72 Days For Freedom - and how you can help!
Assembling on short notice the word spreading rapidly via Twitter and Facebook thousands filled the sanctuary at Passion City Church in Atlanta. A handful of seats even held more than one guest. At 7:30 pm on a Monday evening, it was the launch of 72 Days for Freedom Passions new campaign to raise awareness and make a difference in the fight to end global human trafficking.To say that the anticipation and energy were high would fail to fully capture the moment.
Read MoreJoin Us in DC - 4th annual Advocacy Workshop and Lobby Day!
Right now, many of our elected policymakers are setting their priorities as they campaign for elections in November - and you have a major opportunity to impact those priorities.
That is why I hope you will join us for IJM's 4th annual Advocacy Workshop and Lobby Day on April 15-16, 2012, in Washington, D.C. You'll get equipped to mobilize your home state to fight trafficking in your own community and worldwide, and you will learn about IJM's plans to strengthen U.S. government laws.
If you can join us for Lobby Day on Monday, you'll have the opportunity to meet with your elected members of Congress to tell them you care about eradicating modern-day slavery.
Read MoreAn Update on Our Letter to the President!
Annick Febrey, IJM's Legislative Affairs Manager, and I had the honor of meeting with Samantha Power, Special Assistant to President Obama on Human Rights and Multilateral Affairs and her deputy, Rob Berschinski, on Wednesday, February 22. We proudly presented a letter with more than 29,000 signatures, asking the President to take the lead in ending modern-day slavery at home and abroad. We were joined by Julie Fernandez, Director of the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST).
Read MoreThank you for sending a strong message!
Weve hit our goal of 27,000 signatures but YOUR name can still stand for freedom. Lets make an unforgettable statement by blowing this goal out of the water! Well continue adding voices calling for an end to slavery all the way up to our meeting with the Obama Administration.
Read MoreNews From Washington - February
We had the most awesome experience here at IJM headquarters last week. On the morning before President Obama delivered his State of the Union address, IJM sent out an email to our friends and supporters around the U.S., inviting them to sign a letter to President Obama, urging him to exert real leadership to end modern day slavery at home and abroad.
Within a few hours (before the President had even given his address that evening!), several thousand people had signed the letter. At the time of this writing, we have over 24,000 names and more come in every hour. Read More
Get the Word Out About Our Letter to the President!
On January 24, we asked you to let your name stand for freedom by petitioning President Obama to make ending slavery a priority. You may have already signed your nameso how can you help keep this momentum going? Here are a few quick tips for getting the word out about this action:
Email your friends!If you missed the forward-to-a-friend feature after you signed the letter (or have more friends you want to send this opportunity to!), shoot them a quick email. You can use this sample message to get the word out:
Hello Friends,
Read MoreAnti-trafficking Legislation Passed in New Jersey!
On January 17, the state legislature in New Jersey passed a crucial piece of legislation that will aid victims of human trafficking in New Jersey. This billcalled a safe harbor lawis an important step forward in the fight against slavery right here in our own country.
Safe harbor legislation protects minor victims of sex trafficking from being prosecuted for prostitution. This important legislation ensures that victims of trafficking are treated not as criminals, but as survivors of a crime. New Jersey is only the 10th state to pass this type of law.
Read MoreWill your name stand for freedom?
Tonight, President Obama delivers his 2012 State of the Union address to our nation. As the President communicates his priorities for the coming year, will you join us in asking him to add one more?
IJM is calling on 27,000 Americans to urge President Obama to help end slavery once and for all.
Experts estimate that there are 27 million children, women and men held in slavery today. Sign a letter to the President and let your signature stand for an estimated 1000 people who need freedom right now.
Read MoreNews From Washington - A Year in Review
Happy New Year, dear friends! I had a lovely break over Christmas but am glad to be back at my desk. We have so much good work to look forward to in 2012, but before we do, I wanted to take a look back at 2011. It was an extraordinary year for IJM, filled with more blessings than I can count. But here are a few highlights that I'm especially thankful for:
Read MoreGoogle.org joins the fight against slavery -- what that means for Justice Campaigns!
Last month, IJM was thrilled to announce its partnership with Polaris Project and Slavery Footprint on a unified initiative to mobilize millions of Americans in the fight to end modern-day slavery. Google.org is generously funding this U.S.-based partnership, as well as two other multi-year initiatives to combat slavery in India. (Check out the coverage on CNN!)
Read More