I'm THRILLED to finally be sharing this info with everyone!
Some of you have already heard about this from being in the studio recently... but for those who haven't, buckle up for big changes at Willow Rose!
I'm excited to be getting involved with an organization here in Nashville called Cherished Hearts which is a treatment court established in 2016 with the goal of helping women who have been victims of human trafficking. The program was initially dreamed up at a kitchen table by two prosecutors (Tammy Meade and Deb Smith) who wanted to create better ways to help survivors of trafficking find a new path. Cherished Hearts consists of 5 phases which normally take between 18 months and two years for participants to complete so for each person beginning this journey, it's a massive commitment both physically and mentally. Along the way, presiding Judge Escobar and her incredible team provide access to treatment, therapy, housing, they help participants obtain lost documents (ID, SS card etc.), help them obtain transportation and also set them on a career path.
< one of the biggest problems with our justice system is that people are released into a world full of obstacles with little to no resources to help overcome them. Rehabilitation and reintegration are so much harder than it should be>
There are such a large number of Women who are convicted of crimes and work their way through the justice system as a direct result of being trafficked and/or dealing with substance abuse. Human trafficking isn't just what we see in the movies- people aren't always tossed in a van and swept off to a foreign country. It's happening around us & in our own communities on a daily basis- women are forcefully prostituted and/or engage in survival sex because they are in an unsafe situation or they have no other way to get food/shelter. Imagine being in that position, serving time and then walking out to discover that your situation hasn't changed at all... these Women still have limited access to resources (if any at all).
I know firsthand from trying to help a family member that the system can make it difficult- if not impossible- for someone to truly get back on their feet. I, myself, couldn't work my way through all of the obstacles for this other person and they unfortunately ended up relapsing because we couldn't find them housing with treatment options. I've personally experienced the shortfalls of our system and I can honestly say that I now understand why so many people feel like they have no options.
SO, how does all of this relate to Willow Rose?
This particular issue with our current justice system is VERY personal for me, as mentioned above. When I heard about it, I knew that I had to get involved and help in any way that I could.... SO, moving forward, all of the Women with Cherished Hearts will now be welcomed to get their hair needs taken care of throughout their program. We all know the impact that a good cut/color can have on us, imagine how much more that can do for someone who is completely flipping their lives upside down and starting fresh! My goal is to help them feel empowered, beautiful and genuinely cared for... because the power of that alone can really make a difference for someone who has been through so much already.
but that's not all!
In addition to doing hair, I will be starting a clothing swap which will directly impact you guys! There will soon be a clothing rack in the studio where I will take gently used donations for the Women of Cherished Hearts. Due to the fact that there aren't a large number of Women who are willing to self-identify as a victim of Human Trafficking at this time, I came up with a way to keep donations moving by turning this into a swap rather than just a drop off!
HOW THIS WILL WORK
Very simply, if you bring donations you are welcome to trade them out for other donations that catch your eye!
In an effort to keep donations moving and put them to good use (rather than sitting stagnant and piling up for long periods of time), I would like everyone to have fun with this and feel totally comfortable "shopping" the rack! The one and only rule is that if you take clothes, you must have also donated clothes.
TYPES OF DONATIONS
Please make sure that any and all donations provided are clean, gently used and free of unintended distress (distressed jeans and shirts are okay if they were manufactured that way).
I will be accepting the following types of donations:
Women's or Unisex clothing
Shoes
Hats
Purses
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