HELP TRANSFORM A LIFE
Become a Freedom House Volunteer
Do you want to personally get involved with the anti-human-trafficking movement? Would you like to learn more about the issues and help educate the public? Or, would you prefer to directly work with local survivors and help them achieve their dreams? If your answer is YES, the upcoming Freedom House training courses are for you! On
Saturday, September 9, in San Mateo County, future Advocate Volunteers will participate in an eight-hour training class.
For those who want to become Shelter Volunteers, Freedom House offers a trauma-informed, 40-hour training course that meets the requirements set forth by California Evidence Code 1038.2(b) to become a certified human-trafficking caseworker. A portion of the curriculum includes law, counseling techniques, client and system advocacy, referral services and an explanation of privileged communication.
This course also begins on September 9. To learn more about the Freedom House Volunteer Program, contact Tina Beauchamp, Program Operations Director, at [email protected].
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BENEFIT PIANO CONCERT ON AUGUST 26
Bridges Community Church, Los Altos
Celebrated musical prodigy John Baeg, age 15, an award-winning pianist, will perform a benefit concert on Saturday, August 26, at 2:00 p.m., at Bridges Community Church, 625 Magdalena Avenue, Los Altos, to raise awareness and funds for Freedom House. John, a prize-winning pianist who grew up in Cupertino, now studies at The Juilliard School pre-college division in New York with Yoheved Kaplinsky, chair of the piano department. Tickets are $20 (adults) and $10 (children under 12), and available at the door before the concert. You also may purchase advance tickets online at www.FreedomHouseSF.org/Events.
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'BLUES FOR FREEDOM" SET FOR OCTOBER 8
Poor House Bistro Studio, San Jose
Blues for Freedom, a talent-packed songwriters' showcase, will feature
original blues, vintage R&B, and roots music performed by critically acclaimed, award-winning recording artists Daniel Castro, Terrie Odabi & Terry Kiatt, Tia Carrol, Aki Kumar, Kid Andersen and Lisa Andersen, The Lucky Losers, A.C. Myles, Wendy Dewitt & Kirk Harwood, and Laura Chavez. In addition to great music, the fundraiser will present silent and live auctions, with a wide array of donated items. The benefit is set for Sunday, October 8, between 4:00-9:00 p.m., at the Poor House Bistro Studio, located at 87 S. Autumn St., in San Jose. Advance tickets ($20) are now available at www.FreedomHouseSF.org/Events. Tickets also will be sold at the door for $25.
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EVENT ORGANIZER AND VOLUNTEER
Niki Liming
Since 2013, Freedom House supporters have gotten to know Niki Liming for her extraordinary ability to organize the popular "Use Your Feet for Freedom" 5k event, sponsored by Palo Alto Vineyard Church. After attending Freedom Summit with a church group, Niki decided to create a fundraiser for local survivors of human trafficking.
Proving that you do not need to be an expert to serve your community, Niki quickly learned how to maneuver through government permits, race-timing requirements, marketing, and sponsorship, vendor and volunteer development. Niki, who moved to California from Ohio with a family for whom she works as a nanny, also tapped into her extensive knowledge about children to create a fun-filled event for families and runners of all abilities to enjoy. "Use Your Feet for Freedom" has generated awareness and thousands of dollars for Freedom House since its inception. You also may have met Niki at one of the Freedom House Galas, as she is a member of the registration team that graciously welcomes each guest. Thank you, Niki, for your servant's heart!
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SHELTER VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Lisa Haut
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lisa is the oldest of three girls, all of whom ended up moving across the country to settle in the Bay Area. She went to Wellesley (she and Hillary Clinton were in the same dorm her freshman year) as a sociology major, with the goal of making a difference in peoples' lives. After marrying her college sweetheart. Lisa earned her MS in Computer Science from Columbia and worked at IBM for 26 years before spending the remainder of her career at other companies in Silicon Valley. She has three children and three - going on four - granddaughters. Last November, Lisa made the scary but exciting decision to retire and start the next chapter of her life.
Having lived what she calls a privileged life, Lisa does whatever she can to give back. She is a trained Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and works with special-needs kids in the water with a nonprofit called SNAP (Special Needs Aquatic Program). Her three children are her role-models. Her daughter is one of the founders of Banau ("create" in Nepali), whose mission is to create jobs and alternatives to human trafficking in Nepal. That prompted Lisa to get involved with Freedom House.
Lisa says she receives as much, if not more, than she gives. At Freedom House, she has witnessed firsthand how a loving, supportive family atmosphere can empower survivors. She has met those who have had life experiences she could not begin to imagine, but who show amazing resiliency and strength as they become independent women.
Freedom House in the Community:
August 18 Sunrise Rotary Club, San Mateo
August 19 St Paul's United Methodist Church, Fremont
August 23 Serving California, Sacramento
August 23 Los Altos Chamber of Commerce
August 26 Bridges Community Church, Los Altos
August 27 Harbor Light Church, Fremont
September 5 Kaiser's Family Violence Prevention, Napa
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