In recent weeks, iEmpathize and a host of other organizations have experienced a rerouting of personal and private funding going to address the needs in Haiti. Your participation in this simple giving program will help iE in profound ways.

This year’s Martin Luther King Day was deeply moving for me as I journaled some concepts inspired by listening to and reading his speeches.  It was not a radical request but a reasonable one for a person to drink from the same fountain and sit in the same seat on a bus as everyone else.  What was radical was that some were willing to die for that reasonable request. Change comes about through the convergence of the radical and the reasonable. Our team has streamlined our personal budgets to brace for the delicate phase of launching a non-profit. We chose this road and we are not asking everyone to make the same radical decision that we have, but we are asking for people to do something reasonable.

We have had demonstrable success in raising awareness and significant resources for child trafficking efforts. Since our public launch in September, we have raised over $100,000+ for our cause and engaged thousands in the issue. We have partnership commitments in the US, Cambodia, The Philippines, Thailand, India, Russia, and Mexico. We are poised to raise hundreds of thousands more this year with our new advocacy tools and programs but all of this is in jeopardy without your help. Learn about iE’s impact and what you help us with… read more!

iE team members are now experiencing the dip in support on a very personal level,  seriously impacting our personal finances and housing.

• We have an immediate need of $2,500.
• We need to raise $10,000 in monthly support so we can focus on our mission.

In the next few days, will you tell our story to a handful of people that you influence and personally invite them to help us with the 1:10 Project? There are two components to the 1:10 Project:

• INSPIRE friends and family to support iE at least $10 monthly in the next 10 days.
• ASK those friends to do the same.

A phone call then forwarding this message works great.

• To make a monthly or one-time tax deductible donation today click DONATE

• To learn more about iEmpathize visit www.iEmpathize.org and www.facebook.com/iEmpathize

Sincerely,

Brad Riley

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One Year…

February marked one year of incredible existence for iEmpathize and we are thrilled about year two! This list would not be a reality without you. With your help, here is what our small but effective team has been up to over the past year or so.

We are continually and extensively researching the cause and effects of justice issues impacting vulnerable children. We began by addressing the child sex trafficking issue in several countries. We met with academic experts, government leaders, law enforcement, investigators, practitioners, NGO leaders, at-risk families and children, and the child victims and survivors themselves. We are currently focusing on seven countries: the US, Mexico, Russia, India, Thailand, The Philippines and Cambodia. We have developed strategic and solution-based partnerships and projects in each of these countries. We are continually developing mixed-media experiences and events that immerse people in the issue and give the public practical ways to engage and become part of the solution.

This past year, we developed our business model and became a 501c3. We hired two full-time employees and one part-time. We established partnerships with photographers, filmmakers, musicians, and other artists. We mobilized a host of volunteers effectively partnering with us on a regular basis. In our launch year, we raised over $240,000.00 and legitimately brought exposure to tens of thousands of people for this issue.

Field Work…

Cambodia

iE’s Research

We met a persecuted member of Cambodian Parliament and listened to her efforts and her plea for governmental and grassroots change to end child sex trafficking within her country. We interviewed the regional director of social work for southern Cambodia and were personally guided through the country by a Cambodian practitioner and expert on the issue. We did extensive research with a Cambodian network of 40+ orgs working in child protection, intervention, and restoration efforts. We met with safe-home directors and caregivers; we visited five prevention centers and interviewed their staff. We interviewed an investigation and rescue organization that shared many of their cases with us. We interviewed a leader of social entrepreneurism creating sustainable career paths for at-risk youth and survivors of child sex trafficking. We visited many at-risk areas, a recently closed child brothel, and sadly, we experienced a mother’s attempt to prostitute her very young daughter to our media team.

iE’s Response

• We gathered substantial media used in our exhibit and film.
• We entered into an official partnership with Chab Dai, a network of 40+ orgs working within the issue.
• We participated in funding the development of a prevention-training curriculum for boys and girls at risk to be trafficked. The program has proven to be effective in at-risk communities.
• We have entered into an official partnership with Transitions Global (TG) through child sponsorship, monthly funding, and expansion plans to India. TG provides safe environments and innovative solutions where girls can heal through intensive trauma therapy, life skills training and learn viable, sustainable job skills.

Thailand

iE’s Research

We did field research in Bangkok and Chang Rai Thailand. We visited a safe home, interviewed caregivers and leadership, visited a transition home that Brad Riley had helped fund previous to launching iE. We met with child survivors and witnessed current victims.

iE’s Response

• We gathered substantial media which was used in our exhibit and film.
• We committed to a partnership with a safe home in northern Thailand where 30 girls are being restored. It is a forerunner in after-care with Transitional Housing for older girls to learn how to balance their new independence: taking care of themselves, their own small apartment, and school/work. This safe home is self-sustaining with its own fish farm, water supply, and orchard.

The Philippines

iE’s Research

We did field research with and extensively interviewed one of the leading experts on child trafficking in the Philippines. We visited a safe home, interviewed caregivers, and had conversations with child survivors.

iE’s Response

• We gathered substantial media which was used in our exhibit and film.
• We entered into an official partnership with The Round Home; a Love-146 safe home in the Philippines providing holistic care for survivors of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. The Round Home’s restoration process is leading the way and needs to be replicated. We are committed to monthly support, funding specific projects, and helping fund training for caregivers and counselors.
• We funded a major security upgrade for the Pilipino safe-home that was recently completed.
  

  Upgraded security wall and fence for safe home

Mexico

iE’s Research

We met with the key influencer of the Mexican abolitionist movement and head of the governments anti-trafficking task force. We attended the Mexican congressional hearings on anti-trafficking legislation. We strategized and cast vision with members of Mexican congress. We visited an org with 20+ years of experience protecting the vulnerable children of Mexico City. We visited the only safe home in Mexico, met with Mexican practitioners, an attorney for the child victims, and safe home directors and caregivers. We witnessed current victims, and met the child survivors.

iE’s Response

• We entered into an official partnership with Comino a Casa; the only safe home in Mexico providing holistic care for survivors of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. This safe home will serve as a model for other safe homes to be established. We are committed to monthly support and funding specific projects.

Advocacy Work…

We developed iEmpathize.org, our blog, a justice personality profile web tool, and educational web tools. We produced an immersive mixed-media exhibit that powerfully engages the public on the issue of child sex-trafficking. We produced a top quality short film on the issue in SE Asia that has proven to deeply impact it’s audiences. We developed academic forums, a film forum, and launched the Empathy Week on university campuses. We developed a private funding initiative with a goal of providing a way for 100% of public and event donations to directly impact our field partners. Our mixed-media advocacy experiences have exposed thousands of people to the issue of child trafficking. We are currently being featured in two novels and one nationally distributed magazine. Our media and events have been featured in prominent concert venues, universities, museums, galleries, conferences, faith communities, homes, pubs, coffee shops, and businesses. We have earned the respect of practitioners and the public and look forward to all that is ahead.

In Development…

We have a lot of great projects in development. We are off to Russia and Mexico where we are supporting some incredible efforts and adding their stories to our mixed media exhibits and events. We are addressing the U.S. issue by producing a trucking industry awareness and training film. We have our new Scooter Hero advocacy events poised to raise mass awareness and funds for our field partners.

In April, we are joining Children’s Hope Chest, a movement of 100+ orphanages, on an eastern European expedition. 70% of Russian teen orphan girls enter the sex trade so Hope Chest is adding human trafficking elements to their Russian programs. Media from this trip will communicate aspects of the sex trafficking issue in Europe and will be added to our human trafficking exhibit that tours the US. We will also guide Hope Chest in the development of their own mixed-media exhibit. The president of Children’s Hope Chest is also a New York Times best selling novelist who is featuring the issue and iEmpathize. The iE exhibit will travel with the nationwide book tour raising awareness and funds for the Russian field project.

Mexico

In May, we will take a media expedition to Mexico. We will capture the story of a young sex trafficking survivor and communicate the issue in Mexico City, the borders, and resort towns. Media will be added to our human trafficking exhibit that tours the US. A media exhibit will be built and translated into Spanish for education and advocacy within Mexico.

US Truck Stops and Highways

In June, we will be working on our US field partnership, a Trucking Industry Awareness and Training Film to educate and enlist trucking companies, safety directors, and the truckers themselves who will join together to end this heinous crime.  On this domestic iEmpathize Expedition, iE will go undercover to gather story-telling artifacts, photography, and film footage that will be incorporated into trucking industry events and be integrated into our exhibit on human trafficking.

Summer and Fall

We begin our scooter Hero Ride and Rally events. The Scooter Hero Ride and Rally is a citywide publicity, awareness, and fundraising event inspired by one of our Cambodian field partnerships. iEmpathize has created the Scooter Hero Ride and Rally as a way for the mainstream public to engage in the issue as an advocate, make a real difference, and raise funds on the behalf of vulnerable children. There is incredible potential to raise $100,000+ for our field partners at some of these events.

Partner…

Thank you for helping us get where we are today. Please continue to partner with us to impact the lives of kids.

To contribute a monthly or one time gift click DONATE

Contact info@iempathize.org to host an iE event

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Our dear friend, attorney, and fellow advocate, Beth Klein, has written an anti-trafficking bill for Colorado to break criminal trafficking organizations. The Colorado Anti-Trafficking Bill will be heard Thursday, March 18 at the 1:30PM House Judiciary Committee (SB 140 Room 107) at the State Capital We have 100% Senate approval; let’s get 100% of the House! Come out and support this incredible bill!!!

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On a recent trip to Mexico, we were invited to meet with the key influencer of the Mexican abolitionist movement. It wasn’t that long ago that Rosi Orozco was just another citizen of Mexico but in the last couple of years all that has changed. When Rosi became aware of the human trafficking issue in Mexico and that very little was being done to stop it, her life would never be the same. Rosi took action and ran for congress with human trafficking at the forefront of her campaign. In a few short years, she has become a congresswoman, has been appointed to the head of the government’s anti-trafficking task force, facilitated the development and passing of Mexico’s first set of trafficking laws, negotiated a former drug cartel home as Mexico’s first safe home, went undercover and personally rescued three prostituted minors right in front of their pimps. Her influence has made the Mexican government get serious about this issue and they are passing mass legislation to combat it. We attended the Mexican Congressional Forum on Anti-Trafficking where seven panels representing different departments of government presented their aspect of the new anti-trafficking legislation. We heard from Child Welfare, Woman’s Affairs, Immigration, the equivalent of Mexico’s FBI, the US Justice Department and more. Microsoft Mexico made an intriguing presentation on human trafficking internet tactics in Mexico. We strategized and cast vision with members of Mexican congress. Our team met with Mexican practitioners which included an organization with 20+ years of experience protecting the vulnerable children of Mexico City, the only safe home in Mexico, the safe home directors and caregivers, and the attorney for the child victims. We witnessed current victims being prostituted and met the child survivors.

We entered into a partnership with Comino a Casa; the only safe home in Mexico providing holistic care for survivors of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. This safe home will serve as a model for other safe homes to be established. We are committed to monthly support and funding specific projects.

In May, we will take a media expedition to Mexico. We will capture the story of a young sex trafficking survivor and communicate the issue in Mexico City, the borders, and resort towns. Media will be added to our human trafficking exhibit that tours the US. A media exhibit will be built and translated into Spanish for education and advocacy within Mexico.

To contribute a monthly or one time gift click DONATE

Contact info@iempathize.org to host an iE event

No comments

Russian girls “graduate” from orphanages at age 17 and are highly vulnerable to traffickers. 70% of them enter the sex trade, 40% become drug users, 40% commit crimes, and 15% commit suicide. Tom Davis, a New York Times best-selling author and President of Children’s Hope Chest, will be featuring iEmpathize in his new novel about orphans and human trafficking in Eastern Europe. Children’s Hope Chest is a movement of 100+ orphanages in Eastern Europe and Africa. This April, we will be gathering stories and media that communicate the sex trafficking issue in Europe. On our return, we will integrate the new content into our mixed-media experiential exhibit. We will also guide Hope Chest in the development their own mixed-media exhibit. The iE exhibit will travel with the nationwide book tour raising awareness and funds for the Russia project. This includes developing trafficking curriculum for Russian orphan caregivers and the teenage girls transitioning out of the orphanages.

To contribute a monthly or one time gift for our Russia Project click DONATE

Contact info@iempathize.org to host an iE event

No comments

The average age for a young girl to enter the sex for sale industry in the United States is 12. There are an estimated 200-400,000 prostituted minors in the U.S.; 50,000 persons are trafficked into the U.S. each year. Due to the transient nature of truck stops much of domestic sex trafficking takes place along our nations highways and at its truck stops.  In June, we will be working on a US field project with Truckers against Trafficking. We are producing a Trucking Industry Awareness and Training Film to educate and enlist trucking companies, safety directors, and the truckers themselves who will join together to end this heinous crime.  On this domestic iEmpathize Expedition, iE will go undercover to gather story-telling artifacts, photography, and film footage that will be incorporated into trucking industry events and be integrated into our exhibit on human trafficking.

July 24 :: MARK YOUR CALENDARS

This summer and fall, we begin our scooter Hero Ride and Rally events. The Scooter Hero Ride and Rally is a citywide publicity, awareness, and fundraising event inspired by one of our Cambodian field partnerships. iEmpathize has created the Scooter Hero Ride and Rally as a way for the mainstream public to engage in the issue as an advocate, make a real difference, and raise funds on the behalf of vulnerable children. There is incredible potential to raise $100,000+ for our field partners at some of these events.

• The Ride and Walk is an event where a couple hundred scooters and several hundred walkers raise mass awareness and tens of thousands of dollars for vulnerable children. We will be led through LoDo by the Denver Police “parade style” from the Pepsi Center to Coors Field and back again.
• The Rally is the celebration after the ride that features iE’s mixed media and a concert downtown… details to come.
• The event is sponsored by Kroenke Sports Enterprises Charities (KSE) and iEmpathize. Visit KSE’s website to learn about an awesome event that benefits all their charities including the Denver Scooter Hero Ride and Rally.

Contact chad@iempathize.org to join the coordinators team or to learn how to volunteer and participate.

To contribute a monthly or one time gift click DONATE

Contact info@iempathize.org to host an iE event

In Addtion

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