It is not even that hard. You need a few statistics, which I went on a rant with some earlier in this post. Feel free to take them, and use them. And then just share them with someone, ANYONE! It is that easy.

I live in a country where I can say what ever I want and not get in trouble. So, as of right now, I am raising my voice against the sex trade. I, vow to start informing others where ever I go. And try my best to light a fire in the people around me,to get them to want to stop this injustice. And, I ask, that you join me in this vow to stop the sex trade. All it takes is one!

Your Friends,

Nicole and Janice

If you have decided to take this vow let us know! We want to hear from you and know your stories! Email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com
Need more sex trafficking facts? Visit us on twitter: AMASexTFacts

Fathers Be Good to Your Daughters

Yes, the title of this post is in fact lyrics of a John Mayer song. Yes, there is a good reason for this. And finally, no, it is not because I woke up this morning with the song Daughters stuck in my head.

This weekend my mother and I went out to eat. Is that not just so sweet of her!? I mean, I tell her I am craving Panda Express one day and the next she takes me there. So, as we are sitting and eating I am watching the door as an older gentalmen walks in, the door shuts on the younger girl following him. She catches the door that falls on her and she walks in and stands next to the older man. A few seconds later another girl walks in and stands with the older man and the younger girl.
Now, I can not be 100% sure but I feel like, due to ages and actions, that the older man was the girls father. So, for this blog post, the man is the girls' father.

The actions of this man shocked me immensely! Have all manors decided to jump off the face of the Earth? People say that teenagers have no mannors but, I have had many doors open for me by younger males. Why could a father not hold open the door for his daughters?

I have talked to many guys who have had daughters and all they want for them is the best. Even guys who are looking to start a family, when they have children they want their future daughter to be treated with respect by guys.

Okay! That makes total sense! I want my future boys to know how to treat a women like a lady and I want my future daughters to know how they should be treated; and it should be like a lady! So, where do the younger generations learn this? From their parents.

Here is the things. Speaking as a girl who was raised by a single mom, girls like attention. And dads! If you don't give your daughters the attention they need, they will look for it else where. And, you never know who the first guy to call your daughter beautiful will be. Think about that for a moment...

Make sure you treat your daughters with respect. Yes, when you need to be stern with them; be stern. But make sure they know they are loved, and that you treat them like a lady. Open doors for them, tell them you love them and how truly special they are.  Let your daughters know that they can always come to you. Because, when that smooth talkin, good lookin guy comes along who doesn't totally treat them right. They will know who to go to.

Plus, when a daughter is raised up this way, with love from her father, there is less of a chance that she will decide to run off with some strange man, who could potentially be a recruiter. It does happen. Girls have gone out with guys who are just the "bees knees." And then they are never heard from again. I am sure that you do not want this to happen to any of your daughters.

Now, for all the single mothers out there. It can be hard raising daughters on your own. So, first off, let me just say thank you and keep up the good work! Because, it does not go unnoticed.

Raising a daughter without a man around means that you have more work cut out for you. Make sure to continually tell your daughters that they deserve nothing but the absolute best. And make sure that you explain what that is to them. They are a prised gem! Like a diamond. When you have a diamond you treasure it. You do not throw it on the ground and step on it and just leave it there. You put it in a safe place where it won't get lost or stolen.

Remember parents, your children need to be loved and treasured. If you don't fufill that need that they have, they will find someone who will. You never know who that person will be. And that person could potentially be a very bad person.

So, remeber to tell your children you love them and they deserve nothing but the best!

Have a wonderful day,

Nicole and Janice


P.S. Have you been doing sticky notes and have a story to share? Email Us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com so we can post your story for others to be inspired by. Don't know what sticky noting is? Read our first blog post: "Lets Explain Our Mission."