The Chicagoland Trauma Informed Congregations Network would like to thank Sharmila (Sam) Wijeyakumar, the founder of Rahab’s Daughters, for her presentation on human trafficking during the May 20 CTICN Community of Practice gathering.

Sam, a sex trafficking survivor herself, shared her personal story, and how that experience led her to start Rahab’s Daughters, an organization whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of human trafficking into a sustainable and safe lifestyle, while also educating the public about the issue.

Through her presentation, Sam shared some of the statistics on human trafficking:

Traffickers recruit, transport and harbor victims through force or deception with the goal of exploiting them for profit. Sam described how human trafficking takes place everywhere, even in our own communities, through:

Sam shared that labor trafficking can take place through domestic work: live-in housekeepers, nannies, cooks or personal assistants who commonly work 12-18 hours a day for little or no pay, and traveling sales crews that travel in groups to various cities and states selling items like magazines, candy/cookies, cleaning products and coupons. Labor trafficking also takes place through restaurant/food service, farming, construction, hotel/hospitality, landscaping, commercial cleaning services, factories, carnivals, and forestry.

Sam shared ways we all can get involved and make a difference, including:

If you have suspicion that trafficking is taking place, Sam shared:

If you would like to learn more about Rahab’s Daughters’ prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and education programs and how you can get involved, click here.

On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from the south side of Chicago, marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s childhood friends decided to commemorate her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.

Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday. Now, it is observed nationally on the first Friday in June and the following weekend each year. In the years since, participation in Wear Orange has increased tenfold.

From the south side of Chicago, to community organizers in Queens, to students around the country, we will come together to wear orange and demand a change. 

Advocate Aurora Health is sponsoring the annual Strides for Peace Race Against Gun Violence held in Chicago and virtually this year.

Register today for the 8k run, 5k run, 2 mile walk or the Tots for Peace Sprint for children ages 2 10 years old. A virtual race is also available, more details available here.

Donations can also be made separately to the Trauma Recovery Center, to support services and resources that assist survivors of intentional trauma to help end the cycle of violence. The Trauma Recovery Center’s team currently assists patients across eight counties in Illinois.

In the Jewish community, discussions about mental illness and substance abuse tend to be rare, if they happen at all. As a result, many individuals and their families suffer in private and lack the information necessary to address their issues. The Blue Dove Foundation is working toward advancing these conversations, eradicating shame and educating the community.

Raising awareness through outreach is the first step in educating people about health-related issues like mental illness and addiction. We offer a variety of resources for groups and individuals:

Mental Health Tool Kit: helps assist someone experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse-related crisis. The Toolkit is meant to be a first line of defense – not necessarily to resolve a problem, but rather to help identify an issue and refer the individual to an appropriate professional.

Zero Interest Loans: Not everyone who needs treatment can afford it. We are working toward overcoming financial barriers that limit access to treatment programs. Working with our partners, we offer interest-free loans to Jewish Community members who are able to demonstrate a legitimate need and ability to repay the loan. Priority will be given to applicants who are unable to obtain funds through normal lending sources. One of the highest forms of tzedakah is an interest free loan.

Tools & Resources: Using Jewish spirituality and faith as a guide, the Blue Dove Foundation creates educational tools and resources that can be used by individuals. This includes a High Holiday Toolkit and resources for different Jewish holidays.

Educational Speaker Series: Throughout the year, the Blue Dove Foundation co-hosts programs with community partners on a topic that is relevant and timely. These events are developed for the community and by community members and organizations. We always welcome feedback to help us best provide education, share resources and build relationships.

Learn more here.

Call 312-655-7106 for intake. For more information, contact Beth Klieger.

Click here to download flyer.

If you’d like to share your story, email Mary at mary@divinefulnessliving.com with the subject “Future Podcast Guest” along with 1) your name, 2) a summary about you and your story, 3) a passage from your holy book or a poem that relates to your story, and 4) your general availability.

Live from the Heart is a partnership between Advocate Christ Medical Center and the Museum of Science and Industry to expose high school students, age 15 and above, and adults to an interactive broadcast of a live open-heart surgery.

Go into the operating room via video conference as a surgical team performs heart surgery. Talk to the surgical team while they are working. Learn about heart health and find out about medical and STEM careers.

The free program will be held virtually via Zoom.

Join us as we commemorate Black resilience in a cultural celebration of peace, love and solidarity.

Juneteenth is a celebration of Black resilience. It marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed, but this came a full TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER the signing of the emancipation proclamation. Imagine. So on this day we celebrate our collective courage as a people:

Those who carried the torch...Those who carry the torch...and those have yet to carry the torch.

Through our efforts, the legacies of our ascended masters live on and on and on. There's not one corner of the earth in which Black people are not woven into the very fabric of its beginning. On Juneteenth, let us celebrate our resilience! Our courage, strength and GLORY!!! Featuring North and West African Dance, Spoken Word, live musical performances, and words of Wisdom and History from Chicago Community Trust CEO Dr. Helene Gayle, former DuSable Museum CEO Dr. Carol Adams, Nigerian Visual Artist Adedayo Laoye, Yoruba Babalawo Ifagbamila Fagunwa and more! Bring a lawn chain or a blanket and a young person!!!

Complimentary food vouchers for the first 70 guests and chairs for elders provided.

We welcome your submissions for future issues of the Chicagoland Trauma Informed Congregations Network newsletter.

Please contact Cindy Novak if you have an event, resource or story you'd like to share. Thank you!