NEXT ALLIES MEETING:

Date:  This Saturday, February 4th

Time:  1:00pm – 3:00pm

Place: Space12, 3121 E. 12th St.

Program:

• Reconnect after the holidays

• Drop off in-kind donations for “Alexis”

• Get updated on activism/volunteer opportunities and coming events

• Presentation and Q&A with representatives from Lifeworks and Refugee Services of Texas, two Coalition members

HOLIDAY GATHERING

 

Join us at 5:30 pm on December 9th at Food Heads Cafe at 616 West 34th Street, for an informal gathering of ALLIES members.

 

This is an opportunity to get together informally with the ALLIES network to celebrate the community we’ve created together. It is also a time to build support for the Austin families who have survived slavery and exploitation. Please consider making an in-kind donation (HEB or Target gift cards in any amount) or tax-deductible cash donation. This is a tangible way you and your network can make a difference in the lives of Austin survivors.

Make checks out to Austin Community Foundation with ALLIES against Slavery in the memo line. Checks and gift cards can be mailed to ALLIES against Slavery, P.O. Box 684284, Austin TX 78768-4284 or brought in person to the Dec. 9th gathering.

The TVPA or Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 serves as the framework for much of the anti-slavery work in the United States today. It is coming up for reauthorization. Learn more about it and take action by contacting your elected officials.

 

ATEST is the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking and is made up of prominent human rights groups. Learn more about ATEST and the TVPA reauthorization here and here.

Free Austin is a community initiative coordinated by ALLIES Against Slavery. In strategic partnership with other local organizations and activists, we are working at one goal – to end human trafficking.

The first annual Free Austin event is a month-long campaign against human trafficking and will be held during September. Numerous events have been coordinated throughout Austin to raise awareness about human trafficking and educate the community on how to get involved. From movie screenings and panel discussions, to family-friendly walks and live concerts, Free Austin gives everyone an opportunity to deepen their knowledge about this global epidemic.

Join us for the FREE AUSTIN KICK-OFF EVENT on September 13th at 9:45 am at the Texas Capitol.

To learn more about human trafficking and local efforts, visit www.freeaustin.org.

Like us: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Austin/225646907477817

Follow us: http://twitter.com/#!/freeatx

Check out Rachel Lloyd’s newly-released book Girls Like Us. Rachel is founder of GEMS, a model program in New York City that responds to the needs to commercially sexually exploited girls. She is also a survivor, and her book blends personal experiences of exploitation with her expert perspective on creating networks of services and safety nets for other survivors.

Please join Stop Child Trafficking Now this coming Saturday at “More Than A Breakfast”. SCTNow is a grassroots campaign whose focus is on the demand side, that is, getting the sex predators off the streets. They do so by funding Special Operative Teams to identify child sex predators and build gift wrapped cases for law enforcement for arrest, prosecution, and conviction. The teams are comprised of retired, elite operatives such as FBI, Navy Seals, military experts who are experienced in undercover work. Clark Stuart, President of the Operatives team will be the keynote speaker. In addition, Cyndi Borsellino, a local abolitionist and a survivor of child sex trafficking will also speak and perform music and poetry .

 

Check out the link for registration to the breakfast. It will be held at the Barton Creek Country Club at 10:00 a.m. You don’t want to miss it! 

This morning’s Austin American-Statesman ran a review of  Barry Estabrook’s recent book Tomatoland, which describes the human and environmental cost of the tomato industry. The community-based organization Coalition of Imokolee Workers has been working diligently for years on this issue  and is featured in this 2010 CBS news report. Check it out here.

ALLIES first began in Juneteenth, 2010, as a way to bring together community members in Austin’s budding anti-slavery movement. We hope to continue to bring together the multiple efforts, share information, and improve the overall response to slavery in our community.

 

Please stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Human Trafficking Awareness Week, which will include several awareness-raising activities and events throughout Austin in mid-September. More information to come on this site soon!

Thank you to all who joined ALLIES last night to enjoy food, beverages, friendship, music, and eventually the downpour!

In addition to raising funds, of which 100% go directly to survivors of slavery and exploitation right here in Austin, we learned more about how each of us can apply our skills, time, and spirit to the anti-slavery movement.

Thanks again to everyone who came and to Hot Mama’s Cafe for hosting us!

Join us this Friday, May 20th from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at Hot Mama’s Courtyard, 2401 East 6th Street for an opportunity to meet, greet, and invite – and to raise funds to support local survivors of slavery and exploitation. We’ll enjoy free food and beverages on a beautiful outdoor patio and be treated to a sneak peek at the new Trade in Hope trailer as well. Please make an effort to bring at least 3 friends with you. No fee to attend.

Join us on Facebook!