Some would say that Backpage is an ally against the fight against human trafficking – and it’s just not true. Click here to learn why and see how Backpage is NOT an Ally in the Fight Against Sex-Trafficking.

On June 20th, join NYCUP, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and hundreds of people in protest and prayer against sex-trafficking and slavery in front of the Village Voice Headquarters at 5:00pm! Click here for all the information you need.

If you or your organization would like to co-sponsor the event please email nycurbanproject@gmail.com.

Our 10th annual show, Retro-Active: 10 Years of Poetic Action, will be held on May 17, 2012 at 8 PM at the Helen Mills Theater on West 26th Street. Retro-Active will take a look back at Poetic People Power’s artistic response to the changing political landscape over the last decade and offer new words about where our country is today. To purchase tickets, please go to Brown Paper Tickets.

Join NYCUP Director Jonathan Walton, P3 Founder Tara Bracco and other powerful authors and spoken word poets for  10 year reflective on the intersection of art and poetry.

Andi, a sixteen-year-old runaway, was repeatedly sold by her trafficker on the street.

 Even though the Safe Harbor Act recognizes that prostituted children are trafficking victims,

Andi was arrested, arraigned in criminal court and convicted of prostitution.

In its landmark anti-trafficking laws, New York State has taken the lead in recognizing that many women and children in prostitution are victims of human trafficking and holding accountable those who organize, promote, advance, support and patronize the trafficking industry.  Although a growing number of traffickers are being brought to justice, our State legislative anti-trafficking regime contains gaps, loopholes, and inconsistencies that must be remedied.

The Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act will strengthen New York State’s response to traffickers and protection of victims.

The New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition would like to

invite you to the lobby day for the

Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act!

Tuesday May 15^th, 10:30am – 3:30pm

The face-to-face meetings that happen during lobby days have tremendous impact. Personal stories, messages of support and real world explanations of what legislation means to voters and advocates is extremely powerful.

To RSVP please e-mail eamick@sffny.org with your name, organization and contact information. 

To learn more about the lobby day, please call into our conference call on Thursday, May 10th from 3pm to 4pm.

Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 775-7000

Access Code: 722515#

If you want to learn more about the legislation, here is a terrific interview with Dorchen Leidholdt and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin on Capital Tonight with Liz Benjamin. Here is an article about the bill which includes a video of a survivor, Brianna, speaking about her trafficking experience

NYCUP Artist Courtney Wong debuts her song “Taking A Stand” in a music video directed by Gisella Gutierrez (a NYCUP Alum). The song tells a story of the terrible injustice surrounding Sex Trafficking, and about her choice to take a stand while inviting us to do so too.

“We are not able to do the things that God has called us to do because we are not the people He has called us to be” says Francis Chan. It is not we ourselves who will change us, but Jesus who is the power for transformation.

God’s invitation is for us to live differently and that difference is not defined by this world but by the God who made it.

In the middle of final exams, starting a family, loss of a job or some type of instability we look exactly like those around us who are anxious, fearful, and busying ourselves with trying to regain control instead of trusting the God who says that He is Sovereign. Instead of spending time with this God, we pick up a new self-help book, leadership tool or a new workout. We frantically search for a new P-90X  instead of seeking the peace of God. Instead of looking like the people of God, we function as atheists who determine our own success and failure.

God invites His people  to live differently and if we are not living differently we might not be His people.

If I plant cotton, cabbage is not going to grow. We reap what we sow. If we plant seeds that are rooted in the world, then we will reap the fruit of this world. The fruits of this world are immorality, impurity, drunkenness, disputes, dissensions, rage, and jealousy. But if we sow seeds for the Kingdom of God we will reap Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Patience, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Meekness, and self-control (Galatians 5).

Therefore, if these things are fruits of the Spirit, then they are not the results of efforts rooted in this world. Love is not the result of our best efforts to listen and communicate. Peace is not a result of doing yoga twice a day. Patience is not a result of walking away, counting to 10 and coming back when you’ve calmed down. All of these are the result of spending time with the True and Living God who went to the Cross, laid down His Life and rose on the third day will all power and authority in the palm of His Hand.

The transformation we seek, we will only find in Him.

NYCUP Artist Courtney Wong releases her 7th video  in her anti-human trafficking youtube series!

Deirdre Mars: Beyond Fair Trade Durability, Part 1
World of Good on eBay
Eco Fashion World
Worldstock Fair Trade on Overstock

Featuring my original song: Taking a Stand

Please subscribe to my channel & check back next month! This is the 7th video in my series of anti-slavery or anti-human trafficking videos. Over this next year, I hope to inform and intrigue those who know very little about or may have never even heard of human trafficking. This series is launching with NYC Urban Project’s LoGOFF campaign to explore what it means to live Local, Green, Organic, Fair (trade) and (slave) Free.

© Courtney Wong 2012

Ten Years Into the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement Brutal Sweatshop Conditions Endure
Major American Brands Silent on Alleged Rights Abuses at Overseas Factories
Inspection Report of the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s (INS) efforts to combat harboring and employing illegal aliens in sweatshops.
US Trafficking In Persons Report 2011
Do Something: Background on Sweatshops
Do Something: 11 Facts About Sweatshops

Courtney Wong, Singer/Songwriter/Worship Leader
Facebook  |  Youtube  |  iTunes | CDBaby  |  Tumblr  |  Twitter: @CourtneyBWong

He was the first speaker I had ever invited to NYCUP Summer in 2009. Now he is the Executive Director of Restore. Read this article and Restore NYC’s new director, Jimmy Lee.

NEW YORK—Thousands of women are sold for sex every day in New York City, but between two long-term restoration homes, only 24 spots exist for survivors to find long-term, holistic care. Seven of those spots are in a safe house in Queens, provided by Restore New York City, a nonprofit organization that provides long-term shelter for women who have been rescued out of sex trafficking.

New York has other shelter facilities for women fleeing domestic abuse, but few specialize in long-term, holistic care specifically for sex trafficking victims. At Restore, those survivors find more than a bed. They find community: conversations, prayer, movie nights, and safety.

Click here to read the whole article from World Magazine.

The low wages, long hours, abuse and suicides are not a myth or rumor but the realities of millions of people who work in manufacturing plants in China and other developing nations. FoxConn, most famous because it produces the Ipod, Ipad and other Apple Products burst into the forefront of a media frenzy when the New York Times, CNN and a host of other news media outlets cast light on the horrendous working conditions for workers while Apple and other companies enjoy record profits.

Then, Mike Daisey, a leader in the movement for fair labor and pay for workers in FoxConn confessed that he fabricated pieces of his critically acclaimed one-man show. You may not have felt the shockwave but I did as the dishonesty of one leader casts a shadow on all leaders striving for fairness for our neighbors around the corner and around the world who make the stuff we buy, use and throw away every day.

Similarly, when I was a sophomore at Columbia I watched Invisible Children and composed a poem in honor of Jason, Laren,  and Bobby’s trip to Uganda. My friends and I injected ourselves into the fight against child solidiering and human trafficking. So when the Kony 2012 video received 70 million views and climbing, I was excited to see so many caring but after having seen first-hand the questionable integrity of Invisible Children was hesitant to get on board again. Then, in an odd turn of events Jason Russell was apprehended after being found delirious from exhaustion and dehydration. Thus, people again who are worthy of our care and support are overshadowed by a leaders’ fallenness.

People are not perfect and leaders are people, too. In our culture we are looking for a savior who will stand up and take on the oppressors of this world and when the cameras are on or off, we want them to be the same – perfect, steadfast, fearless. Unfortunately, they are not. And even more to my dismay, when leaders fall, their movements no matter how noble can fade with them.

I believe that Jesus Christ laid down His life because broken people form broken relationships and make big broken systems that oppress people on all levels and He desires to set us free. It is not a white, college-educated activist nor a black, asian, Latino or multi-racial one that will set the captives free. Instead it is a Palestinian Jew born out of wedlock to a refugee teenage mother, who suffered under an oppressive regime, was crucified and raised on the third day with all power in His Hand. It is His Love, His Grace and His Justice that will allow the american college student, the LRA General and the Factory Manager to stand side by side and work by God’s grace for His Justice.

May we not put our trust in the people who lead us but the God who they should follow.

Would you pray with me?

Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus. Thank you for being the perfect example what it looks like to lead through service, sacrifice, and suffering. Help us to be more like you – selfless, seeking Glory for the Father, and submitting ourselves to Your authority.

God, would you bring Mike and Jason closer to you that they would know your freedom for themselves. Give them revelation like you gave to John the Baptist that they might point to the true Savior. Give them vision like Moses to lead your people and give them humility like Paul before You, an almighty God.

God, You are Good, Just and Loving and we thank you that though our faith may waver, You oh God will never change.

Amen.