Lovely Village

Lovely Village A healing community for survivors of sexual trauma. Our goal is to Awaken Hope and Empower Change. Love: We build relationships and share the love of Jesus.

Our method is expressed in an integrated, three-part model:

Go: We go into strip clubs once a month. Connect: We connect dancers to community and spiritual resources. In 2002, we started this little called "Jesus Loves Strippers" movement in Waco, TX, visiting strip clubs at the holidays. Soon, we realized that holidays were not enough. Now, with teams in Waco, Dallas, Bryan/College Station, Temple/Killeen, San Antonio, and Houston we share Jesus with women in the clubs EVERY MONTH!

“I would pray for God to show himself.. I was scared of all the hellfire and damnation stuff..I was confused with all th...
08/26/2026

“I would pray for God to show himself.. I was scared of all the hellfire and damnation stuff..I was confused with all that. BUT then, there was this old abandoned church with a piano and dirty pictures on the wall where people would go to drink and drug and makeout…Every time I would go down there was a peace in that church. I was prayin’ one time, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd.’ … and I felt something as strong as a voice and I felt like I found God that day. And I felt like I knew God and I was safe. I found real truth there, I found God, music and sex…what I have is real to me.” - Dolly from “Dolly Parton’s America”Podcast

We honor the legacy that Dolly’s faith, music, philanthropy and love leave behind. We know a thing or two about women considered “too much” and the abandoned places that many are scared to wander inside. We think she’d be proud of what we’re building Lovely Village through community, commerce and creativity. 👯‍♀️✨🦋

08/17/2026

New Data 📈 and it tracks with what we’re doing Lovely Village ! Can you guess the #1 barrier for those we interviewed to leave the s*x industry?

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Thank you ANTI-TRAFFICKING COLLECTIVE University of Northern Colorado & Communities Foundation of Texas for your generous support!

This summer we joined ANTI-TRAFFICKING COLLECTIVE in Dallas to reach women at highest risk for s*x trafficking during Wo...
07/16/2026

This summer we joined ANTI-TRAFFICKING COLLECTIVE in Dallas to reach women at highest risk for s*x trafficking during World Cup. We learned a lot about current needs from women in clubs, on the streets, and those engaged in online exploitation.
In partnership with University of Northern Colorado ‘s Social Lab Communities Foundation of Texas we learned:
Women active in the industry in 2026, reported their #1 need to be FINANCIAL

This tells us some of what we already know:
Financial barriers create vulnerabilities for women and their kids. But, people like YOU investing in job training and living wages for women and their kids are on the front lines of responding to the most important need to combat s*xual exploitation and trafficking!

Lovely Village has been providing living wages and job readiness since 2016 and we’re not stopping! Our justice enterprise is part of our 2 year housing program model so when you shop Lovely, you change lives!

Keep standing with us as we stand with survivors. 💕

108 years ago, this city ran women out of the red light district and told them not to come back. Today, we’re building a...
07/03/2026

108 years ago, this city ran women out of the red light district and told them not to come back. Today, we’re building a place that says Welcome Home!

The Residences are almost real: permits are close, the gap is closing, and $367,780.02 stands between us and opening the doors on the next chapter for women coming out of exploitation and trafficking.

Swipe through for where we’re at.

👉 Give, tour, or just say hi: link in bio or LovelyVillage.org/phase1

📧 Email [email protected] for coffee or a site visit

06/25/2026

Texas ✈️ Nashville! We have returned with full heads, hearts and bellies from Thistle Farms global conference, “Walk with Her”! Thank you Waco Foundation for helping us learn, grow and connect with the largest global anti trafficking network providing safe housing, employment and wrap around care for survivors! We are walking away with a renewed sense of hope in the work and actionable steps as grow Lovely Village in the heart of Texas❤️ Love is a village and Love heals!

05/20/2026

Happy Birthday to our main (and only) man on staff … our co-founder and CEO is 50 and we’re here with Lolita’s, TopoChico and a lot of black clothes to celebrate the milestone!
We are grateful for how you lead, teach and maintain safe spaces for survivors to heal. We need more men like in the world 🎉❤️

05/03/2026

This weekend 😭😍
hosted our first Space for Love retreat with the support of 🙏
What we saw was nothing short of wild and miraculous. We were among a beautiful host of witnesses: the trees, the diverse fungi growing on the forest floor, the rocks, the full flower moon and stars. Even the animals joined the chorus to celebrate the courage, strength and glory of each woman’s reclamation of her birthright. Yes, she belongs here, and first, to herself 📣
No longer possessed, owned, exploited, traded and commodified for another; she is divinely created to take up her space here, walk in dignity, and live into her original goodness and glory. Thank you for Her Rites, what a good guide you have gifted us with.
Thank you Aimeé, Dawn, Daphny & Angela for being generous space-makers. 🥹
Also, if you’re needing time in the woods to help you return to yourself, Dogwood Farms is available for booking! - Emily Mills
🍄‍🟫🍄🌿🪵🪺🪻🌳💫🌖🦉🕊️

Address

1500 Columbus
Waco, TX
76701

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