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.