SocialVentures, the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, and Measurement Resources Company have joined forced to develop and launch a unique, innovative pilot program on behalf of the rapidly growing social enterprise sector, to validate the social impact they communicate to community stakeholders, consumers, and investors.
Never underestimate the power of a woman on a mission! Even a young woman of 16-years old. Grace Welty, a 16-year-old junior at Westerville Central High School, wanted to do something to support Freedom a la Cart’s mission to empower survivors of human trafficking after discovering the severity of the sex trafficking issue in Central Ohio.
Hello Freedom Followers! Meet Carissa – Freedom a la Cart’s new Sales and Marketing Manager.
I’m Carissa and am very grateful and proud to be a new member of the Freedom A La Cart Team! In my new role, I’ll be managing catering sales and handling social media and marketing. Since starting at Freedom, I wake up with excitement and energy to start my day (which is a new feeling for me since I am not a morning person). My favorite part so far about working for Freedom is being part of a team again. I have enjoyed my first month exponentially while getting to know everyone who makes up this small but mighty group! I figured the best way to introduce myself to all the Freedom followers is to play a quick Q&A game, so here we go!
The Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition has been following legislation for Ohio Senate Bill 4 and Ohio House Bill 56 and are asking us to support Senate Bill 4.
Ohio Senate Bill 4 focuses on helping sex trafficking survivors expunge criminal records from when they were trafficked. While Ohio House Bill 56 has the same intent as SB 4 and similar language, it is much more restrictive than the version of SB 4 that passed the Ohio Senate, which means only a very restricted class of sex trafficking survivors will be able to expunge their criminal records if HB 56 passes.
This leaves a number of sex trafficking survivors out in the cold – quite literally, as they will continue to struggle to secure housing and employment with their outstanding criminal records.
The amazing Tawnya Dunaway is celebrating her 3-year Freedomversary this week, so we thought it would be a perfect time to reflect on her time at Freedom [Freedom a la Cart].
How did you find Freedom?
After I was released from prison, I was living in a homeless shelter and found a place at Freedom a la Cart. Freedom gave me a stepping stone to get back on my feet. Having the support of everyone, helped we realize I wasn’t alone. It’s a job, but it’s also a support system. Resources are available. It’s really helped me be able to gain traction where I wasn’t able to before. I always fell back off because I would be in different jobs where people were using or partying or going out and drinking and everything. I don’t have to worry about that here. It’s not even an option. It’s not an issue.