Breaking Free (organization)

Breaking Free
Motto Sisters helping sisters break free
Formation 1996
Type NGO
Purpose To help women exit prostitution
Location
Region served
 Minnesota, United States
Membership
 Women
Official language
 English
Executive director
 Vednita Carter
Public policy coordinator
 Beth Jacobs
Social worker
 Joy Friedman
Affiliations Men Against The Trafficking Of Others
Website www.breakingfree.net

Breaking Free is a nonprofit organization[1] based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States that provides various services to prostitutes, such as help finding a place to live and a job outside the sex industry.[2] The organization also offers john schools for those convicted of buying sex.[3] The organization was founded in 1996[4] by Vednita Carter.[5] The motto of the organization is "sisters helping sisters break free".[6] Mission 21, an organization based in Rochester, provides services for child prostitutes and human trafficking victims who are younger than 16 years old, and refers those 16 and older to Breaking Free.[7] The organization's website states that, on a given day, there are between 8,000 and 12,000 people being trafficked in the Minnesota sex industry.[8] Beth Jacobs, a former prostitute, is the organization's public policy coordinator,[9] and Joy Friedman works for the organization as a social worker.[10] In May 2011, Breaking Free partnered with Men Against The Trafficking Of Others to host a two-day event to raise awareness about sex trafficking.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Nora Leinen (December 16, 2009). "Human trafficking in Minnesota". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ Jessica Mador (March 14, 2008). "Advocates promote tougher tactics to combat prostitution". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ Jody Raphael; Mary C. Ellison (2013). Claire M. Renzetti, Susan L. Miller, Angela R. Gover, ed. "Prostitution: The Gendered Crime". Routledge International Handbook of Crime and Gender Studies (Routledge): 154. ISBN 1136836853.
  4. ↑ Sharon Coolidge (August 18, 2006). "Out of 'the life,' they learn to live". USA Today. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ Susan Budig (October 27, 2007). "Prostitution: Should it remain a crime?". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ Kathy Magnuson (October 27, 2009). "Real people, real names". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ Kay Fate (August 12, 2013). "Mission 21 leader lauds Rochester police's efforts". Post-Bulletin. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ Julie Buntjer (August 15, 2013). "Human trafficking widespread". Daily Globe. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ Pam Louwagie (September 23, 2008). "Report finds gaps in sex-trafficking enforcement". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  10. ↑ Pat Pheifer; Jim Anderson (February 26, 2011). "Teen prostitutes get new status". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  11. ↑ Amy Forliti (May 15, 2011). "Bill would protect children trafficked for sex". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved September 11, 2013.