Month: October 2022

Persons with Lived Experience

Alexander Rey Perez

"The Business of Selling Kids" Jimmi Toro Speaks out Against Organized Abuse Rings with Rescue 11 : BringFreedom Org – Persons with Lived Experience: Inspiring Stories for Unprecedented Times with Bring Freedom Org

"The Business of Selling Kids" Jimmi Toro Speaks out Against Organized Abuse Rings with Rescue 11: BringFreedom Org Trigger Warning: Please note this episode has adult themes including suicide ideation, overdose, mental health concerns, panic attacks, child torture, child abuse, ritual abuse, csam, child sexual abuse material, and satanic ritual abuse. Jimmi Toro is an American contemporary, internationally acclaimed artist, author of his new book HEAL, founder of the non-profit Rescue11 whose mission is to protect children against predators, composer, and music producer.  Jimmi has spoken at numerous events and mental health panels, including the 2023 NBA All-Star event. He has also created art for various charity-related projects with Rescue11, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Make a Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative. In his new book “HEAL,” Jimmi uses his art and stories to explain the realities of childhood trauma, its physical and mental effects, the suppression of memories, and how they resurface, and he explains the complex realities and the ugly side of recovery while bringing hope to those suffering. It is a tough road, but you absolutely can heal! Tiktok Facebook Instagram www.jimmitoro.com Website about the artist, the journey, and the book. www.rescue11.org Non-profit for saving children. To Donate toward supporting awareness and prevention trainings and resources for individuals, agencies and families: Venmo @BringFreedom  Or on the Website: Bringfreedom.org Podcast: Persons With Lived Experience: Inspiring Stories for Unprecedented Times Visit the podcast page on our website or find anywhere you listen to podcasts. Become a valued patron of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bringfreedomorg If you or someone you know would like information on how to prevent and end trafficking in America Sign up for our newsletter here → https://bringfreedom.org/get-involved/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bringfreedomorg Facebook:  Bring Freedom @bringfreedomorg Website: Bringfreedom.org Venmo @BringFreedom  Linked IN:  Zona https://www.linkedin.com/in/zona-garrett-plantosucceed Dixie https://www.linkedin.com/in/dixie-canuso-lifebeautypurpose/ Bring Freedom LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/bring-freedom/ To send a tax-deductible donation toward supporting awareness and prevention trainings and resources for individuals, agencies and families: Venmo @BringFreedom or on bringfreedom.org Zona’s Amazon Favorites here: https://linktr.ee/christianinfluencer Zona’s Latest Links https://www.christianinfluencerinspired.com/whatsthatlink Dixie’s Trades of Hope Link Book a party here or shop at this link! tradesofhope.com/DIXIECANUSO Some of the links feature items that may receive an affiliate commission to continue this important work. — Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pwle/support
  1. "The Business of Selling Kids" Jimmi Toro Speaks out Against Organized Abuse Rings with Rescue 11 : BringFreedom Org
  2. From Autistic Exploitation to Sex Trafficking Lived Experience Brenna Wallace Now CEO and International Speaker for Neurodivergent and Lived Experience Individuals
  3. My Daughter was Groomed in an Online Child's Game Jen Hoey Founder of Not My Kid
  4. 'Massive Dark Cloud of Shame' with Jill Schultz to Radically Freed
  5. A Price on My Head Faythe Kadona Illicit Massage Business to Survivor Advisory Council

Always Learning New Things

When Zona approached me with the idea of doing a podcast featuring people with lived experience of injustice, I was somewhat hesitant because I honestly hadn’t even listened to many podcasts. I hate talking on the phone, and this felt like talking on the phone with strangers for an hour. However, I trust her and understood the value of hearing their stories and making them available for an audience to experience through this medium. After the first interview, I was hooked. Each individual was engaging, and I was drawn in to their personal stories of tragedy, overcoming, and healing. 

Our first episode of the podcast, Persons with Lived Experience: Inspiring Stories for Unprecedented Times, came out on Monday. What seemed like a herculean task was finally accomplished, and we released Alina Donahue’s story. On the surface, she is a strong, inspiring woman dedicated to ending human trafficking. She is so much more. I hope you’ve had a chance to listen! If not, it’s available on Spotify, Anchor, Amazon Music, Audible, and soon on other outlets.

Some things I learned from Alina’s story, as shared on the podcast, were eye-opening even as a long time advocate in the field of anti-trafficking. It’s important to keep these things in mind in regards to romantic relationships because boyfriends and husbands can become traffickers.

• Having mutual friends doesn’t mean he is a safe person.

• If he pressures you to do something against your personal beliefs, or before you’re comfortable, that’s a red flag of manipulation.

• Giving lots of attention, loving words, presents, or “treating you like a queen” doesn’t mean he has earned anything from you.

• A man being okay with sharing you with another man, or encouraging it, means that he has ulterior motives.

There is so much more to Alina’s journey, but I wanted to share these things that I am still processing. It’s important to keep learning, stay curious, and not turn away from hard truths.

Your fellow abolitionist,

Dixie Canuso, Co-Founder Bring Freedom

A Word from our Co-Founder

When I began my journey of education around human trafficking, there were few resources and
almost no way to understand the full scope of the problem.
In the annual Trafficking in Persons report from the State Department, the United States alone
reported over 66,000 attempts to contact for assistance and over 10,000 identified victims in
2021.* We believe even one is too many.
We need education and strategic action to move us into positive solutions to eliminate human
trafficking in local communities. While movies sensationalize children being kidnapped
and sold into other countries, we know that many children are being trafficked at night and still
attend school and do other activities during the day.
Freedom will occur with widespread and multifaceted prevention, intervention, rescue, and
restoration for those who have experienced human trafficking or exploitation.
As a survivor-led agency, we focus on Lived Expertise in every part of our training materials. We
are not only committed to understanding how to break down the snares of trafficking but giving
an active voice to our lived experience community members. Our goal is to make fighting
human trafficking so normal it doesn’t take a great effort in our communities but includes
everyday activities so commonplace that everyone can be a part of the abolitionist movement.
We will fight to bring freedom to every community.


Your Fellow Abolitionist,
Zona Garrett, COO Bring Freedom