Awaken

Awaken's Restorative Care makes up the largest portion of Awaken's services. These services include a Drop-In Center, Adult and Youth Programming as well as an education center dedicated to the education needs of trafficked youth. Awaken's Drop-In Center was established in 2016 and is located in an area that is dubbed a "hot spot" for prostitution. The Drop-In Center is often times the entry point for services. A safe, non-judgmental space where women can access basic necessities such as a shower, meals, clothing, community, support groups, and experience relaxation. Awaken provided services to 252 individuals in the past fiscal year and conducted five outreach events which impacted an additional 30 individuals.The Awaken Education Center (AEC) was established during the 2021 school year. The AEC is a specialized, holistic, education and restorative school experience for youth who have been trafficked encompassing grades 6-12. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, five girls attended the Awaken Education Center (AEC) and we celebrated one high school graduation. Opportunities, options and a life of their own choosing lay ahead for our graduates.

The establishment of the Awaken Restorative Home in 2019 further exemplifies the organization's innovative and holistic approach to recovery, offering victims a rent-free environment to heal and rebuild their lives. To date, 15 strong and courageous women have benefited from the Awaken house. In a strategic shift to fill a new gap, Awaken will repurpose our Restorative Home to support pregnant and parenting mothers who have been affected by trafficking and CSE. This initiative is a strategic effort to break the generational cycle of trauma and exploitation through stability and comprehensive support including a new space at the Awaken Center called the Kid Zone, dedicated to the children of trafficked participants.

City Transformation is aimed to create social change. Awaken educates and empowers individuals with the information and resources needed to combat sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. This is done through various advocacy and outreach efforts. Awaken's commitment to reaching community members is a key component in the fight against sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation that is taking place in our area. Awaken cannot combat this heinous crime alone and we continue to ensure that our community is educated on the human rights violations that are taking place in our own backyard. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, Awaken provided 26 engagements and educated over 1,370 community members on sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Awaken offers preventative education efforts targeting the most vulnerable population - disadvantaged youth. Awaken presents at school assemblies, delivers classroom-based curriculum to students, and works with youth groups to talk to local students about the realities of human trafficking and how to prevent it from happening to them or their loved ones. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, we had 24 different events and reached 1,310 students and school personnel from McQueen High School, Spanish Springs High School, Loyola High School, Viginia City Middle School, Trainer Middle School, Pine Middle School and others. Awaken has also educated school counselors and safe school professionals in the area.