March For Freedom

10/15/2023

Thank you to everyone who participated in Rockford's 1st annual March For Freedom event yesterday!

With the help of our local news coverage and individual involvement from families and churches to local leaders and advocate organizations like RAASE, March For Freedom has the potential to reach over 145,000 people within our community.

We are so grateful for everyone who joined us in raising awareness about HT yesterday! Your participation and desire to take action will impact change in our city. 🙌

Kemper hopes this walk educates people on what human trafficking looks like.

10/11/2023

March For Freedom is this Saturday, October 14th!

Time:
9am - 12pm

🕘 9 - 9:45am
Check-In

🕙 10 - 11am
MFF silent walk

🕚 11am - 12pm
Quick Closing Statement 👉 If interested, please stick around until noon to learn more about Rockford's local anti-trafficking organization, RAASE, and how you can get involved.

Location:
Breakthrough Church
415 N Church St
Rockford, IL

Your participation is everything! By joining us this Saturday Oct. 14th, you are helping spread awareness, reducing local vulnerability, and bringing hope to our city.

Help us make a change. Register for MFF today:
https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

👀 For those who have already registered, be on the lookout for an email with the MFF day-of details.

10/07/2023

March For Freedom is 1 week away!

We are so excited to debut Rockford's 1st March For Freedom with you this Saturday, October 14th.

Not sure what to expect? Check out the 3-minute video for the event details!

Date:
Saturday, October 14, 2023

Time:
9am - 12pm
(MFF walk will take place from 10-11am)

Location:
Breakthrough Church
415 N Church St
Rockford, IL 61103
(Parking available at Breakthrough Church and across the street at Emmanuel Episcopal Church)

Your participation brings awareness and education to our local leaders, neighbors, and friends. It sends a message to the world that human trafficking exists and we are here to do something about it. The more people are aware, the more effective we will be at ending the demanding for it!

Want to make a lasting impact in your community? Join March For Freedom!

Register today:
https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

10/05/2023

Rockford ranks in the top 1% of highest HT cases in the state of IL. 🤯 Therefore it is not a matter of "if" you will come into contact with a victim, but "when". How will you respond?

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

⚠️ In 2021, IL identified 243 cases of HT, resulting in 355 survivors.

⚠️ 161 of those 243 cases were a result of someone "reporting a trafficking tip".

⚠️ That means 2/3 of the identified HT cases in 2021 were a result of a bystander witnessing a red flag, suspecting potential HT, and doing something about it by reporting it to the NHTH.

⬆️ This is why it is so important that our community get involved with events like March For Freedom, and learn how to identify and report trafficking suspicions.

We are the hope. We are the change!

Will you join us on Saturday, October 14th and help end the demand for human trafficking in our city?

Register today:
https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

‼️If you suspect HT please call the NHTH #‼️
--> 888-373-7888

10/03/2023

March For Freedom hits Rockford Register Star.

Join us Saturday, October 14th (9am - 12pm).

Take action. Learn about the realities of human trafficking in our city, and empower our community to help end the demand for it.

Register today:
https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

Advocates will hold a silence march through the streets of downtown Rockford Oct. 14 to shed light on the damage caused by human trafficking.

10/02/2023

Registration for a FREE March For Freedom t-shirt has officially ended...

BUT don't let that stop you from joining us on October 14th!

We all play a part. Together we can end the demand for human trafficking in our city.

Sign -up today: https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

10/01/2023

Why join Rockford's March For Freedom?

Human trafficking is a $150 BILLION industry. What does that tell you? It is in high demand.

The state of IL ranks 8th in the nation for highest HT cases. The city of Rockford ranks in the top 6 cities for highest HT trafficking cases in the state of IL. What does that tell you? Rockford, IL is vulnerable and HT happens here!

So how do we end the demand for HT in our city?

We acknowledge that it exists.
We use the available resources to get educated.
We share our awareness and knowledge with others.
We continue to do our part.

Take action and join us October 14th. Help spread awareness to our community. Help reduce local vulnerability. Learn how to identify and report trafficking suspicions, and empower others to do the same.

Be the hope our city needs and help end the demand for human trafficking.

Join March For Freedom today:
https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

09/25/2023

This morning I had the privilege of sharing March For Freedom with our community, thanks to our local WTVO news station...

And what a blessing it is to have the support of local leaders within the news/media realm as they are, often times, the influencers who fuel action and change within our communities.

We all have the ability to make a difference. Together we can raise awareness and end the demand for human trafficking in Rockford, IL.

Be the hope our city needs and join us on Saturday, October 14th!

Register for MFF today:
https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

Official WTVO Interview Here:
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/raising-awareness-of-human-trafficking-in-rockford/amp/?fbclid=IwAR0ZH6NRa2yqGk_OFBRCWzHJkifrWuGXW94e4Qj5KAYcdNACFTBZ6yzJIwE

09/18/2023

March For Freedom day of details!
(5 min video for details in full)

March For Freedom - FREE event
Saturday, October 14, 2023

Breakthrough Church
415 N Church St.
Rockford, IL
(Parking here and additional parking at
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
412 N Church St.
Rockford, IL)

🕘 9am
Registration and Check-in (receive FREE t-shirt)
*Meet Megan Vold at the RAASE info table, or grab a ☕ and take a seat to watch the educational video playing prior to the march*
‼️Please check-in by 9:45am‼️

🕙 10am
Why we walk!
Introduce RAASE
March For Freedom walk (route in comments ⬇️)
+ 1.5 mile silent walk - holding signs

Immediately following the walk we will have closing statements and additional information provided by RAASE, for those who would like it.

Thank you to everyone who has already made the decision to join March For Freedom. You are the hope that fuels the change!

If you are interested in joining us on October 14th, please Register Here: https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

09/09/2023

A21 nailed it. ⬇️

Why Education Matters...

Human trafficking is complicated and is seldom discussed in homes, schools, and workplaces. Most people don’t know modern-day slavery exists in the form of trafficking and exploitation. And those who do, often assume someone else will take care of the problem.

Without awareness and education, vulnerable people may not perceive a situation as dangerous until it’s too late.

Lack of education results in inaction:

Less awareness → increased victimization

Less reporting → missed opportunities

Fewer rescues → ongoing exploitation

… and the cycle continues.

But when people everywhere are equipped to identify recruitment tactics and the signs of exploitation, they can protect themselves and others. The constantly evolving global crisis of human trafficking requires awareness, education, and action. Each individual's response taken collectively, worldwide, can stop the cycle of human trafficking once and for all.

You are the solution.

Join March For Freedom - learn to identify tactics and signs, and help spread awareness and education to others.

Register here: https://forms.gle/1RYRUk4RotKY8adq5

08/15/2023

Now available!

The March For Freedom event may only be one day out of the year, but raising awareness and reducing vulnerability is something we can do every day.

A person's apparel can tell a story. By purchasing a "Human Trafficking Happens Here" hooded sweatshirt, you are raising awareness everywhere you go.

Check out the March For Freedom merch store and start raising awareness through your apparel: https://rockford-art-deli.printavo.com/merch/march-for-freedom/

🗣️ All orders will be processed on Oct. 1st!

⏳ The store closes on Oct. 1st @11:59pm.

Thank you to all who are helping raise awareness and bringing local action in the fight against human trafficking!