WHY ADVOCATE? A DOCUMENT ON BUILDING INTERDEPENDENT SOCIAL ADVOCATES

 Why Advocate?

Getting Involved: How you can be part of a growing group of nation-wide advocates

1. Host a Trunk show using iSanctuary jewelry (and receive 1 survivor-made gift as Host)

2. Subscribe to our blog, http://thecollectiveA.blogspot.com (It’s Free!)

3. Retweet and share our messages on Twitter,  www.Twitter.com/@thecollectiveA;  and Facebook; www.Facebook.com/TcaSCd

4. Share our educational materials to raise awareness with your professional and social networks

5. Assist at special events with the Board and high school student interns in raising social awareness 

6. Become part of our Community Outreach Team

7. Refer new advocates to 1 of our Committees

8. Refer people to support our Curriculum Development by referring them to our online campaign, www.GoFundMe.com/CurriculumDevelopment

9. Provide a special skill towards building our programs such as writing or media e.g. photography, video or blogging

Give & Take: What we offer you by joining us

1. Support in training and educating you on human trafficking

2. Support in hosting a Trunk show by supplying the jewelry, receipts, educational information at the event(s)

3. Assistance in the community outreach by going out in the community with you to distribute information

4. Support at community events to provide experiential training in speaking to people in the community

5. Opportunities to develop new skills such as sitting on a Committee

6. Opportunities to network with people from various industries

7. Free marketing/advertising of your participation in community awareness activities and events

Our Accomplishments: Here is a brief summary of some of our accomplishments to date:

1. Human Trafficking awareness campaign & special events in NY and beyond (photos are available via the website and Facebook)

2. Development Weekend 2013, an annual all- day training for Board Members and Social Advocates on community & team building

3. Traveled with advocates to Washington, D.C. to march to raise awareness about human trafficking

3. Conducted classroom screenings of a human trafficking film & discussion at City College, Bronx Community College, Columbia University, Black & Missing Foundation's 5 K Run

4. Co-hosted a monthly segment on Blog Talk Radio

5. Created Health Awareness Campaigns for prostate and triple negative breast cancer and collaborated with community organizations on social issues e.g. Social Therapy and mental health in minority communities

6. Held our 1st annual fundraiser Monologue Slam

7. Created our 1^st Crowdfunding campaign (available now; www.GoFundMe.com/CurriculumDevel

www.TheCollectiveAdvocates.com

A Monologue Slam: We Raised Awareness As They Brought Tears to Everyone's Eyes

On Saturday, October 19^th some of the most brave and awe-inspiring actors and poets engulfed a room full of curious spectators with their words and enactments of human trafficked survivors. Performance art as education, it was for me a dream come true. To actually sit in a room where someone from the front of the theatre to the back of the theatre came to be shaken to their core by such moving portrayals was an experience I will never forget.

From the commanding introduction of “America” by poet Tony Vozzo to 1^st place winner Denise Scott’s screaming outcries of “where were you?” in her portrayal of a brutalized prostituted child, the message of human trafficking continued to be brought to light as a worldwide issue. Not only did the perpetrator and victim played by Samuel LeSane, III really help shape the message of victim and victimizer but also the unfilled dreams of the kids in the hood who never realize their dreams received its voice through poet, Will Dennis. It brought chills to my spine and our audience to tears.

Every month, every week and sometimes every day it feels like the Collective Advocates is evolving in new and powerful ways as social advocates. We have been pushing through those social media doors and stretching out as far as Florida to find new advocates. As we grow, we continue to discover more possibilities into our future as leaders of a new social era.

At the close of the day we want to leave people feeling inspired by our work. We want people to know that advocating is possible even in the smallest ways. A little commitment and an honest desire to make lasting, positive change a reality is for me, one of the best things about living this life.

Asha…