I started this blog when I quit my career and now it's time to wrap things up in Colorado. I’m reaching out to friends, family, and colleagues to share news relating to the ongoing fight against human trafficking.
My Summit County CO. home is going under a long-term lease on December 1st and I’m driving to Seattle WA. to catch a flight to Anchorage while my car takes the ferry. Driving across the Yukon Territory and up the Alaska highway solo in December has been highly discouraged. The Transit Monitoring Volunteer team is faithfully awaiting my arrival as Project Manager so we can officially kick off the first domestic Love Justice International(LJI) pilot.
The injustice of human slavery is at an all time high. There are more people in slavery today than at any other time in history.
Alaska is #1 in the USA for violent rape and sexual violence against Alaskans under the age of 18 is 6X higher than the national average. The challenges in Alaska are exacerbated by addiction and alcohol producing the most vulnerable trafficking targets. Alaska is extremely rural, making access to anything— let alone health care or addiction treatment, difficult. Alaskans aren’t just isolated from the rest of the United States, the Alaskan population is mostly isolated from each other.
These are some of the factors contributing to the concentration of human trafficking in Alaska.
The good news is that using actionable data (data to determine the best ‘next step’) we know how to engage in the most effective program to fight human trafficking in terms of success and costs. LJI delivers approximately 300 people from human trafficking, every month. We know that 80% of domestic trafficking victims pass through airports and in Alaska, that percentage is even higher. We know that while awareness programs are effective it’s nearly impossible to gauge their efficacy and we know that while rescue and rehabilitation is necessary it’s also costly and obviously, after the affects of torture are effected. The most effective strategy is Transit Monitoring.
We post trained volunteers at transit stations, (Anchorage Intl. Airport), to observe travelers and identify people at risk. Using a tested protocol we separate the potential victim from the suspected trafficker. Leveraging the data we collect we work with law enforcement to prosecute Traffickers. We work with community organizations to move the vulnerable to safety and provide resources to partner with them and build empowered lives.
LJI requires that I raise my annual budget in advance and I am about halfway there. I’ve raised approximately $21K and have $24k more to go. Once I get boots-on-the-ground at the airport and start Transit Monitoring, it will be harder to raise my support. I am committed to three years in Alaska.
I need Support Partners. People who will come alongside and support this project prayerfully and financially. A monthly, recurring donation is the greatest gift but support of any kind is appreciated. The average cost to intercept one potential victim is $300 so some (of my favorite ;-) people commit to $300 per month. Love Justice International is a 501c3 Non-Profit, LJI Tax ID: 71-0982808, and your receipt will come to you via email or to your address. Online donations are accepted here: https://www.lovejustice.ngo/our-team/sabrina or checks can be made to Love Justice Intl. (Memo: Sabrina Stratford) PO Box 67195 Lincoln NE 68506-7195.
I'm pulling out all stops for this pilot. If it's not enough that we can work together to fight the greatest injustice of our time... who doesn't need a year end tax deduction!?
I think that with the short window of time you've had to raise your budget that you have done well. I am believing & agreeing in prayer that the balance will be provided on schedule. I love you so much & admire you a lot.