Living in Freedom Together, Inc. is a survivor-led nonprofit working to end prostitution through implementing the Equality Model – calling for high-quality exit services for individuals exiting that life, including education and employment.Prostitution doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and exit services cannot either. This is a community issue, and must be solved by a comprehensive […]
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Living in Freedom Together, Inc. is a survivor-led nonprofit working to end prostitution through implementing the Equality Model – calling for high-quality exit services for individuals exiting that life, including education and employment.
Prostitution doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and exit services cannot either. This is a community issue, and must be solved by a comprehensive approach relying on business support.
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the Worcester renaissance and even easier to forget how such significant change impacts the community's most vulnerable populations. Consideration must be given to how a sprawling city center and new stadium will benefit our whole community, and what consequences big development brings. For example, areas with big sports venues experience increased incidents of prostitution.
LIFT works to help women exit the sex trade, and we need businesses to support our efforts in order for survivors to remain out. Recovery requires employment, for without employment women cannot access essential needs. Viable employment options for survivors, matching their interests and skills and giving them a purpose, are vital to sustaining recovery. The biggest driver to women reentering the sex trade is lack of meaningful employment.
It may seem as if the business community and women exiting prostitution have nothing to do with the other, but that is untrue. We recognize businesses are hesitant to take on the risk of hiring someone with a criminal history or in recovery from substance-use disorder; but if local businesses took the opportunity to hire survivors and invested in their development, the return on the investment would far surpass the time and energy spent acquiring it. Survivors are some of the most creative, hardworking, resilient, and resourceful individuals, and these are transferable skills.
More than 75% of LIFT staff are survivors, and our growth is due to our commitment to investing in them. LIFT wouldn’t be a thriving nonprofit without these incredible women. Survivors have the skills to benefit an array of businesses. The question is: Are employers willing to play their role in addressing exploitation and stop the cycle of exit and reentry into prostitution? We at LIFT hope so, because if our community doesn’t provide access to economic opportunity, we are continuing to fail our most vulnerable.
I encourage business owners to invest in this community and provide employment to survivors. Companies can help prepare survivors to reenter the workforce by offering professional development or other skill-building programs. If you’re interested in providing economic opportunities for survivors, empowering women to remain out of prostitution, and assisting them in recovery, please reach out.
We talk about equality and shattering glass ceilings, but as we do, we must help survivors get a foot in the door. As Fallon executive Kimberly Salmon said earlier this month at the WBJ 40 Under Forty event, “Lift as you climb ladies.” I put that message into action, and I hope you will too.
Nicole Bell is CEO of Worcester nonprofit Living in Freedom Together.
