Awaken

Call Directions Website

Awaken resources + awareness surrounding the issue of sex trafficking + commercial sexual exploitation We aspire to be an inspirational model for other communities.

Awaken acts to transform our community with the ultimate goal of eradicating commercial sexual exploitation. We aim for victims of commercial sexual exploitation to be restored to their fullest potential. Awaken aims to accomplish its mission and vision through three areas: Prevention, Restoration, and City Transformation.

Is s*x trafficking in Reno really an issue? Yes, and the local facts matter.Between January 2025 and January 2026, the R...
10/13/2026

Is s*x trafficking in Reno really an issue? Yes, and the local facts matter.

Between January 2025 and January 2026, the Regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit reported recovering 55 victims, including 18 children (nearly 1 in 3 victims was a child). During that same period, investigations resulted in 143 arrests and 287 criminal charges.

But statistics alone can't tell the whole story.

Who is being exploited? How does trafficking begin? What role does demand play? And what can our community do about it?

In her latest blog post, Christina Rangel, Awaken's Director of Justice Initiatives, explores five local facts that bring the reality of s*x trafficking closer to home, including the impact on minors, criminal cases connected to our community, and the demand that fuels s*xual exploitation.

Her message is clear: awareness matters, but awareness alone isn't enough.

Read the full article to learn more about what's happening in our community and how you can help make a difference.

👉 https://www.awakenjustice.org/is-s*x-trafficking-in-reno-really-an-issue

*xTrafficking *xTrafficking

Prevention in action. Thousands reached. More work ahead. ➡️Since launching our Prevention programming in Reno in 2013, ...
10/10/2026

Prevention in action. Thousands reached. More work ahead. ➡️

Since launching our Prevention programming in Reno in 2013, we've expanded our education efforts across Northern Nevada, reaching 36 schools and training more than 13,000 people in Prevention education.

We're proud of this progress, but we know there's more work to be done. Prevention takes a community, and we can't do it alone.

Join us Friday, November 13, for our Annual Banquet! Celebrate what we've accomplished together the past 15 years, hear from inspiring voices, and leave equipped to take action against s*x trafficking.

🎟️ Get your tickets and be part of what comes next.
https://www.awakenjustice.org/

*xTraffickingPrevention

☀️🍦 A sweet reminder that caring for our team matters, too.Thank you to Sierra Swirl Soft Serve Ice Cream for bringing y...
10/02/2026

☀️🍦 A sweet reminder that caring for our team matters, too.

Thank you to Sierra Swirl Soft Serve Ice Cream for bringing your mobile ice cream truck to the Awaken offices this beautiful fall afternoon and treating our staff to a much-appreciated break!

Our team gives so much of themselves to serve survivors, support families, and help build safer communities. We’re grateful for local businesses like Sierra Swirl that take the time to encourage and care for the people behind the mission. 💛

Thank you for making our day a little sweeter!

‼️ This Friday! Join us for an important conversation about the fight against human trafficking and commercial s*xual ex...
10/01/2026

‼️ This Friday! Join us for an important conversation about the fight against human trafficking and commercial s*xual exploitation.

Awaken’s Co-Founder & CEO Melissa Holland and Christina Rangel, Director of Justice Initiatives, will be speaking at the upcoming Christian Business Connections Luncheon in Reno.

Together, they’ll look beyond awareness to explore what it actually takes to fight trafficking effectively, including the realities of exploitation, the work already happening in our community and around the world, and the unique role that business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and churches can play in pursuing justice and freedom.

As Christian leaders, we each have influence, resources, relationships, and opportunities that can be used to bring meaningful change. The fight against human trafficking is not someone else’s responsibility.

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
🕦 11:30 AM | Doors open at 11:15 AM
📍 Encounter Ministry
9222 Prototype Drive #200, Reno, NV 89521
🍽️ $30/person | Lunch included

Every Leader Bring a Leader!

If you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, investor, church leader, or simply someone who wants to better understand how you can engage in this fight, we’d love to have you there.

There’s still time to RSVP!
👉 https://krpy.me/k8xbE

*xualExploitation

📱 In two weeks, let’s get behind the screen.Your kids are navigating an online world that changes fast. Staying involved...
10/01/2026

📱 In two weeks, let’s get behind the screen.

Your kids are navigating an online world that changes fast. Staying involved isn’t about spying—it’s about guiding, protecting, and staying connected.

Would you recognize the signs of:
🚫 Online grooming or exploitation
🚫 Behavior that could put your child at risk
🚫 Other warning signs that something may be wrong?

Do you understand the risks kids face online today, including:
👎 Predators and grooming
👎 Harmful content
👎 Cyberbullying and mental health concerns
👎 Privacy risks
👎 The growing dangers of AI

Join Awaken for “Behind the Screen: A Workshop for Keeping Kids Safe Online,” a free workshop designed for anyone who cares for children.

📅 Thursday, October 15 | 6 PM
📍 Sparks Christian Fellowship | Sparks, NV
🙋‍♀️ Register for free: https://tinyurl.com/OctParents

Two weeks from now, you could walk away with greater awareness, practical information, and tools to help keep the children in your life safer online.

👉 Register today—and please share this post and invite other parents and caretakers. Together, we can help keep kids safe.

10/01/2026

STAY INFORMED. SPEAK UP. TAKE ACTION.

Meet Christina Rangel, Awaken’s Director of Justice Initiatives and the leader behind The Justice Forum.

Christina brings more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of survivor support, human rights, and systemic change, along with her own lived experience as a survivor of trafficking. Her advocacy has spanned nine countries, including direct engagement with victims and survivors in the United States and abroad. She holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford.

Christina has also shared her story as a survivor in the award-winning documentary "At What Cost: The Truth Behind Nevada’s S*x Industry," helping shine a light on the realities of trafficking and exploitation in Nevada.

At Awaken, Christina leads advocacy efforts to advance legislation and policy aimed at combating s*x trafficking and commercial s*xual exploitation, and she invites you to be part of that work.

Now is the time to get informed about the issues and policies shaping your community.

And it doesn’t stop on Election Day. As Nevada heads into its next legislative session in February 2027, The Justice Forum will keep you informed about legislation, policy developments, and opportunities to make your voice heard and take action.

You don’t have to be a policy expert to make a difference. You just need to be informed and willing to speak up.

Join The Justice Forum today (it's free!).

👉 awakenjustice.org/the-justice-forum
🔗 Link in bio

Stay informed. Speak up. Take action.

We’re hiring! 💙Come join an incredible team and be part of making a meaningful impact in our community.Awaken is looking...
09/25/2026

We’re hiring! 💙

Come join an incredible team and be part of making a meaningful impact in our community.

Awaken is looking for Youth and Adult Case Managers who are passionate about helping others, building healthy relationships, and creating lasting change.

If you’re looking for meaningful work with a team that cares deeply about the people we serve, we invite you to explore our current opportunities.

👉 Apply here: https://www.awakenjustice.org/jobs

Join our team and be part of this amazing, life-changing work.

Kids deserve to be safe online.The U.S. House has taken an important step by passing the KIDS Act. Now, 111 organization...
09/22/2026

Kids deserve to be safe online.

The U.S. House has taken an important step by passing the KIDS Act. Now, 111 organizations—including Awaken—are calling on congressional leaders to work together to strengthen and advance comprehensive child online safety protections and get them signed into law this year.

Awaken signed this coalition letter because protecting children from exploitation means addressing the environments where exploitation can occur—including online.

Kids and teens can’t wait.

Read the letter and learn more: https://bit.ly/4AeQgqS

What can one person do to make a difference in the fight against s*x trafficking and exploitation?At Awaken’s 2026 Annua...
09/21/2026

What can one person do to make a difference in the fight against s*x trafficking and exploitation?

At Awaken’s 2026 Annual Banquet, we’re exploring that question through the stories of three community leaders who have each used their own spheres of influence to bring awareness to trafficking and exploitation and help create change.

Meet our panelists:

Kyle Rea — Reno business and real estate leader who has used his professional sphere to help bring greater awareness of human trafficking throughout the community.

Darcy Cameron — Deputy District Attorney whose work includes prosecuting s*x trafficking and child exploitation cases in Washoe County.

Janet Jensen — business leader, advocate, and survivor who has spent decades working to support survivors and advance solutions to s*xual violence and exploitation.

But we’re not sharing their stories here.

You’ll have to be in the room to hear them.

Each panelist brings a different perspective, a different sphere of influence, and a different story of what it can look like to take action.

And that’s the bigger purpose of this conversation.

Awaken cannot do this work alone. Ending s*x trafficking and commercial s*xual exploitation requires a community of people willing to use their own influence—at work, at home, in their organizations, and throughout their communities.

We want you to leave this evening thinking not only about what Awaken is doing, but about what you can do.

📅 November 13, 2026
💛 Awaken Annual Banquet

Come hear these three leaders share how they’ve used their spheres of influence—and discover what your sphere could look like.

👉 Reserve your seat or become a banquet sponsor at awakenjustice.org.

Address

433 Spokane Street
Reno, NV
89512

Telephone

+17753939183

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Awaken posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share