Sparrow Freedom Project

05/29/2026

It meant the world to see all of you who attended our 4th Annual 5K Freedom Walk and Human Trafficking Resource Fair! A huge thank you to the volunteers, sponsors, walkers, participants, and over 42 organizations who came out to Belle Isle to set up their tables on a Saturday to share their resources to make sure the public knows about human trafficking! Thank you for all of your dedication and support in making sure kids, women, men, and everyone in between who have been victimized know what is out there to assist them through their recovery and journey to thrive AND to share the red flags— not myths —of what to look out for to keep safe!

Luckily, we were able to finish the 5K before the thunder and lightening shut us down. Unfortunately, the resource fair was cut short by two hours. Please go to our directory on our website sparrowfreedomproject.org if you would like to see information on the organizations who came out, including FBI, HSI, Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department, MCAT, Office of Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Wayne County Proscutor’s Office, Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Atnip & Associates, PLLC, Neighborhood Legal Services, Survivor Law Clinic, Brigette Robarge Consulting, Henry Ford, MAP, Elli’s House 313, Haven Homes of Detroit, Kids Talk, and many many more! Please tag yourselves if you attended!

And, of course, the biggest appreciation for the marvelous Chief Judge Pope, who spoke about labor and s*x trafficking throughout Michigan and on the Tribal Lands.

Please mark your calendars for May 2027! We will send a save the day out soon!

Take a few minutes and take a look at the day!

*xtraffickingawareness Survivor allies

05/29/2026

It meant the world to see all of you who attended our 4th Annual 5K Freedom Walk and Human Trafficking Resource Fair! A huge thank you to the volunteers, sponsors, walkers, participants, and over 42 organizations who came out to Belle Isle to set up their tables on a Saturday to share their resources to make sure the public knows about human trafficking! Thank you for all of your dedication and support in making sure kids, women, men, and everyone in between who have been victimized know what is out there to assist them through their recovery and journey to thrive AND to share the red flags-- not myths --of what to look out for to keep safe!

Luckily, we were able to finish the 5K before the thunder and lightening shut us down. Unfortunately, the resource fair was cut short by two hours. Please go to our directory on our website sparrowfreedomproject.org if you would like to see information on the organizations who came out, including FBI, HSI, Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department, MCAT, Office of Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Wayne County Proscutor's Office, Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Atnip & Associates, PLLC, Neighborhood Legal Services, Survivor Law Clinic, Brigette Robarge Consulting, Henry Ford, MAP, Elli's House 313, Haven Homes of Detroit, Kids Talk, and many many more! Please tag yourselves if you attended!

And, of course, the biggest appreciation for the marvelous Chief Judge Pope, who spoke about labor and s*x trafficking throughout Michigan and on the Tribal Lands.

Please mark your calendars for May 2027! We will send a save the day out soon!

Take a few minutes and take a look at the day!

*xtraffickingawareness

05/24/2026

05/15/2026

SPREAD THE WORD! Tomorrow is the 5K Freedom Walk & Human Trafficking Resource Fair!

You can still register for the walk today up to when it officially starts at 9am.

Hoodies still available while supplies last!

Resource Fair is FREE and open to the public!

We are hosting a very important family friendly event RAIN OR SHINE on May 16, 2026 on Belle Isle from 8am to 2pm and we are endorsed by all three prosecutors offices (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb).

Chief Judge Melissa Pope will be opening the event with remarks on human trafficking.

Food trucks, water stations, snacks, tshirts, goodies and a beautiful view as we walk for freedom from human trafficking and exploitation.

Kids 12 and under are free. Students have a discounted price. Survivors walk for free.

🟣Video From 2024:
https://vimeo.com/957201915?share=copy =0

🟣 Main Event Page:
https://sparrowfreedomproject.org/5k-resource-fair

🟣 5K Walk Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-5k-walk-registration

🟣 Volunteer Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-volunteer-signup




*xtraffickingawareness

05/14/2026

Congratulations to Chief Judge Pope!

Come listen to the Hon. Melissa Pope speak about human trafficking at our 4th Annual 5K Freedom Walk and Human Trafficking Resource Fair on Saturday, May 16th at 9am.

Main Event Page:
https://sparrowfreedomproject.org/5k-resource-fair

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Appoints Tribal Judge Melissa Pope to MI Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board - Chief Judge Pope, of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Court, earned her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She is reappointed as a person with experience handling the problems of domestic violence and/or s*xual violence for a term commencing May 14, 2026, and expiring December 4, 2028.

05/14/2026

TWO MORE DAYS!

Still time to register to walk for the 4th Annual 5K Freedom Walk and Human Trafficking Resource Fair on Saturday from 8am to 2pm on Belle Isle.

Check out our Executive Director on Fox 2 explaining the importance of this event.

https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/fmc-ygeld4np5gkmqe8q

Resource Fair is FREE!

🟣 5K Walk Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-5k-walk-registration

🟣 Volunteer Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-volunteer-signup


*xtraffickingawareness

The Sparrow Freedom Project is hosting its annual Freedom Walk on Belle Isle this weekend to raise human trafficking awareness. Executive Director Tracey Cooley discusses the event, and the issue of human trafficking in Michigan as a whole.

05/13/2026

Did you know not one person gets paid at Sparrow Freedom Project?

We are made up of volunteers who are dedicated to providing awareness and services to the community assisting victims and survivors of human trafficking. This means spending precious time training, working the donation center, rehabbing the safehouse, wrapping Christmas presents, street outreach, speaking at events, putting on community events, bookkeeping, fundraising, going to meetings, providing services, and much more. All on limited funding and the generosity of our board members, survivor leaders, committee leaders/members, volunteers, donors, and those who attend our events to support us.

Every single dollar, product, hour, blood, sweat and tears is given by volunteers and sponsors.

Now, we are calling on you to join us in the fight against trafficking and take a few hours out of your Saturday on May 16th to walk for freedom, volunteer and/or visit over 40 organizations who will be hosting tables at the resource fair.

4th ANNUAL 5K FREEDOM WALK & HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOURCE FAIR

We are hosting a very important family friendly event RAIN OR SHINE on May 16, 2026 on Belle Isle from 8am to 2pm and we are endorsed by all three prosecutors offices (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb).

Chief Judge Melissa Pope will be opening the event with remarks on human trafficking.

Food trucks, water stations, snacks, tshirts, goodies and a beautiful view as we walk for freedom from human trafficking and exploitation.

Kids 12 and under are free. Students have a discounted price. Survivors walk for free. Resource Fair is free.

T-shirt and walker bags only while supplies last.

🟣Video From 2024:
https://vimeo.com/957201915?share=copy =0

🟣 Main Event Page:
https://sparrowfreedomproject.org/5k-resource-fair

🟣 5K Walk Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-5k-walk-registration

🟣 Volunteer Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-volunteer-signup


*xtraffickingawareness

05/12/2026

Want one of these cool hoodies? Then register to walk or volunteer at the 5K Freedom Walk and Human Trafficking Resource Fair on May 16th. You will get one while supplies last!

4 DAYS LEFT to register for the 5k freedom walk!

Resource Fair is FREE!

4th ANNUAL 5K FREEDOM WALK & HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOURCE FAIR

We are hosting a very important family friendly event RAIN OR SHINE on May 16, 2026 on Belle Isle from 8am to 2pm and we are endorsed by all three prosecutors offices (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb).

Chief Judge Melissa Pope will be opening the event with remarks on human trafficking.

Food trucks, water stations, snacks, tshirts, goodies and a beautiful view as we walk for freedom from human trafficking and exploitation.

Please consider putting together a team of friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and colleagues to walk for freedom from human trafficking. Kids 12 and under are free. Students have a discounted price. Survivors walk for free.

🟣Video From 2024:
https://vimeo.com/957201915?share=copy =0

🟣 Main Event Page:
https://sparrowfreedomproject.org/5k-resource-fair

🟣 5K Walk Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-5k-walk-registration

🟣 Volunteer Registration:
https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-volunteer-signup


*xtraffickingawareness

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

Sign up and walk for freedom from human trafficking in honor of the mother figures in your life.

🌺 https://bit.ly/2026-sparrow-freedom-5k-walk-registration