Michigan Ethical Storefront List

It’s that time of year again! As you make your Christmas list this year, consider purchasing ethically made goods from these Michigan stores. They have gone to great lengths to ensure that the products made in their stores are free from trafficking and that employees are treated well and taken care of.

List of Michigan Ethical Storefronts

Adored Boutique-Grand Rapids

Better Way Designs-Zeeland

Bound for Freedom-St. Joseph

In Better Hands Fair Trade Shop-Bad Axe

Just Goods Gift Shop-Grand Haven

Lucia’s World Emporium-Saugatuck

Marketplace Manna’s Around the World Shop-Ann Arbor and Jackson

Pentwater Fair Trade Company-Pentwater

Ten Thousand Villages-Ann Arbor

Terrapin Worldwide Imports-Kalamazoo

The Bridge-Holland

The Gathered Earth-Marquette

The Shop-PawPaw

Thumbprint-Detroit

WAR Chest Boutique-Grand Rapids

 

*For a pdf list of stores click here: Michigan Ethical Storefront Guide

 

If you want to learn more about the importance of shopping ethically you can start at: slaveryfootprint.org

You’ve Seen “Sound of Freedom”, Now What?

The Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP), a service line of Vista Maria, focuses on education and awareness, community engagement, and collaborating with like-minded organizations in an effort to transform the culture that allows human trafficking to exist and thrive.

You’ve Seen “Sound of Freedom”, Now What?

If you are like many who have seen the Sound of Freedom film, you may have left the theater with a range of emotions – angry, frustrated, scared, inspired to get involved, or curious and in search of more information…we know we did! The film has received mixed reviews, with some praising its message and others criticizing its accuracy and portrayal of the complex issue of human trafficking. In this blog post, we will address some of the misconceptions that the movie perpetuates and offer some resources for those who want to learn more about the reality of this global problem and how they can make a difference in their community.

The Problem

Human trafficking happens when someone exploits another person to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act for their own financial gain. It is estimated that there are over 27 million men, women and children being trafficked worldwide, including right here in the United States. Of the 27 million, over 6 million are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation. Exploitation can take many forms and often preys on those most marginalized in our communities. At its core, human trafficking is fueled by gender, racial, and income inequalities. It is a human rights atrocity that denies the inherent worth and dignity of those it victimizes.

Language Matters

First and foremost, we would like to point out that the use of “saving” or “rescuing” terminology is problematic and is not empowering to survivors. While these terms conjure up images for the cinematic effect they do not convey the complex dynamics found in trafficking situations and create, intentionally or not, the role of hero [the rescuer] and helpless victim [the rescued]. This disproportionate power structure does not convey that the survivor has control of their life and the capacity to influence their future.  This puts the rescuer at center of the narrative instead of where the focus needs to be: on the survivor. In January 2023, Polaris Project published a blog Language Matters: 5 Ways Your Words Impact Trafficking Survivors which goes into more detail and includes statements from survivors on how using appropriate word choices and language matters when talking about human trafficking and survivors of trauma.

Although the movie has helped put a spotlight on the issue of human trafficking, we need to remember that one movie, especially one about a topic as complex as human trafficking, will not tell the entire story, give an accurate picture, or provide a solution to the problem.  To even begin to eradicate human trafficking, we must first educate ourselves about the root causes of trafficking, who is most vulnerable in our communities, and how traffickers groom their victims.

Here are some of the realities that we see (backed by data) here in the United States:

The Reality of Human Trafficking in the United States

  • Where does human trafficking happen? Human trafficking occurs in all 50 states, in both rural and urban areas. According to the National Human Trafficking hotline, the most commonly reported venues for sex trafficking situations involving U.S. citizen victims were hotels and motels, in addition to houses, apartments, or trailers known as residential brothels. Human trafficking does not require moving, traveling, or transporting a person across state or national borders.
  • Who are the victims? Most of the victims of sex trafficking in the U.S. are our own citizens primarily from marginalized communities. While it is true that anyone can be trafficked, some people are more vulnerable than others.  People living in poverty, those with unstable housing or facing homelessness, children in foster care or aging out of foster care, those in the juvenile justice system, people who have a history of trauma or addiction, those who identify as LGBTQ+, and runaways all are at greater risk of exploitation. Traffickers prey on economic and social vulnerabilities and they look to fill a need such as a belonging, relationship, safety, a place to stay or food. According to Polaris, through the National Human Trafficking Hotline, they have found that most victims/survivors report being between the ages of 16-17 when they first entered
  • Where and how victims are recruited? Kidnapping victims and forcing them into the sex trade through violence is rare. It does happen, but it is rare. Instead, we see traffickers most often groom their victims over time so they are no longer strangers but someone that the victim knows and trusts such as a romantic partner or a family member. Being aware of how traffickers lure and groom their victims is key to recognizing and preventing sex trafficking.
    • Victims can be recruited in public places such as malls, sporting events, the neighborhood, as well as online through social media apps and online games or through false job opportunities that might appeal to young people like modeling or acting.
    • The Internet plays a significant role in both the recruitment of victims and the facilitation of sex trafficking. Traffickers use social media and dating websites to contact potential victims.
    • How Sex Traffickers Use Social Media to Contact, Recruit, and Sell Children.
  • What fuels sex trafficking? Like any commercial enterprise, commercial sexual exploitation is a matter of supply, distribution and demand. The supply is the victim. The distribution is the trafficker or the online material. The demand is the purchaser of the sex act. As the demand increases, traffickers must increase the supply of victims. The buyer in this marketplace views the victim as a dehumanized product for immediate consumption and disposal. If buyers were not seeking commercial sexual services, then sex trafficking would cease to be a profitable venture.

  • What is the relationship between pornography, trafficking, and the sexual abuse of children? One unforeseen consequence of the rise of the internet has been an explosion in the illicit trade of child sexual abuse images and videos. More than 32 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation were received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2022 [That’s over 564,000 reports per week]. Though child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is a global issue, the United States remains one of the largest producers and consumers of child abuse content in the world. It’s important to understand the true nature and pervasiveness of child sexual abuse material to convey the urgent need to address this crime.

7 things you can do to act on what you have learned…

  • Educate yourself about the complexities of human trafficking and what is myth, rumor, and reality. Polaris Project is a great source for accurate information.
  • Connect with anti-trafficking organizations and service providers in your area to see if they have volunteer or fundraising opportunities.
    • Find a MAP community group in your area, click here
  • Identify the people in your community who are most vulnerable to traffickers. Are there people facing homelessness? Are there youth in foster care? Is there poverty? Substance Abuse? How can you get involved in prevention work so that youth are never trafficked in the first place?
  • Advocate for laws and policies that support survivors and hold traffickers and sex buyers accountable. Contact your representatives and tell them human trafficking is an issue you care about.
    • Join MAP’s Advocacy Action Emails to learn more, click here
  • Learn from Survivors – listen to their stories, read their books, develop your understanding of human trafficking on their lived experience.
  • Request a presentation or training to learn more about human trafficking, request a training and find out what you can do to get involved.
    • Request a MAP speaker here
  • To learn more about Online Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth, register to attend MAP’s FREE [Virtual] Empower Conference, September 21, 2023.

We hope this information has been helpful and empowering. We can all play a part, working together, to help prevent and end human trafficking. If you have further questions or would like to continue the conversation with one of our staff you can email us at: info@map-mi.org

 

 

*Angel Studios released a disclaimer with the “reality behind the movie,” you can read it here.

MAP records training for Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation

We had the opportunity this summer to present on human trafficking for the Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation. The training is available free of charge to anyone and can be accessed here.

Emily and Heather gave a basic overview of Human Trafficking and then continued with specific insight into how this affects healthcare workers and their work with patients who could be victims and survivors of human trafficking. It was an honor to present to this group and we are grateful that the webinar is available to you too.

If you know someone who works in healthcare, feel free to share the link with them as well.

New Initiative Lauch: MAP Advocacy

Hello!

We hope this post finds you well and enjoying the beautiful summer that Michigan has to offer. Over the past few years the Michigan Abolitionist Project has become increasingly involved in grassroots advocacy and we are excited to announce a new initiative: Advocacy Action Alerts!

If you would like to stay up to date on Human Trafficking Legislation in Michigan and how you can be involved, please sign up for our Advocacy Action Alert emails. To begin we will send a few emails with helpful information and “how-to’s”. After that, emails will only be sent with important legislation and/or when community action is needed.

We look forward to this new initiative and joining together in a coordinated approach to policy engagement as we advocate to improve laws and support services for survivors of human trafficking while targeting the demand and holding exploiters accountable.

To sign up for the email list click the button below, then you will be directed to our Landing Page. Please browse the website and check out the resources we have provided!

Lastly, feel free to share this post with anyone you know who might be interested in this initiative.

2023 Annual Statewide Human Trafficking Summit Follow-Up

It’s been almost a month since the 2023 Statewide Human Trafficking Summit. The Michigan Abolitionist Project and Vista Maria co-hosted this event with the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission. What an impactful day it was to gather virtually and in-person with over 250 professionals, organizations and advocates for the same mission of coming together to learn Best Practices for Working with Trafficked Persons in Michigan.

We began with a warm welcome by MAP’s new Executive Director Dawn Ames. Next, Kelly Carter (Chair of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission) gave an update on the Commission and introduced a document that the Commission reviewed and approved titled “The Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking.” Kelly moderated a discussion between service providers about how they implement these Guiding Principles in their work. We heard from Healthcare, Law Enforcement, the Ruth Ellis Center, Vista Maria and Sanctum House. We were grateful for the many insights and challenging thoughts that were brought up during this panel.

Handout: The Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking

After a quick break Session Two began. Leslie King-Friday moderated the discussion between fellow Survivor Leaders Alice Jay and Brigette Henderson on “Integrating the Survivor’s Voice in Michigan’s Anti-Trafficking Movement.” They shared openly and honestly about their experiences with service providers and advocates. They helped shed light on and define re-victimization. They brought up many good and thought-provoking questions for us to continue conversations about after the conference. Thank you Leslie, Alice and Brigette for the love and care you have for people who are trafficked in Michigan and the ways you are using your experiences to make a difference!

Handout: Principles of Survivor Engagement in the Anti-Trafficking Field 

Lunch break gave space for networking. We hope that you were able to come away having met someone new.

Here is the Attendee Roster for this year.

The last session was moderated last minute by Kelly Carter as Elizabeth Moon Carter was unable to attend. We were thankful to hear about the new Data Collection Categories sheet that the Commission has put together in order to begin collecting data on Human Trafficking in Michigan. Kelly was joined by Kris McNeill from Measurable Change. Though the project is still in it’s infancy we are encouraged to see that Michigan has created a Framework to collect data and help us better understand the scope of trafficking here and how we can best help prevent trafficking, offer exit strategies and aid in the recovery process.

Handout: Data Categories

*Please submit forms to: Data Collection (michigan.gov)

Then Dawn wrapped the Summit up with an encouragement to continue conversations afterwards and exhorted us as professionals, organizations and advocates working in the Anti-Trafficking Field to continue to work hard and use the Guiding Principles and what we have learned this year to impact our work and those around us.

Thank you for joining us!

         

 

*As a follow-up to the Summit we are hosting the 1st Freedom Coalition meeting of 2023 on February 28th and will be hearing from Bridgette Carr of the University of Michigan Law Clinic and Lab.

Register here.

Abolitionist Program 2.0 Launch!

We are excited to announce the 2nd installation of our digital training series. The Abolitionist Program 2.0 is available to you today for FREE!

The first version focused on the basics of Human Trafficking: who, what, where, when, why, etc. This version was created with the hopes of getting under the surface and seeing different aspects of trafficking that have maybe not been recognized before, or that are helpful to learn more about. This is why we chose to use the iceberg as our logo. You will notice this on every email and social media post as a reminder that we are starting to look at the bigger picture of Human Trafficking.

 

Series topics include: Labor Trafficking (Domestic and Global), the Beauty Industry, Human Trafficking Legislation and Legislative Frameworks, Sex Trafficking and Pornography, Survivor Support for Advocates, and Prevention strategies.

Register today!

Cup of Hope: Back to School Edition

It’s August!

As we think ahead to school starting in a few weeks, we want to help you and the kids in your life feel more safe and confident on the internet. This month Cup of Hope will post every Wednesday with resources that will help equip you and your kids to navigate the digital world. Click on each line to be directed to the resource.

Week One: Get Prepared

Week Three: Online Gaming

 

Week Four: Sexting/Sextortion

Resources for Parents: Facts and Tipsheets!

Resources for Youth: Tipsheets & Videos!

Week Five: Online Pornography

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation ( NCOSE )

-NCOSE offers a wide range of recommended educational resources pertaining to sexual exploitation, including pornography. They are also a leading organization for policy reform & targeted campaigns related to pornography.

Your Brain on Porn

-Learn more about the science & psychology of porn addiction. Your Brain on Porn is an extensive collection of expert & peer-reviewed research on the impact of porn on the brain & human behaviors.

Critical Porn Analysis | Youth Wellbeing Project 

-An educational framework that responds to the researched harms of porn as a public health crisis. Critical Porn Analysis moves beyond the micro focus of how individuals interact with porn, to comprehensively consider its effect on individuals’ safety, health & wellbeing, relationships, families, communities, & cultures.

Defend Young Minds

-“Good Pictures Bad Pictures” children’s books, downloadable guides to help parents talk to kids about pornography, up-to-date parenting articles, free webinars, & more.

Culture Reframed

-Helps educate parents about the hypersexualized media & online pornography that children are exposed to today, as well as Provides guides on how to talk to your kids about it.

Protect Young Eyes

-Free resources for parents & kids, including an app for parents with OVER 500 digital safety lessons

Educate and Empower Kids

-Resources for parents + educators on how to help youth navigate the digital age. books for kids & parents, educational resources, & programs (also available in Spanish)

-Watch #RefuseToClick on YouTube for the connection between Human Trafficking and Pornography

 

Thanks for joining us this month. We hope these resources have been helpful for you and the youth in your life!

MAP Executive Director, Kathy Maitland to Retire this Fall

Immediate Release

Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP) Executive Director, Kathy Maitland to Retire this Fall

(Dearborn Heights, MI) – Michigan Abolitionist Project in partnership with Vista Maria is pleased to announce the retirement of its Executive Director, Kathy Maitland. Kathy Maitland has faithfully developed and led the organization for more than nine years and now is ready to guide the process to identify a successor. Following the search and selection process, Kathy will set her sights on a well-deserved retirement and spending more time with her family and travel.

Vista Maria and the Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP) formed a strategic alliance to strengthen their antihuman trafficking efforts by way of expanding awareness, improving training, and advocating on behalf of trafficking survivors. Maitland and the Board of Directors identified the successful selection of the future Executive Director of Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP) as a key priority in 2021 and 2022.

The strategic alliance between Vista Maria and MAP has delivered great social impact. Maitland states that, “Ultimately we created a strategy that helped us better achieve our goals and objectives. MAP has already grown on its own yet now we have set a strategic position setting the stage for sustained progress.”

CEO and Co-founder for Center for Justice, Rights & Dignity, former MAP board president and now Vista Maria board advisor, E. Christopher Johnson, Jr. said, “MAP’s development has continued to flourish under Kathy’s leadership … Now we have the task of finding a new Executive Director, I won’t even pretend to say we are going to replace Kathy because she is irreplaceable.” He continued in his announcement to the board of directors, “Due to Kathy’s many accomplishments during her remarkable tenure, our new Executive Director will have a wonderful opportunity to build on and capitalize on all of Kathy’s outstanding work. This is also an exciting opportunity for Vista Maria to bring in new leadership and new ideas.”

Maitland will be part of the selection committee for MAP’s successor and states “I have had the privilege of working to help fulfill the mission. In this time, the organization has accomplished more than I could have imagined. I am proud to have helped MAP become a trusted force for good in the anti-trafficking movement. My staff will continue in their roles, supporting community groups, building our presence across Michigan, providing training, and increasing advocacy efforts and support for human trafficking survivors. The staff, our partners and our network of volunteers are the heart and foundation of MAP, and this important work continues on.”

Although retiring from her role as Executive Director in September of this year, Maitland will remain active as a Commissioner on the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission and will continue to advocate for victims and heroic survivors across the state.


About Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP):

Our Mission: We are growing the movement of people and organizations working to prevent and end human trafficking in Michigan and beyond.

Our Focus: We aim to educate, engage and eradicate human trafficking.

About Vista Maria:

Our Mission: We foster restorative relationships and deliver innovative care, treatment, and education so that vulnerable youth and families believe in their worth, heal and build the skills for success.

Our Vision: All children, families and communities achieve success through continuous learning and relationships that promote personal, professional and family well-being.

Visit www.vistamaria.org for additional information.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Vista Maria’s President and CEO contact: Jennifer Golabek, Marketing/Brand Fidelity Manager at (248) 914-0742 or jgolabek@vistamaria.org