ESTN Meets the Gov. 

In June, Tennessee took three major steps forward toward creating a slave-free state with Governor Bill Haslam's signing of three important laws. You can read about the bills on our main site's news page.  

In attendance at the Capitol were ESTN volunteer leaders Karen Karpinski, Bucky Elliot, and Elizabeth Stewart, who we have to thank for the photos, as well as our summer interns Stephanie Swick and Lindsey Mallett.

I was able to speak with Governor Haslam about ESTN's role in our state, and he graciously gave us two pens used in the signing of the bill. (He suggested using these for fund raising purposes; I'd love to hear your creative ideas for doing that!)

ESTN's response in the news can be found here. Click the photo gallery link within the article for more pictures.  

Victim Flies to Freedom 

Last month you read about how your gifts helped protect three children and reunite them with their mom, a survivor of human trafficking. This month your generosity enabled a survivor to fly to a shelter, where she has a chance to heal and start a new chapter in her life. Our victim aid fund covered her plane fare.

The fund is again empty. We need someone to manage the task of keeping our emergency fund full so we can always be prepared to help victims when they most need us. Do you know someone who fits the role?

Fundraising could be as simple as putting coin collection boxes in area businesses and regularly gathering the donations. We have a great core of people already doing A LOT of work. Won't you take that leap of faith, stretch yourself, and join the team taking ACTION to create a slave free Tennessee and to aid our local victims? Let me know!

ESTN Trains First Contacts 

Community educator, Karen Karpinski recently spoke at the annual Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare. Organized by Tamera Woodley, a planner for the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS), Karen reached about 100 individuals representing over 30 different organizations and non-profits including, but not limited to DHS, the VA Hospital, Metro Social Services, the Tennessee Airport Police Department, the Smyrna Police Department, and Planned Parenthood.

Karen gave a crash-course in human trafficking and covered everything from the red flags for human trafficking, to what to do if you suspect something in your own neighborhood. She outlined prevention tactics and discussed how we care for victims after they've been rescued.

Karen also fielded questions from the extremely engaged audience about the characteristics of potential victims and what aftercare entails for different victims and individuals. The audience left certified in one hour of human trafficking training and with a springboard of knowledge about modern-day slavery to build upon within their own organizations.

Meet Lindsey and Stephanie! 

ESTN is delighted to welcome our first ITeam's summer interns. They're teaching and leading youth group events weekly and diving right into our many volunteer activities.  You'll be seeing them at our monthly meetings and events!

Lindsey Mallett is a Texas native who lives in Athens, Georgia. She attends Clemson University where she is a Graphic Communications major.

Lindsey first heard about human trafficking in high school and promptly felt the Lord's heart for these people, along with His nudge (more like a linebacker tackle) to get involved. Since then she has been involved in the formation of an anti-slavery group at her school and continues to learn about the issue.

This summer Lindsey wanted to work for a non-profit to learn the ins and outs of working with similar organizations to fight the injustices of contemporary slavery. Lindsey hopes to pursue this ministry after college, using her degree in graphic design. 

Stephanie Swick is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Stephanie's passion to fight human trafficking grew out of her interest in social justice and women's issues.

She says that she is honored to be working with End Slavery to gain a deeper understanding of the issue and how to fight it. At the end of the summer, Stephanie plans to return to Champaign-Urbana to begin fighting trafficking in Champaign County and on the U of I campus through education and awareness programs.

Wendy Lee Nentwig took on the challenge of furnishing and decorating the apartment for our summer interns, and she did a wonderful job.

 She recruited donations of household items and workers, scoured garage sales for bargains, and organized a work-day to paint, clean and decorate.

The apartment looks better than I would have dreamed possible. In fact it is downright adorable!

Thanks Wendy Lee!

Saul Cervantes, a graphic designer, created the flyers our interns are distributing this summer during the youth group flash mob/freeze events in public areas around Nashville. They're a real work of art and a powerful tool!

Ready To ROLL! 

The time has come to step up and find your place in the Ride for Refuge bike event, to be held here in the Nashville area on Oct. 22nd.  

We REALLY need the help of many to make this an event that raises money and awareness for our cause. Here's what you can do!

Pick from any or all of these options:

1.  Sign up as a team leader here. Recruit friends to ride with you who will then recruit sponsors. Pick "End Slavery TN" as the charity you are riding for.  
 

2.  Sign up as a rider for one of the existing teams here. 

3.  Sponsor a rider or a team. Using the link above, select the team, or individual rider, you wish to support. You'll find 'sponsor me' buttons on each page.