LifeWay Network

09/02/2026

Meals are better when they’re spent together. ☀️

Residents at one of LifeWay Network’s safe houses recently enjoyed a backyard cookout — and a birthday celebration for house manager Lindsay!

Shared meals and celebrations are an important part of creating a welcoming home where residents can connect, relax and enjoy time together. We’re grateful for the staff and community members who help make moments like these possible.

Here’s to good food, sunshine and community. 💚

09/01/2026

What if the people who are already watching our workplaces, hotels, transportation hubs, entertainment venues and other public spaces knew how to recognize the signs of human trafficking?

This week, LifeWay Network Director of Education Tori Curbelo is recording a specialized human trafficking awareness training for Protos Security. The webinar is expected to be distributed to approximately 1,800 security firms, with the potential to reach nearly 100,000 security professionals across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

The training equips security professionals to recognize concerning patterns and red flags, document what they observe, protect safety and report concerns. Security professionals work in many of the places where trafficking may occur, putting them in a unique position to notice when something doesn’t seem right.

And security is just one industry that can make a difference.

LifeWay Network can develop human trafficking education and awareness training tailored to the situations your employees may encounter. Equipping people with the right knowledge can turn everyday interactions into opportunities to recognize concerning patterns and respond appropriately.

Interested in bringing human trafficking training to your company, organization or industry? Email [email protected] to learn more.

08/31/2026

What these safe house numbers don't reflect is the life and love that go into each safe night and meal. Such as ...

💚 The mocktail workshop put on by our fundraising manager, Chloe, for the safe house residents. It was a much-needed lighthearted experience as well as a bonding opportunity for residents.

💚 The wonderful meal prepared by our residential aide, Sattie, for the Fourth of July. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are truly values to celebrate for the survivors of trafficking who call LifeWay Network home.

Our deepest gratitude to each of you — our community makes this work and this healing possible. Thank you for being a part of the story in July.

There's more joy to be had and work to be done this fall! Join us — donate today at lifewaynetwork.org.

08/26/2026

Join LifeWay Network for Cocktails for a Cause, an evening of cocktails, connection and community in support of survivors of human trafficking.

Gather with friends at Stout Grand Central on Thursday, October 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. and raise a glass to creating pathways toward freedom, healing and new life.

Tickets are $150 per person. Get yours here! https://secure.qgiv.com/for/cocktailfc/event/cocktailsforacause/

Hosted by Sherene De Palma, Michelle Scolaro and Matilde Carli.

Stout Grand Central
60 East 41st St
New York, New York 10017

08/24/2026

Right here in Westchester. And where you are, too. Learn how human trafficking happens in this powerful podcast from The Examiner News.

LifeWay Network's Ali Boak, along with Treia, a local survivor, speak with hosts Adam Stone and Martin Wilbur about local cases.

Local statistics.

Local threats...which are becoming threats for everyone, thanks to technology.

The implications are frightening, but awareness is crucial to standing strong against this pervasive, profitable and ever-growing crime.

Listen today to Local Matters Westchester on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/5b68JQTjVYQP0c3tTptS0l?si=effc035958094115 .

08/15/2026

Our everyday purchases can have an impact far beyond the checkout line.

Products such as coffee, chocolate, clothing, seafood and other common goods have been linked to forced labor and child labor in global supply chains. Choosing Fair Trade and responsibly made alternatives when they’re available is one way we can support better working conditions and more responsible supply chains.

Before you buy, look for credible certifications, learn where products and materials come from and see what companies disclose about the people who make their goods. Avoid cheap clothes and fast fashion. No single purchase will end forced labor, but informed choices — paired with greater accountability from companies and governments — can help push supply chains toward greater respect for workers.

Want to learn more?

🔎 U.S. Department of Labor — Explore goods linked to child labor and forced labor:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods

🌎 Fairtrade America — Learn what the Fairtrade label means and explore Fairtrade products:
https://www.fairtradeamerica.org/

🛍️ Fair Trade Certified — Learn about the certification and find certified products:
https://www.fairtradecertified.org/

08/07/2026

What if the person committing a crime is being trafficked, too?

That was one of the critical questions explored during LifeWay Network’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons webinar, “Trapped Behind the Scam.”

The conversation made one thing clear: The ways people are groomed and trafficked are changing. Understanding forced criminality requires us to look beyond the crime itself and ask whether coercion, exploitation or trafficking may be part of the story.

We’re grateful to our expert panelists and everyone who joined us for this important conversation.

Continue exploring the issue:

🔗 Read our latest blog, “When the Crime Isn’t the Whole Story: Lessons from ‘Trapped Behind the Scam’”: https://lifewaynetwork.org/2026/08/04/online-exploitation/

🔗 Read Martin Wilbur’s coverage in The Examiner News, “Expert Panelists Shed Light on the Hidden World of Human Traffickers”: https://www.theexaminernews.com/expert-panelist-speak-on-the-shady-world-of-human-traffickers/

Thank you to the dedicated professionals in law enforcement and human services who work alongside LifeWay Network to help end human trafficking and support survivors.

08/05/2026

Our recent community dinner came with a tropical twist!

After sharing a meal together, our residents gathered for a mocktail workshop created by our incredible fundraising manager, Chloe Kastner. 💛

Together, we mixed up delicious alcohol-free drinks including a Nojito, Moscow Mule and Strawberry Lemonade. Every single one was a hit!

Moments like these may seem simple, but they matter. Lighthearted activities create space for laughter, connection and joy—important parts of building community and supporting healing among survivors. Sharing new experiences, learning together and celebrating small moments helps strengthen relationships and reminds us that healing also includes fun.

A huge thank you to Chloe for bringing so much creativity, care and tropical flair to the evening. The LifeWay Tiki Beach Bar was such a fun surprise and made the night even more memorable. 🌴✨

08/04/2026

Thank you to Examiner Media for covering our World Day Against Trafficking in Persons webinar about online exploitation. Read the powerful insights from this conversation with law enforcement, service providers and a survivor here!

Support local news by joining as a member! Receive unfettered access to our digital content, including our Examiner+ bonus content newsletter, and get other perks like free tickets to local performing arts, complimentary advertising for your favorite local charity, restaurant deals, and much more!

07/31/2026

Because of our community, survivors found safety, healing and opportunity throughout June:

💚 147 safe nights provided
🍽️ 441 meals served
🎨 7 therapeutic workshops and wellness activities
🎓 One resident completed an entrepreneurship training program
📚 Another resident continued English language classes

Every safe night. Every shared meal. Every workshop. Every accomplishment.

Together, they create the foundation survivors need to reclaim their lives.

Thank you for making this work possible.