Voices of Freedom

On this episode of Voices of Freedom, we sit down with former Freedom a la Cart team member, Bekah Delk, now at Scarlet Hope Ohio, to discuss a powerful topic: exploitation and trafficking within strip clubs.Bekah shares Scarlet Hope's unique and impactful approach to supporting women working in these clubs through club outreach and text-based connection, offering a lifeline of hope and safety. Tune in for a raw, eye-opening conversation about the realities of trafficking and how we can all play a part in fighting exploitation. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week we dive deep into the critical topic of microaggressions with experts Phyl and Danielle from YWCA. YWCA Columbus is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Be sure to give them a follow here!Join us as we explore what microaggressions are, their impact, and how we can work together to create more inclusive and respectful environments. Don't miss this insightful conversation! Tune in now and empower yourself with knowledge. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

In this week's episode, we are joined by Laura, co-founder and Executive Director of The Harriet Tubman Movement. Laura talks about her impactful work as a first responder during human trafficking sting operations. She shares powerful stories from the front lines, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs faced in the fight against human trafficking. Tune in to hear Laura's inspiring journey, the realities of human trafficking, and how The Harriet Tubman Movement is making a difference.Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Ever heard the term 'trauma-informed'? Tune in this week to the Voices of Freedom podcast as we welcome Vanessa Perkins, Program Director of Freedom a la Cart. Vanessa will dive into the concept of trauma-informed care and share insights on fostering a trauma-informed workplace.Whether you're a leader or a team member, this episode is a must-listen!Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Unlock the power of personality in the workplace! Join us on the next episode of Voices of Freedom as we delve into the fascinating world of Enneagrams with Enneagram expert, Susan Alexander. We chat about how understanding Enneagrams can transform your work environment and relationships. Don't miss out - tune in for valuable insights and practical tips!Grab our Enneagram workplace resource here!Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

One of our main goals at Freedom a la Cart is to help end the generational trauma of human trafficking. Many of the individuals we serve have had family members before them who have also been human trafficked. On today's episode of Voices of Freedom, Amber Michael MSW, LSW, CTP shares about the effects generational trafficking and trauma has on families. Tune in now!Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week on the Voices of Freedom podcast, our guest Kwami shares his lived experience of child labor trafficking. Kwami's parents were promised their child would receive a proper education if he came to the U.S., and while he did attend school, it came at a great cost. Join us as Kwami opens up about his journey and discusses the impactful work he's now doing to support male survivors of trafficking. It's a story of resilience and dedication that you won't want to miss.Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Khalila didn't even know her real name until 2020, her story will shock you! Tune in to this week's episode of Voices of Freedom to hear Khalila's story, and get an inside look at the gray market and the impact this had on Khalila's life. Purchase Khalila's book here.Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week Jasmine Myers joins us and shares how systemic barriers + challenges contributed to her familial trafficking experience. Jasmine is a force to be reckoned with and has continued to pick herself up by her bootstraps and is continuing to pave her way in this world, against all odds! Tune in to hear how you can be a part of the change for future generations. Want to learn more from Jasmine? Register to hear her speak at The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking's next workshop! Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

In this episode, we chatted with Nick and Tiera from We Amplify Voices about using art as a tool to help process trauma. Learn more about the impactful work WAV does and how you can incorporate art into your day by tuning in!Also, a special shout out to WAV for providing us with our intro music on our podcast!Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

In this week's episode, we welcomed Lacey and Lila, from Pocket Blonde Fitness who joined us to have a conversation about the correlation of mental + physical well-being. Lacey shares her vulnerable journey towards sobriety and the challenges she faced getting there. Her narrative unfolds as a testament to resilience, revealing how she sought refuge in exercise to channel the trauma she confronted.Lila + Lacey talk about the pivotal role that mental health plays within the daily rhythm of life, asserting its indispensable connection to cultivating a healthy body. Their collective wisdom reminds us to recognize mental well-being as a cornerstone, an essential companion in the pursuit of overall health.Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Did you know traffickers are typically NOT STRANGERS to their victims? This is a startling reality – most victims know, and often trust and love, their trafficker. We are kicking off season 4 of the Voices of Freedom podcast with Yvonne from PACT. In this episode, we explore the red flags of human trafficking, providing guidance on identifying signs in potential victims. Discover PACT's educational opportunities by visiting their website here. Enhance your knowledge further with the Polaris Project Human Trafficking 101 training here.Find more human trafficking educational resources here.Put the NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE number in your phone contacts: 888-373-7888Text a message, INFO, or HELP to: 233733For your safety, please never approach a trafficker. Report suspicions to the hotline or call 911.Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Amy Flowers, an attorney with Ice Miller, shares the importance of record expungement for human trafficking survivors and gives us an inside look at what the expungement process looks like. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week on Voices of Freedom we chatted with Survivor Leader Teonna, who shared her holistic approach to recovery and how she has adapted a holistic approach to other areas of her life. Tune in to hear how you can start implementing a more natural approach to supporting your daily life!

On today's episode, we give you an inside scoop of our Workforce Development Program featuring, Vanessa and special co-host Dorie. Vanessa takes us on a journey of how our program developed, what the phases look like within the program, and shares how YOU can help serve our participants. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week's episode is unique and exciting because we had a male survivor join us and share an inside look at his lived experience. John-Michael Lander is a former Olympic diving contender and sexual abuse survivor. As a 14-year-old Olympic-bound athlete, the adults entrusted in John-Michael's training groomed and trafficked him into silence. Through writing, speaking, and consulting, he helps individuals and organizations identify the PredatoryGrooming Trifecta©. He also openly talks about Male Trauma Bonding, Locker Room Talk, How to Talk to Male Survivors, and the Reluctancy of Reporting. He is a certified Trainer and Life coach for the Self-Talk Institute and is helping survivors find their voice.In this episode, John-Michael shares what parents should look for in their children that may be signs of grooming, what to do if you suspect grooming, and shares what impact grooming had on his life. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Reducing the demand for sex starts with understanding why people solicit sex in the first place. Chris Stollar, author + educator, joins us on this week's episode to share an inside look at what he has learned from participants who go through She Has A Name's Solicitor Education Program. Chris also shares a story from Ryan, a Solicitor Education Program graduate, and tells how the program helped Ryan find a new desire to help fight human trafficking.  We hope this episode leaves you thinking about demand reduction in a different light. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Paula Lybrook joins us this week and shares an inside look at her journey of being a mom to a survivor of sex trafficking. Paula's story is real and vulnerable and we hope her words leave you looking inward on how you can take her lived experience and apply it to your own family. Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week Survivor Expert, Alicia Ley, joins us and educates on Familial Trafficking through her lived experience and expertise. She shares how trust is built to normalize trafficking within a family, what grooming may look like, and the power of family secrets. Alicia shares a couple of powerful quotes that we encourage you to take with you after listening to this episode: "We can't own what other people pass on to us but we can own ourselves" and "We can all be family tree changers". Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

Have you heard the term re-exploitation? On today's episode, we dive into a conversation about the work Freedom a la Cart has been doing around re-exploitation within our organization. Guests Paula Haines, Freedom a la Cart CEO, and Jomel Spurlock, Director of Victim Services for the Human Trafficking Initiative + Freedom a la Cart board member share what changes have been made in our organization to better combat re-exploitation and share tips on what you can do within your organization. Keep the conversation going in the comments and let us know what you think of today's episode! Learn more about empowHER and purchase tickets here!Thank you for listening today! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on all episode releases, events happening at Freedom a la Cart, and more.

This week on Voices of Freedom, Liz with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) joins us and shares a little bit about her journey as a survivor leader, what TAT is, and what human trafficking training can do for our communities.

Have you heard of the term “trauma bond”? On this week's episode of Voices of Freedom, Kaitlin Casassa, LISW-S, MSW, a PhD candidate in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University, joins us and helps educate us on what a trauma bond is, who it affects, and how we can help those affected. 

This week on Voices of Freedom, our friend Kelly joins us from the anti-human trafficking organization Her Song. Their mission is to engage survivors of sex trafficking in building a new life by providing safe relationships, a healthy community of support, mental health care, life skills, and preparing them for work, education and achieving new goals. 

Find out what burns Caroline's biscuits on this week's episode of Voices of Freedom! Caroline shares the transformation she sees in women who were once living on the streets that are now ready to graduate CATCH Court. She also sheds light on the stigma of relapse and mental health and what we can do as community members to help end the stigma. We had quite a few laughs throughout this episode and we hope that you not only learn something but also laugh along with us! Let us know what you think of this episode in the comments!----Caroline Moore, LSW, MSW, has worked in the Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) field for several years. Her professional path began as an AHT Case Manager, before being promoted to Victim Advocate with the Central Ohio HT Task Force. After returning to school to receive her Master's in Social Work from OSU, Caroline became CATCH Court Coordinator, where she manages client and partner relations for the specialized docket. Caroline has volunteered with Sanctuary Night since its inception in 2017 as a link between women in ‘the life' and the court system. She additionally began providing counseling through Porchlight in the beginning of 2022.P.S. should we do a bloopers episode? 

What does life look like after living on the streets for years? It's hard to imagine the level of strength it takes to leave a lifestyle of prostitution and substance use – but it is achievable. Our friend Nancy joined us for this week's Voices of Freedom podcast and shares about the life she left and where she is now. 

Curious how you can help combat the opioid epidemic right here in Central Ohio? On this week's episode of Voices of Freedom Mandie  + Devin chatted with two RREACT team members, Amy and Rachel,  who shared about what their team does, what impact Narcan has on our community, and how to help end the stigma around substance use. Learn more about RREACT here.Order Narcan here.Watch Mandie + RREACT team member on the news here!---We'd like to thank MGF Sourcing and the MGF Touch Foundation for their sponsorship of Eat Up Columbus- Freedom a la Cart's annual fundraiser, taking place Saturday, July 30th at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus. Making Great Fashion Sourcing has historically been a passionate advocate of Freedom a la Cart and our mission to empower survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation to lead new lives of freedom, and we are truly grateful for their partnership. Visit MGF Sourcing's website today at https://www.mgfsourcing.com/, and purchase tickets to attend this year's Eat Up at www.eatupcolumbus.org.

How does one begin their mindful consumerism journey? Don't freight! Mindful Consumerism Coach, Melanie, joins us on this week's episode of Voices of Freedom to share how she began her journey and shares a few tips to help you start yours! Melanie also shares the correlation between consumerism and labor trafficking. Sponsor:We'd like to thank MGF Sourcing and the MGF Touch Foundation for their sponsorship of Eat Up Columbus- Freedom a la Cart's annual fundraiser, taking place Saturday, July 30th at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus. Making Great Fashion Sourcing has historically been a passionate advocate of Freedom a la Cart and our mission to empower survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation to lead new lives of freedom, and we are truly grateful for their partnership. Visit MGF Sourcing's website today at https://www.mgfsourcing.com/, and purchase tickets to attend this year's Eat Up at www.eatupcolumbus.org.Resources: Melanie's email: themindfulconsumercoach@gmail.comMelanie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_lillich_conover/Labor Trafficking: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/type-trafficking/labor-traffickingRemake: http://remake.world/take_action/Awaj Foundation: http://awajfoundation.org/

In this episode of Voices of Freedom, Jess shares what it's like being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community while sex trafficked. She explains how important it is to have a community of support around you and how even though you may be sober, you will still face daily life challenges. --------We'd like to thank MGF Sourcing and the MGF Touch Foundation for their sponsorship of Eat Up Columbus- Freedom a la Cart's annual fundraiser, taking place Saturday, July 30th at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus. Making Great Fashion Sourcing has historically been a passionate advocate of Freedom a la Cart and our mission to empower survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation to lead new lives of freedom, and we are truly grateful for their partnership. Visit MGF Sourcing's website today at https://www.mgfsourcing.com/, and purchase tickets to attend this year's Eat Up at www.eatupcolumbus.org.

Dianne and Morgan share what it's like being a volunteer with Freedom a la Cart, what impact it has had on their lives, and how you can get involved. We definitely wouldn't be where we are without these two incredible souls and the rest of our amazing volunteers!

Curious to know how Freedom a la Cart started, where the name came from, and what a social enterprise is exactly? Listen to this week's Voices of Freedom episode to learn more about the café and Freedom a la Cart!

We are so excited to share this week's Voices of Freedom episode with you! Sophia Fifner shares about her journey with sexual assault, what it's like to help empower women, and the importance of volunteerism.

This week the Honorable Judge Herbert joined us and we promise friends – it's a must listen! He shared how CATCH Court was developed and why, how men can get more involved in the anti-human trafficking community, and he even spilled the beans on how he felt going to speak at a prison, which may leave you surprised.

Jennifer Rausch joined us this week for an inside scoop on what its like to be an Attorney within the Human Trafficking Community. Jennifer is the Legal Director within the Human Trafficking Initiative  at Ohio Attorney General's Office. In this episode she shares how her career has lead her to her current role within the Human Trafficking Initiative, what she has learned along the way, and how we can all do more. We hope you enjoy this week's episode and want to remind you to use your voice because your voice matters! 

We know you probably are all aware that the Arnold Classic is coming back to town this week. While this is an exciting event to those participating we want to bring awareness to another important factor of this event. Large sporting events like this one also increase the amount of sex trafficking in our community. To help us share this information we asked best-selling author and survivor leader, Theresa Flores, to join us on the Voices of Freedom podcast to share her expertise on this subject.Theresa also shares how she got involved with the Anti-Human Trafficking community and about the nonprofit she started called The S.O.A.P Project. Share your voice because your voice matters!

In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to highlight our friends at the Black Women Rise Poetry Collective! In our latest episode of Voices of Freedom, we chatted with Barbara and Dorie, who are both involved with the collective. They shared how the collective got started, how it has impacted their lives, and what their hope is for its future. They also shared their perspective on what it means to be a Black woman during Black History Month– celebrating their culture every day! Barbara left our audience with a powerful message – “share your voice!”

 In this week's episode, our guest Hollie shares her harrowing story of being a sex trafficking survivor. Despite her story being very traumatic, she vulnerably shares some of those deep traumas with us, including how she has been working through her harsh childhood and what the process of healing is like for her.We hope this episode leaves you with a better awareness of how shockingly easy it is to fall into the sex trafficking world.We want to thank Hollie for her vulnerability in sharing her story with us. 

What better way to kick off 2022 than with a LIVE podcast featuring Nicole Bromley?! We enjoyed hearing Nicole share her journey in the Human Trafficking movement and we loved having audience questions. In this episode, you will hear from Nicole Bromley, sexual abuse survivor, author, professional speaker, share her story and how it has impacted the rest of her life. You can find out more about Nicole and her nonprofit, OneVoice here!We hope you enjoy this LIVE episode! 

On this week of Voices of Freedom, we had Christina Conrad with the FBI, join us! This episode got deep quickly chatting about cards that you can find in Las Vegas. Curious how to stop sex trafficking? Christina mic drops us with the simplest of answers. Christina also shares with us how she because a Victim Specialist with the FBI and what she does in her free time. Want to learn more about Child Survivor Day Camp? Click here: https://www.childsurvivordaycamp.com/

This week we had Hannah join us to chat about her work within the Anti-Human Trafficking Movement and mental health. Hannah shares with us about the impact CATCH had on her life, her new ventures with Porchlight & Sanctuary Night, and tips for bettering your mental health!We know this episode is going to leave you motivated for change! We want to thank you for listening and remind you to use your voice, because your voice matters! Learn more about Porchlight here!Find out how to get involved with Sanctuary Night here! 

We are so excited for you guys to listen to this week's episode! We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Dana, the Director of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force! Dana gives a good insight into what she does to help the human trafficking issue here in Central, Ohio.  She tells us about her diverse team, what a 'John' is, and more! We hope you enjoy this episode and want to urge you to use your voice, because your voice matters. 

We are SO excited for you to listen to this week's episode with our fabulous guest, Rose! Rose has worked in our workforce development program for just over 18 months and has truly blown us away by her resilience and dedication to her own future. While at Freedom, Rose has graduated from CATCH Court and Amethyst, got her driver's license through Freedom's Driver's License Reinstatement program, and continued to work toward acquiring her GED. In addition to this, Rose participated in Freedom's Savings Match Program and purchased a car through Freedom's partnership with Ricart Automotive.Since gaining her license, Rose has become one of our star delivery drivers! You may see her dropping off your catering order.  Rose shares her story with us this week -- and it will be sure to leave you longing for change! We hope you enjoy this week's episode as much as we did -- and we ask that you share your voice, because your voice matters! 

Our friend Mandi Pierson joined us for this week's episode. We chatted about mental health, seeking help, what a relationship with your counselor may look like, things to do for a better mental health and more. Mandi is a trauma informed co-director and clinician at Porchlight here in Columbus. To reach out to Porchlight about counseling services or trauma informed workshops head to their page here. Thank you for joining the conversation. Remember your voice matters!

On this week's episode of Voices of Freedom, we had the opportunity of sitting down and chatting with Gwen, the CATCH Court Program Leader. We talked about everything from Social Justice, mental health days, human trafficking and more. The truth she speaks will leave you with goosebumps! Thank you for joining the conversation! #yourvoicematters

In this week's episode we sat down with Vanessa, a survivor of sex trafficking who shares her timeline of how she became a person who was sex trafficked. Vanessa's story is packed full of trauma but she also manages to see the funny moments in between the dark times, we hope you share a few laughs with us as well. Thank you for joining the conversation and we hope you share your voice, because your voice matters. #yourvoicematters #endthestigma

Okay guys -- bear with us as we learn to become professional podcasters! In today's episode you will meet Devin & Mandie, Freedom a la Cart team members. We will share who Freedom a la Cart is, what to expect from the Voices of Freedom podcast, and more! Next week's episode we will be interviewing one of the first survivor's in Freedom's workforce development program. We are so happy to have you join us!Learn more about us at freedomalacart.org.