Latest Newsletter
Published December 2014
BEST SPARKS CHANGE FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
Researchers from the University of Washington School of Social Work designed several research tools to evaluate how effectively the Inhospitable to Human Trafficking program is creating social change. The level of impact surprised everyone. Read more…
Researchers from the University of Washington School of Social Work designed several research tools to evaluate how effectively the Inhospitable to Human Trafficking program is creating social change. The level of impact surprised everyone. Read more…
2014 BEST LEADERSHIP AWARDS: WINNERS ARE…
Without our partners, BEST could not have created the level of change necessary to help prevent sex trafficking in our community. The BEST Board of Directors awarded the following organizations and people for their outstanding work: Read more…
Without our partners, BEST could not have created the level of change necessary to help prevent sex trafficking in our community. The BEST Board of Directors awarded the following organizations and people for their outstanding work: Read more…
BUYER BEWARE LAUNCH
Law enforcement and community leaders from across King County, including BEST, have joined together to launch a major initiative to reduce the demand for prostitution where the majority of sex buying now takes place – online. Read more…
Law enforcement and community leaders from across King County, including BEST, have joined together to launch a major initiative to reduce the demand for prostitution where the majority of sex buying now takes place – online. Read more…
TUITION FOR TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR
Teresa* was a 19-year-old without family support, without a job, without food, and without housing when she met an old friend, DeShawn, at a bus stop in downtown Seattle. DeShawn was kind to her and promised to provide food and shelter for her. Instead, Teresa soon found herself forced into gang prostitution alongside 12 other girls as young as 13 and 14 years old.
One time, when she tried to leave by hiding from DeShawn at a hotel in Tukwila, DeShawn found her, punched her in the face, and threw her into the back of his car. She was so desperate to escape that she jumped out of the car as it slowed down. She was taken to a hospital to recover from the injuries she sustained. But before she knew it, she was forced back out into prostitution.
Teresa was only able to escape her sex trafficking situation with the help of a law enforcement officer who found her through a sting operation and offered her help. She became the star witness in a case that put DeShawn behind bars for 17 years. Other gang members were also imprisoned so that they could no longer force young girls into prostitution.
In 2012, Theresa decided to attend cosmetology school so that she could rebuild her life. Last quarter she had to drop out of school because she could no longer afford tuition. She has almost completed her Associates Degree in Cosmetology. She only has 3 quarters left, and only $3500 in tuition and fees to pay before she can enter her new career.
Will you consider donating to BEST so we can provide a scholarship
for Teresa to finish her degree?
A generous donor has offered to match your donation, up to $1750.
Every dollar you donate will yield $2 toward Teresa's future.
Teresa* was a 19-year-old without family support, without a job, without food, and without housing when she met an old friend, DeShawn, at a bus stop in downtown Seattle. DeShawn was kind to her and promised to provide food and shelter for her. Instead, Teresa soon found herself forced into gang prostitution alongside 12 other girls as young as 13 and 14 years old.
One time, when she tried to leave by hiding from DeShawn at a hotel in Tukwila, DeShawn found her, punched her in the face, and threw her into the back of his car. She was so desperate to escape that she jumped out of the car as it slowed down. She was taken to a hospital to recover from the injuries she sustained. But before she knew it, she was forced back out into prostitution.
Teresa was only able to escape her sex trafficking situation with the help of a law enforcement officer who found her through a sting operation and offered her help. She became the star witness in a case that put DeShawn behind bars for 17 years. Other gang members were also imprisoned so that they could no longer force young girls into prostitution.
In 2012, Theresa decided to attend cosmetology school so that she could rebuild her life. Last quarter she had to drop out of school because she could no longer afford tuition. She has almost completed her Associates Degree in Cosmetology. She only has 3 quarters left, and only $3500 in tuition and fees to pay before she can enter her new career.
Will you consider donating to BEST so we can provide a scholarship
for Teresa to finish her degree?
A generous donor has offered to match your donation, up to $1750.
Every dollar you donate will yield $2 toward Teresa's future.
Support Trafficking Prevention
Thank you to the many people who have made our programs possible. To support expansion of our prevention efforts you can donate online at this link or mail a check to:
BEST
P.O. Box 14512
Seattle, WA 98114
Thank you to the many people who have made our programs possible. To support expansion of our prevention efforts you can donate online at this link or mail a check to:
BEST
P.O. Box 14512
Seattle, WA 98114
