LifeWay Network’s Spring Fundraiser, Event Towards New Life – Working Together to End Human Trafficking, took place on Tuesday May 19, 2015, at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola Wallace Hall.
A heartfelt thank you to all who attended and made it such a success!
LifeWay Network 2015 Freedom Award
The Freedom Award was presented to Sheryl WuDunn (Co-author of the books and PBS documentaries A Path Appears and Half the Sky). She encouraged everyone to gain an understanding of the growing complexity of sex trafficking, and challenged the audience to learn about the demand side of this issue. She commended LifeWay Network for its work in providing safe housing and raising awareness of human trafficking.
LifeWay Network Expansion
Sister Joan Dawber, SC, Executive Director, said 2015 will be a year of expansion and growth for LifeWay Network, and announced the opening of Aspire Home in partnership with Covenant House. This program provides accommodation, along with an array of services, for 7 – 10 young women survivors, and the first two women recently moved into the house.
“But we don’t stop there!” she said, as she went on to report that LifeWay House 2 is expected to open later this year, providing an additional 8 beds for women survivors. When LifeWay House 2 opens, LifeWay Network’s Safe Housing Program will be providing a total of 25 beds for women survivors of human trafficking in New York. “This is an amazing leap in such a short time,” she said, “Together, we really do make a difference!”
Voice of Freedom
Voice of FreedomEmily Waters, LifeWay Network’s Coordinator of Operations, then spoke about her years of advocacy in the anti-trafficking movement, sharing many stories from her experiences in many countries where she has worked.
Emily, a Licensed Master of Social Work, has been involved in anti-trafficking since 2007 and has worked domestically and abroad, primarily in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
N.Y. Times Coverage of LifeWay Network Event
LifeWay Network’s event was covered by the New York Times in Bill Cunningham’s Evening Hours column on Sunday, May 24.