Project Light Rowan

10/19/2026

Faith in action. 💙

This morning, First United Church of Christ-Salisbury Foundation celebrated more than 50 recipients serving our community—and we’re grateful Project LIGHT was among them.

The choir sang words from Micah 6:8: do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. What a beautiful reminder as we witnessed faith put into action through generosity.

Thank you for investing in our community and helping us interrupt the cycle of human trafficking and child exploitation. Your support helps prevention education, community awareness, and survivor care reach more people.

Join us in thanking First United Church of Christ Foundation! 💙

10/13/2026

Parents of boys — this needs to be on your radar.

The FBI in South Carolina is warning of a 400% increase in sextortion cases, with teenage boys among the primary victims.

Sextortion often starts when someone gains a young person’s trust online, gets them to share an explicit image, and then threatens to expose it unless they send money or more content.

A few warning signs:
- sudden changes in online behavior
- new or hidden messaging apps
- unexplained payments or gift card purchases
- increased secrecy around devices

And one of the most important things to remember: paying usually does not make it stop.

Talk with your kids before there’s a crisis. Make sure they know they can come to you, even if they made a mistake.

Shame and secrecy are exactly what predators count on.

Read the full article here:
https://www.wistv.com/2026/08/24/south-carolina-parents-warned-surging-sextortion-cases-against-boys/

10/10/2026

This is exactly why the theme “For the One” mattered so much to us.
Alicia’s story is such a powerful reminder that making a difference doesn’t always look big or dramatic. Sometimes it’s one person paying attention, one person speaking up, one person choosing to do the right thing.

So thankful Alicia shared her story with our community. 💙

10/08/2026

It can start with something that doesn’t seem sexual at all.

A teen is offered $10–$30 for a picture of their feet.

They get paid. Then the requests change.

Officer Gomez has shared examples he has seen posted or solicited online:

Feet pictures: $10–$30
Bra/underwear pictures: $20–$200
N**e pictures: $50–$500
Sexual videos: $900+

The progression is what parents need to understand.

What begins as “It’s just a picture of my feet” can become grooming, sexual exploitation, sextortion, or trafficking — all while a young person is sitting in their own bedroom.

Online safety conversations can’t just be about screen time. We need to talk about money, payment apps, private messages, requests for pictures, secrecy, and what grooming can actually look like.

At Project LIGHT, prevention starts with helping young people and trusted adults recognize exploitation early.

Ask the questions. Have the conversation. Then have it again. 💙

10/02/2026

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 💜

Domestic violence and human trafficking can overlap in ways people may not always recognize.

Both can involve patterns of power, control, isolation, threats, financial abuse, and coercion. For someone experiencing abuse, that vulnerability can also increase the risk of exploitation.

At Project LIGHT, part of interrupting the cycle is helping our community recognize the warning signs and understand that exploitation does not always look the way we expect it to.

This month, we stand with survivors and with the organizations working every day to provide safety, support, and hope.

Awareness matters. Knowing the signs matters. Speaking up matters.

09/28/2026

We have so much to share! 💙

The past few weeks have been full at Project LIGHT—from Fiesta Night and community presentations to some exciting news about members of our Board.

We’re grateful for every opportunity to REACH, RESPOND, and RESTORE—and especially grateful for the people who make this work possible.

Take a look at our latest Project LIGHT update 👇

Email from Project LIGHT Rowan Inc. Fiesta Night photos, September highlights, our new website, and more. What a night for the ONE! Fiesta Night was a full house! We heard keynote speaker Alicia Kozak

09/27/2026

Our new website is live! 💙

We wanted to create a place that clearly shares who we are, why this work matters, and how you can be part of it.

Whether you want to learn more about human trafficking and exploitation, request a training, find support, or get involved with Project LIGHT, we hope you’ll take a look around.

A special thank you to .cc for helping us bring this vision to life!

Visit www.projectlightrowan.org and let us know what you think.

09/26/2026

Our Project LIGHT family has so much to celebrate! 💙

We are thrilled to welcome Maria Lowder to our Board of Directors. As Head of Schools at North Hills Christian School, Maria has a deep heart for the next generation. For more than 10 years, she has helped lead North Hills in its mission to “equip the hearts and minds of students to impact the world for Christ.”

Her love for young people and her desire to see them grow, thrive, and walk confidently in who God created them to be make her a wonderful addition to Project LIGHT. We are so grateful for her yes!

We are also proud to congratulate board member Dr. F. Wayne Laney on receiving an Excellence in Teaching Award from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Dr. Laney brings both his experience as an educator and his former law enforcement experience to our board, and we are thankful for the wisdom and heart he brings to this work.

Please join us in welcoming Maria and celebrating Dr. Laney!

Read more about Dr. Laney’s recognition in the Salisbury Post:
https://www.salisburypost.com/2026/09/16/rowan-cabarrus-announces-excellence-in-teaching-award-recipients/

09/24/2026

This morning, Project LIGHT had the opportunity to speak with juniors and seniors at Jesse C. Carson High School about human trafficking, online grooming, sextortion, and how to report concerns.

One of the most important messages we shared was this: exploitation does not always look the way we expect. It can begin with attention, an online conversation, or someone who recognizes a vulnerability and knows how to use it.

If someone threatens you with an image, paying rarely makes it stop. Save the evidence. Block the account. Report it. Tell a trusted adult.

Thank you to Carson High School for making space for this important conversation—and to the students for listening so attentively.

Awareness gives young people the tools to protect themselves, recognize when a friend may need help, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

Together, we can interrupt the cycle. 💙

09/23/2026

We are so grateful to the Salisbury Post for capturing the heart of Fiesta Night and helping share why this work matters.

Alicia Kozak and Tonya courageously reminded us that behind every statistic is a real person—a life worthy of being seen, protected, and restored.

We cannot change what happened in their stories, but together, we can help change the story of the next ONE. 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported this evening, and continues to stand with Project LIGHT. One life matters.

Read the Salisbury Post article below.

https://www.salisburypost.com/2026/09/21/one-life-matters-survivors-share-stories-during-project-light-fundraiser/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUf-m9wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR70pukBmqwgnbR2flkSbYMJcyZL-oUiDYxyiZVpAyY_KClzWzWqDDHbqL7-wA_aem_oOF9HMdWLR1LESsISLcLcw

SALISBURY — “That’s why we do what we do. We do it for the one.” Those were the words of Shari Evans, executive director of Project LIGHT, as she thanked […]