I was first made aware of the realities of Human Trafficking by a dear friend, Jessica Corbeil.  Jessica is an avid advocate for the campaign to bring equality and abolish the human slave trade around the world, so much so that she is studying law in Ottawa at the moment. 

Jessica asked me if I would write a song for an event she was planning called “Sold Out” to be held at Grant MacEwan University in 2010 (I think). As I began researching, I was shocked to discover that people are trafficked, not only in other countries, but Canadian citizens are being trafficked within Canada. 

First of all, what is human trafficking?  It is when someone is unwillingly taken from their home, or taken under false pretenses, and then forced to work.  Most commonly, the work is as a sexual slave or for manual labor, but people are also traded for their organs.  There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe.  Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.

I could go on and on about the stories out there, but one that really brought the story close to home, was about a woman from Edmonton. She had been abducted by some men and taken down to Calgary, only 3 ½ hours away, and forced to sell herself on street corners for 6 months. Finally, somehow she slipped the tight watch of her captors and got to a phone, managing to escape.  But, even being rescued by friends and family, she had to leave the country, because the men who had taken her in the first place would return again if she was anywhere in their reach. 

A21, who we are supporting through our Fashion For Freedom campaign, is an organization that exists to abolish injustice in the 21st century. Through 4 main areas, they work to stop the trafficking of humans:  Prevention: Through education and raising awareness they provide potential victims with the strategies to avoid accidental involvement in the trafficking industry.  Protection: Once rescued, trafficking survivors are provided a place to live in a shelter or transition house where they are equipped with tools to build a new future.  Prosecution: They work to strengthen legal response to human trafficking and provide legal council to victims.  Partnership: A21 partners with local law enforcement, service providers, and community members to meet a comprehensive set of needs for those rescued from bondage. 

Get more information on how you can get involved by visiting their website, www.theA21campaign.org.

We hope to see many of you out tonight at Fashion for Freedom and thank you to everyone who has volunteered their resources and time to help us bring awareness to this cause.  For more information on tonight’s event, please visit www.fashionforfreedom.ca.  Tickets are available at the door.

-S

This song I wrote called Stand on Guard was inspired by the many stories I heard while researching the topic. 

We are one week away from our much anticipated event, Fashion For Freedom!  The girls and I have accomplished many different tasks while planning this event: hiring a caterer, finding entertainment, volunteers, a venue, media coverage, equipment rental... this list goes on and on.  The evening will be filled with tons of great people, delicious food, fun beverages, silent auction items, merchandise for sale, and the main event: the fashion show!  If you don't already know, we've asked 20 local Edmonton and area artists to create two pieces of raw couture each using anything-but-fabric. (I.E. paper, plastic, metal, tape...) We are expecting some very creative pieces and, from the few we've seen so far, the audience will not be disappointed.  To add to the fashion show fun there will be dancers, singers, speakers, and a beautiful short film. (Check out a teaser of the film made by Joses Martin on our Facebook Page.) 

The most important part of this night is that all proceeds go to The A21 Campaign, an organization that exists to abolish injustice in the 21st Century.  They help rescue and provide the victims of human trafficking with a safe and comforting environment, with access to medical and psychological care, vocational training, secondary education assistance, counseling and access to legal assistance.

What is so heart-warming is how many people have come forward with generous offers to help, donate and volunteer.  We've received emails from strangers who, having planned similar events, offer us advice.  We've had companies donate exciting silent auction prizes such as an iPad, Chanel Sunglasses, Handmade Jewelry, and a flight for two anywhere in North America.  I'd like to give a special shout out to Poiema Gal, Candice Fiorentino, who is the heart and soul of this project.  She has been planning to throw an event of this grandeur for years now and it has finally come to fruition.  She has worked extremely hard in every aspect of planning this event and I believe she is a big part of why so many people want to be involved.  

Fashion For Freedom will take place Saturday, April 27th.  Doors open at 6:30pm.  Check out www.fashionforfreedom.ca for more information and how you can get tickets.  We hope to see you there!

-B

Well, don’t you just love it when you started writing something, saved the document somewhere and then can’t remember what you titled it?  Well I don’t. 

Thats okay, I’ll just start again.  Who doesn’t like a fresh start?  I don’t.  Just kidding. 

Last Tuesday, (like two weeks ago Tuesday) I went and saw my first slam poetry battle as part of the Hullabaloo Youth Poetry Slam Competition in Vancouver. There were teams from different high schools who competed individually and in groups.  As I saw all the kids using big words and alliteration to try and capture their life as they experience it, or their take on world problems and solutions, I was fondly reminded of a time when my life was full of the same type of passion.  When I was their age, I thought I knew things, and I don’t mean historical facts.  I thought I knew things about the world and how it ran.  The truth is I was very innocent (still am in lots of ways I think), but what I lacked in experiential knowledge, I made up for in determination and enthusiasm. 

I am currently under the mentorship of a well known publicist in town, Ellie O’Day, helping to promote the IGNITE! Youth-Driven Arts Festival, and I am again surrounded by youth (of which I am still considered to be part of at the moment) and I am inspired by the amount they take on, and their talents that they work hard at cultivating. 

Along the way, I have lost track of my teenage self, who was out to conquer the world.  I could attribute this to many things- the first being money, which instills in you the fear of ‘not enough’.  Also, there is the fear of age which I instill with the expectation that ‘I should know things.’  But that self analysis is not the intent of this reflection. 

Spending time around people with the passion like the high school kids I have encountered over the last few months, reminds me of a braver time and inspires me to get back there in spirit and march forward. 

P.S. This is relevant but also off topic, I am super into spoken word now!

Good day!  I have returned home from my extended and wonderful trip to Australia and Hong Kong.  Ah, the perks of having family all over the world.  Traveling has become an accidental hobby of mine, a passion I happened to fall into.  From year long backpacking trips with friends, to family visits 26 hours away, I've got to experience many different parts of the world. 

When I travel somewhere new, I try to live life like the locals: taking off my tourist shoes and discovering a local bar, a secret waterfall, or getting short-term jobs that most visitors don't get to experience.  I think the desire to find these things stems from our innate passion to fit in, to belong and feel like we're part of something.  I was talking to my sister about the importance of traveling and she stressed the fact that so many people don't do it.  Yes, many don't have family they can visit in exotic places, but some just don't want to either.  I hope that everyone has a time in their life when their curiosity brings them to a new place, out of their comfort zone, across the language barrier, and to a place overflowing with a new culture.  It teaches you humility, modesty, and respect.  Most of all, the experiences stay with you and become a part of who you are.  

Happy traveling!

-B