"It's not going to happen to my niece." That sentence, Sarabeth Rees says, is the most dangerous one we tell ourselves. It feels true, it feels protective, and it is almost always wrong.

Sarabeth is the Executive Director of Everstrong (formerly Stolen Youth), a Seattle nonprofit working to prevent the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children through education, empowerment, and advocacy. Before stepping into this role, she spent more than 20 years in corporate strategy and change management, most recently as a Senior Director at PwC advising Fortune 500 leaders around the world. She's served on the board of the Joyful Heart Foundation and previously chaired the board of Haven.

In this episode, Foster and Sarabeth talk about:

• Why the comfortable assumption that "it doesn't happen here" is the exact narrative that keeps trafficking invisible, regardless of zip code, income, or education
• Why Everstrong is moving away from fear-based messaging and the word "trafficking" itself, in favor of "exploitation," a word more people recognize from their own lives
• A real story about an eight-year-old, a video game chat feature, and the calm, non-punitive conversation that made him feel safe enough to speak up
• Why grooming doesn't discriminate, and what it actually looks like in the ordinary, everyday places kids spend time online
• What made Sarabeth walk away from a high-powered corporate path to take what she calls her dream job, and what it means to actually live the values you claim to hold
• The nonprofit funding myth that drives Sarabeth up a wall (hint: it involves the phrase "eat the scenery") and why underpaying mission-driven people is bad strategy, not virtue
• A leadership parallel Foster pulls from the conversation about power and silence, and why the same dynamic that silences trafficking victims shows up in boardrooms too

Learn more about Sarabeth's work, download free conversation guides for parents and educators, or get involved at everstrong.org.

To find out more, visit our website: Mountain-mule.com

Go to ourwholenessatwork.com to learn more.

Hosted by Foster Mobley
Learn more about Foster at fostermobleymt.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn at Foster Mobley.
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Produced, Edited, and Promoted by Zettist

Additional support from Amber Jillard Consulting

Music for Season 3 composed and performed by Philip Aaberg. Courtesy of Sweetgrass Music.