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| Outreach Opportunites |
Is your group or organization interested in learning more about modern slavery and BTFF's work? BTFF is committed to bringing awareness to the issues of modern slavery and share our amazing mission to ensure survivors empowered to lead thriving lives. Contact us today to schedule a BTFF representative to speak at one of your upcoming events. Contact us at info@btff.org.
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Need a Workshops for your clients?
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Do you work for an organization who assists survivors or at-risk populations? Contact BTFF today to learn more about our Personal and Professional Development Workshops. We offer a wide array of BTFF is always seeking partner organizations to work alongside with to ensure survivors are empowered to lead thriving lives. Contact BTFF today to schedule a series of workshops for your clients today. Contact us at programs@btff.org.
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| Call for Volunteers |
We are looking for individuals who can help with grant writing and events. If you are interested, please contact us immediately at info@btff.org with your application, resume and cover letter.
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| "Little Birds" Products | |
Purchase your inspiring "Little Bird" posters or cards today!
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| Show Your Support | |
Show your support and get your BTFF T-Shirt.
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| Current Needs |
BTFF currently has the need for new personal care items, including beauty and nutritional products.
We are also in need of retail gift certificates for survivors to purchase needed clothing. If you have any products or gift-certificates to donate please contact us at doantions@btff.org.
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| National Human Trafficking Hotline | |
If you have reason to suspect that someone is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline on (1-888-373-7888). Multilingual call specialists are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential.
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Dear Supporters,
There is no doubting that summer is upon us and I hope you are all staying cool from the sweltering heat and have suffered no real damage from the storms most of us have been encountering over the last few weeks. BTFF was without power for a few day's and our garden area was a bit of a mess, but we were thankful that our team worked hard to keep things going without even flinching and kept the office buzzing.
Over the next two months BTFF will be pushing out the DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk and I hope you will all join us in some capacity for this historic event as either a walker or a fundraiser. We are also working hard this summer to put our heads down and write a number of grants for our capacity building and program development, so please keep your fingers crossed as we work to have funded staff positions and increase our reach to survivors. Please see our opportunities section if you would like to apply to work with us as a Grant Writer or for one of our Fall Internships.
For more information: Bridge to Freedom Foundation
Thank you f or your support,
Cassandra Clifford
Executive Director and Founder
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BRIDGE TO FREEDOM FOUNDATION NEWS
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Launch of College Prep and Job Readiness Program
BTFF is excited to announce the launch of our College Prep and Job Readiness Program! This program seeks to guide and assist survivors of modern slavery to ensure that they grow and develop and find the education and career path that they want to pursue both now and in the future.
We have already begun working with Courtney's House though look forward to expanding to work with other organizations and clients. If you are interested in the College Prep and Job Readiness program, or one of our other BTFF programs, for your clients please contact us at info@btff.org for more information or to schedule workshops.
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| MODERN DAY SLAVERY NEWS | | |
 Trafficking in Persons Report Released
We are pleased to announce that this week in Washington, D.C., Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton officially released the 12th annual Trafficking in Person's (TIP) report. At the State Department's release of the report, Secretary Clinton spoke directly regarding the shift in viewing human trafficking in a deeper light so as to see it for what it truly is: slavery. The 2012 TIP report is highly comprehensive in its examination and ranking of 184 countries and their efforts to combat human trafficking in all forms. This year's most significant change is the upgraded rankings of 29 countries on the list...to read the full story, click here.
"The Code" highlighted at signing Earlier this month, End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) revealed that Real Hospitality Group (RHG) became the first hotel management company in the US to sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct, otherwise known as "The Code." The result of years of international cooperation to combat child sexual exploitation in the tourism industry, it is a set of regulations that supports responsible tourism and efforts to eradicate commercial sexual exploitation of children. Well known companies such as Hilton, Delta and Carson are already on the list that comply with these regulations and another 960 tourism companies have begun implementing the Code's standards. To see how you can be a part of responsible tourism, click here.
Write your congressman to support a child welfare bill ECPAT-USA is garnering support for the "The Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act" (H.R. 2730) and, if passed, it would help ensure that child victims of human trafficking in the United States are properly identified by state child welfare agencies and receive the services they need. It currently has 15 sponsors, both Republicans and Democrats, but has not gained any traction since its introduction. Click here to print out a letter to send to your representative and senators.
For more modern slavery news and reports, please go to the BTFF Blog
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Freedom Fighting Party Kicks Off New Partnership 
On August 4th BTFF will be hosting a garden party to launch our new partnership with Better Way Imports (BWI). BWI provides both the retail sale and distribution of fair trade goods from local organizations, who are mostly women sex trafficking survivors. BWI carries a variety of products including, but not limited to; purses, jewelry, eco-friendly products and kitchenware. Through our new partnership all commission made from the sale of these goods at our events, on our website or other venues will go directly to BTFF. By purchasing BWI fair trade goods from BTFF you will be impacting not only the women and communities where the products originated, but see that BTFF can impact more survivors right here at home. If you are interested in purchasing some of these amazing products and learning more, while enjoying an array of appetizers and some wine, please click here to view the invitation.
 DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk - September 29th
Join BTFF, an official walk beneficiary, as we walk to end modern slavery at the 2012 Stop Modern Slavery Walk on the National Mall. The event will host a resource fair, where we will have a table, musical performances and a variety of speakers against human trafficking, including survivors, throughout the day. BTFF will receive 80% of all funds raised by our walk team and a share -along with the remaining walk beneficiaries- of the total walk proceeds.
When: September 29th from 9am until 1:00pm
Where: Walk check-in will be at 20th & Constitution Ave. NW from 7:45am - 8:45am.
Cost: $15 Students, $25-$100 for individuals and Free to do a Fundraising only page for BTFF!
Click here to donate to our team, register to walk with us or start your own BTFF Fundraising page today!
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SUPPORT US
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 BTFF is on ebay! You can now support BTFF while shopping and selling on ebay! BTFF has already posted numerous donated items including; brand new designer shoes and gently used maternity wear for you to start bidding on. You can also support BTFF by donating a percentage of your ebay sales or make a donation directly to BTFF each time you check out with all your ebay purchases. Just look for the "giving works" ribbon next to products and make BTFF your "favorite" nonprofit. Everything is tax deductible and it has been noticed that products that trigger charitable donations in fact sell better. Check out our ebay homepage to learn how you can get involved see our current listings. So let's get selling and shopping for freedom today!
Show Your Support and Host a BTFF Fundraiser or Start an Online Fundraising Campaign
As a new and growing organization, BTFF needs your help in raising funding for our capacity development. Why not host a happy hour, rummage sale, golf tournament, start an online fundraising campaign RootFunding Campaign for your birthday, host a performance event...think creatively and have fun! If you would like to host an event or happy hour to benefit BTFF please contact us at info@btff.org.
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TEAM CORNER
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With summer here, BTFF is delighted to have more interns and volunteers joining the BTFF team. Therefore it is with great pleasure that we introduce to you our newest member:
A 2011 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Whitney received a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. As an individual of Haitian descent, she hopes to conduct research and non-profit work regarding human trafficking in developing countries. She joins BTFF as an intern to become more knowledge about modern slavery, non-profit organization and providing service to victims.
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OPPORTUNITIES
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Are you looking to impact the lives of survivors?
BTFF is always on the look out for dedicated volunteers to join our team. We are currently accepting applications for Fall interns.
BTFF is also looking Volunteers to assist with Grant Writing, Graphic Design, Website Development, and Fundraising/Events. For more information and a volunteer application form please see our website.
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