In this episode, Jillian interviews Kara Christensen, Economic Empowerment Program Manager at the nonprofit New Friends New Life to discuss how businesses can be more inclusive and support Human Trafficking survivors to overcome the challenges they face when re-entering the workforce, and what is needed for healthy, trauma-informed (and trained) workplaces.

Kara shares how this nonprofit is restoring and empowering formerly trafficked teen girls and sexually exploited women and their children (their 'members'), and the triggers that most of their members struggle with during day-to-day activities, such as taking public transportation or reading body language. Jillian and Kara also discuss some shocking human trafficking statistics in Texas, and who is most at risk to be trafficked here in the US.

Takeaways from this episode:
- Trauma has a huge effect on the way people think and interact with other people, and particularly in the way that their body responds to the world. Trauma stunts mental and physical growth, and can lead to symptoms of isolation, shame, and unworthiness.
- It only takes 48 hours for a young person to get picked up off the streets and trafficked in the sex trade, and nearly 87% of teens who have been trafficked have been abandoned or abused at a really young age.
- 77% of trafficking victims are US citizens; 86% of which are female.
- Dallas, TX has an estimated $99 million annual revenue of illegal sex trade.
- New Friends New Life acts as a liaison between the corporation / business and the member, for a healthy, learnable positive community creation.
- Through an economic empowerment program, New Friends New Life helps their members overcome fears such as submitting a background check during job applications, and empowers them to apply for opportunities that before they considered themselves "unworthy of".

Topics discussed in this episode:
- Human Trafficking
- Types of Human Trafficking
- Human Trafficking Hotspots in the US
- How companies can be a trauma trained workplace
- New Friends New Life
- At-risk youth groups
- Who can be at risk of human trafficking
- Sex Trafficking targets

To connect to New Friends New Life please visit:
https://www.instagram.com/newfriendsnewlife/
https://www.facebook.com/newfriendsnewlife/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-friends-new-life/

To connect to Kara Christensen, Economic Empowerment Program Manager please email:
[email protected]
Learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com
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Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/11

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