I took this photo to catch the morning light on our money plant.
Wednesday was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception for a kitchen we helped fund at the Phoenix Dream Center. The Phoenix Dream Center I’ve mentioned before. In it’s former life, it was an Embassy Suites Hotel. Now it’s a residential facility for sex-trafficked women.
Although it’s not in a good area of Phoenix, it offers a chance at recovery and a renewal for many teens and women. The kitchen my women’s group bought appliances for is a respite and educational center for women who choose to keep their babies. It was a space that previously was used for storage, then a break room for staff.
A couple who own a construction company, transformed the space into a living area with a large screen TV where babies and toddlers can relax and play while moms cook for them. There’s a large dining room table in the room adjacent to the kitchen where moms and kids can share meals. Like one staff member told us, “The heart of the home is the kitchen.” It’s a place for assembly and fellowship.
The construction couple designed the plans and used their employees to complete the rebuild. The owner said they hired an AC guy who was a graduate of the Phoenix Dream Center and now owns a HVAC company. They said they often use current people in the recovery program as apprentices to teach them skills to help ensure their future.
Their vision was to have a place where women residents could learn basics of cooking. They explained that many of the women were trafficked at a young age. They never learned things like following recipes, measurements, menu planning, etc. Things we all take for granted. After they learn basic skills, the center will bring in guest chefs.
Wow. I was impressed on how beautiful the room turned out. It’s more than a kitchen, it’s a place for mothers and babies to hang out together, learn and feel safe.
The construction couple gave us a tour of the Children’s Learning Center, which will be finished by the end of the month. It’s a daycare center for infants up to preschool. They have rooms for each age from one to preschool age. They stressed the only way to break the cycle of sex trafficking and victimhood is through education. The three-year-olds will begin to learn to read. The four-year-olds will read aloud to caregivers. The five- and six-year-olds are in preschool and will be prepared to enter public school at the same level as their peers.
Meanwhile, the children’s learning center is a safe place for up to 95 children. While moms continue with therapy, training and education at the Phoenix Dream Center, the moms have a safe place to leave their children — right in the heart of the center. We were told that when moms graduate the program, they can use the center for free daycare. Most women starting out on a new life do not have the means for daycare.
The Phoenix Dream Center is protected by Homeland Security plus local Sheriffs and Police. We learned that a 13-year-old girl can earn their trafficker $300,000 a year. If he has three girls, he’s making big money. They often want to get their “property” back after they’ve been rescued by law enforcement. That’s why there is full-time security, plus high tech DHS equipment — and more they didn’t discuss with us.
Not only am I impressed with the mission of the Phoenix Dream Center and how it changes lives, the couple I met who are donating their time, money and expertise to bring these plans to fruition, truly got me teary eyed.
Here are a few photos from the kitchen we helped support. Next, we’re buying refrigerators for the Children’s Learning Center along with computers for their pre-school.
Thanks for coming along on my tour and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Phoenix Dream Center — Where Hope Lives!
Please share your thoughts.
That is just fantastic. Good luck to those women and their families.
Thanks! The Dream Center does amazing work. I’m proud to be a small part of it.
I’m all for helping people. Especially young women who have been abused. Kudos
We only have 30 members and fundraise through the year to buy a few things from a list of what they need. We are a tiny piece of how the community helps there. But I’m glad we can help.
Awesome
I was on the verge of quitting because it’s so much work. But seeing the end result of our donations yesterday, changed my mind.
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This is wonderful EA! Your group is doing amazing things.
Thanks. I was thinking about quitting the board but it was rewarding to take the tour and see what good is being done. We are only a small part of the efforts at The Dream Center. But even a small bit makes a difference.
This is such a beautiful place, especially made to feel like home for these women and their children. Bravo to all those who helped achieve this dream.
Thank you. It was amazing to talk to women who are The Dream Center staff, who were once trafficked themselves They are leading normal lives and helping those in need. The family center was beautiful! Hats off to the couple with the construction company who designed and built it!
It really is an amazing achievement
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Looks great!
It turned out so nice! I am so grateful for the couple who used their talent and resources to refurbish it to such good use.
Incredible! Thanks for all you do to support this, Elizabeth!
Thanks! Our small group of women raise money to buy what is on their list of needs. It’s not much money, but it takes a ton of time and work on our part. Visiting the center helped me stay motivated. I was on the fence whether or not I wanted to continue. It’s so worthwhile when you’re face to face.
That looks really nice. What a great cause!
Thanks! I had no idea how prevalent the issue is, especially in the Phoenix area. It’s because of freeways going east, west and north, they can move victims throughout the country. I was surprised to learn most sex trafficked victims are middle class residents from the area, who feel like their parents don’t understand them, or feel left out by their peers. They get groomed online by good looking guys who make them feel loved. Then they’re separated from their families and cell phones and IDs are taken away.
Scary stuff. I always told my kids never to talk to strangers online. Boy do they give me a bad time when I talk about “one of my blogging friends…”- LOL
My daughter gives me a hard time, too. She met a friend online who lived in Chicago and wanted to go to Lollapalooza with her! I said no, and how did she even know it was a girl her age? So now I get her teasing me over my blogging friends.
Oh wow, what a great cause. Thanks for putting a spotlight on the need Elizabeth!!!
Thank you! I was so busy doing all my comms work trying to get our fundraiser off the ground. It did get good coverage, we did have people from the community attend. I felt that I was using my skills for a good purpose.
How absolutely wonderful . Thank you for all you do…
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Thank you for the kind words! I’ll continue on for a while more. 😊
That sounds like a fabulous organization that provides much needed services. I especially like that it continues to support the women after they have worked so hard to get their lives back together.
Exactly. I’m amazed after every one of my visits. Our small women’s group raises a small amount of money for them. But I can’t think of a better place for it to go. Truly changing lives.
What a great group. Talk about putting money to good use. Thanks for an uplifting glimpse into something positive.
Thanks. The Dream Center is an amazing place. I’m glad we can help them a little bit.
That’s so wonderful that so many people had the passion to develop this facility in the first place. And kudos to your group and all the others that continue to improve it and keep it safe and strong for the women and children who need it so very much.
Thanks! I’m so impressed with the people who give their time and talent to The Dream Center. I was in a coffee shop with some friends from my women’s group and we were talking about sex trafficking and our fundraiser. A man stopped at our table and said, “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. I volunteer for the largest organization in the country that helps vicitms of sex trafficking.” I asked him what was the name. The answer was The Dream Center! He told us all about two other residential facilities they have in Arizona. One is for rescued children, which is horrible to think about.