My name is Jackie White and I work as the Director of Awareness for a 501(c)3 called Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative (NOVA-HTI). 

Recently, I was speaking at one of our Awareness Events and a teenage girl came up to me with tears in her eyes and let me know that after watching our presentation that she believes her sister is a victim of Human Trafficking right here in Northern Virginia. Her older boyfriend has been forcing her to live with him and she will disappear for months on end. When she returns home she is drugged and bruised and manic but she is convinced this man loves her and is providing for her. 

This is not uncommon for me to experience when going out into the community to raise awareness, in fact, almost every time someone tells me in a panic that someone they know is likely involved in this tragedy. 

Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to control someone to work without payment (labor trafficking) or engage in sexual activity (sex-trafficking) in exchange for anything of value (money, drugs, shelter, food, clothes, etc.).

Once a victim is involved their life expectancy is just 7 years. Living in Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun County means that you are surrounded by this crime. 

I was working a full time sales job in the fast-paced D.C. lifestyle just a few months ago before I decided to leave it all behind to fight human trafficking. As the Director of Awareness and Events I am responsible for overseeing a team of speakers that educate the community about the nature of Human Trafficking and steps to combat it. Every single time I go and speak people are amazed that this is happening right in their backyard. Why? Because we don't have enough education on this topic. When someone is informed they can report cases of trafficking that they see or they can find restoration for themselves. 

In this new role, I am responsible entirely for my financial income and so I want to ask you to consider partnering for this cause and to help change lives.

These are real people with real stories and you can be part of rescuing them. One of our survivors said to us recently "At [NOVA-HTI] I was able to get the help I so desperately needed, leave the life that I no longer wanted, and was able to meet the people I never knew existed...You saved my life. Thank you for helping me." 

Will you be a part of this amazing community and rescue lives just like this one?