Breaking Free helps women escape systems of sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking and prostitution. They have served more than 6,000 clients and reached over 22,000 individuals with advocacy, street outreach, housing, women's program and supportive services, and ending the demand through Men Breaking Free. Staff diversity at Breaking Free provides additional support to serve women of color who are disproportionately represented in the demographics of sex trafficking, prostitution, and sexual exploitation. How it StartedBreaking Free was founded in 1996 by Vednita Carter. A survivor herself, her mission was to help women and girls whose lives had been devastated by prostitution and sex trafficking. Impact"The single greatest barrier to escaping sex trafficking and prostitution is a lack of safe housing." Terry Forliti, Executive Director of Breaking Free Breaking Free is a survivor-led provider of housing services to victims of sex trafficking and their children in Minnesota, including week-day Drop-In Center, permanent supportive housing, and an emergency shelter. DonationsWant to support the work of Breaking Free with 'good stuff'? Here are some of the things that are needed right now and the real impact these donations can have:
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How it StartedJeremiah Program was founded in 1993 to engage the community in breaking the cycle of poverty for the growing number of children being born to single mothers living in poverty. They have expanded to serve families in cities outside of Minnesota including Austin, Fargo, Boston and Brooklyn, and continue to grow. What they DoJeremiah Program helps disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time so no mother has to make the untenable choice between investing in herself and her children. They take a wholistic approach built upon 5 pillars:
This holistic approach of the program allows families to dream what is possible when they are able to bring all of their identities to bear in pursuit of their goals. Be A Part of ItWhen you support Jeremiah Program, you become part of the community. Here is a glance at their ongoing needs on Donate Good Stuff:
How It StartedThe Link was founded in 1991 by two local Black leaders and former Minnesota Vikings Players, Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed to help youth on the Northside of Minneapolis who were struggling with poverty, homelessness, getting victimized by crime or recruited into criminal activity. The two leaders started the organization in a very community grounded way with a philosophy of doing “whatever it took” to help young people on the Northside. What They DoThe Link has 22 programs across the Twin Cities area, employs over 150 adult and youth staff members, and supports over 2,000 youth and young families each year. The Link offers programming in three areas:
Top Needs Right NowThe Link website lists top needs right now as: hygiene, food, new clothing, and gift cards. And here is a glance at their ongoing needs on Donate Good Stuff:
Each February, the United States observes Black History Month, a month dedicated to honoring the history, struggles, and triumphs of black people in America and around the world. Its purpose is to educate us and remind us that black people have always been a contributing force in this nation and the world. The goal shouldn't solely be to celebrate Black History for a month, but to overcome our historical amnesia and to acknowledge and incorporate black history for what it is. Black history is American History. Black history is World History. Black history is a rich and integral part of our collective history. While the stories highlighted during this month often focuses on famous and exceptional figures, it is also the contributions of regular people and everyday actions that have also crafted the world we have inherited. It is often those figures that are most relatable, and no less important, and equally missing from the general narrative. While Rosa Parks and MLK are important people with major contributions, there are so many other people we should enriching our collective knowledge and experience with. For example, read about Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and Fannie Lou Hamer, a Black activist from Mississippi who launched Freedom Farm Cooperative (FFC), an initiative to purchase land that Black people could collectively own and farm. Read or listen to “1619″ Project. Enjoy black authors Black authors in your reading list. Visit BlackPast.org for an extensive list of other notable Black figures. Dig into these collections, exhibits, and resources, or if you are an educator, these educational resources for teachers.
If you are as much a viewer as a reader, there are fantastic lists of documentaries from PBS or this List of 91 Movies and TV Shows to Stream and dive into wonderful performances by epic black leads and casts like award-winning Octavia Spencer in "Self Made", inspired by the life of Madam C.J. Walker, the first African American self-made millionaire, including Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us,” a drama about a real-life group of Black teens falsely accused of a vicious attack; “Loving,” a film about an interracial couple whose marriage became the basis of a landmark Supreme Court case; and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” starring Viola Davis as the groundbreaking Southern blues singer; and don't leave out outstanding comic performances like Tiffany Haddish's 'They Ready". And if you love music, celebrate and listen to music created by Black artists, for example, on Spotify’s “Black History is Now” or Amazon's 'Black History Month". Find classics Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles as well as current recording stars like H.E.R., Anderson .Paak and Andra Day. Meanwhile, this month and throughout the year, Donate Good Stuff will be highlighting people and innovative and exceptional organizations that are working to further black health, education, rights and community development. They are making tomorrow's history today, working toward a more vibrant, rich, and equitable world for future generations. Although not all organizations may be collecting donation items through Donate Good Stuff, they merit recognition and support of their work to support anti-racism equity and equality. We invite you to Follow us on Facebook to learn more. |
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