Mission
Streetlight’s Mission is to Eradicate Child Sex Slavery through a 3-tier strategy of Awareness, Prevention, and Aftercare.
We will accomplish this through multi-sector collaborations focused on preventing further exploitation of our children, and by providing long-term safe housing to promote healing for those rescued from Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.
History
As we became aware of the horrific injustice of child sex slavery in our own backyard, we developed a dynamic case study of the potential for solving problems through multi- sector collaborations.
To date, the collaboration in Phoenix has grown to include the Phoenix Vice Units, Mayor’s office, County and City Attorney, like-minded non-profits, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, FBI, Human Trafficking Task Force, students and faculty of ASU, 70+ churches, and thousands of individuals zealous to play a role in eradicating this injustice.
To address the first initiative, out of the awareness campaign was the birth of Branded. Branded is a well- known documentary and experiential screening that has reached tens of thousands of community members through education, social networking and public speaking engagements.
The second initiative, prevention, involves working with state legislators to pass tougher laws protecting children from sexual exploitation.
In November of 2009, Streetlight began the purchase of a facility, which at any given time, can house between 24-48 underage, female victims of child sex slavery. The property is strategically located on five acres and includes one large administrative building, one large enrichment center, a commercial kitchen, medical examining room, classrooms and six residential houses arranged in a peaceful neighborhood setting on an enclosed, gated campus.
The StreetLight safe house stands as a beacon of hope where rescued victims of child sex slavery can live for an extended period of time and will receive specialized faith-based counseling, normal interaction with a mentor mother in a family setting, professional healthcare, food, clothing, educational and career bases counseling, and the healing they need to rebuild their future.
StreetLight is facilitating, leading, and organizing a unique model for eradicating child sex slavery that is sustainable and transferrable to other cities.
