You know when you get that pop-up on your computer screen… the one with the big “!” and reads “ERROR: bla bla bla”. This is one of those times for the abolitionist cause. Something is obviously not right and requires our attention IMMEDIATELY!

One of the many wonderful things about our nation is the opportunity to participate in the defining and refining of our government. We vote, we advocate, we share our ideas and opinions. As often said, we take for granted this process of democracy. This is especially evident when noting the tragic events that occur in other countries when an individual implores his or her right to speech and the governing process. Beatings, imprisonment, and sometimes execution are the frequent formal responses of governments who don’t afford the liberties we experience.

With that said, we at BRANDED are anticipating a busy Legislative session over the next six months. Currently, our priority is to secure the funding and staffing of the Phoenix Vice Squad that is being considered for budget cuts in the Phoenix City Council. If you’ve followed BRANDED at all over the past year, you understand the utter importance of these heros who fight to save children from sex slavery on the front lines, and lock up the predators that enslave them. Not only is the Phoenix Vice Squad essential for the combating of sex slavery that exists in the Phoenix Metro area, they also are national leaders for law enforcement on this issue. THEY are your tax dollars well spent.

The cause to eradicate child sex slavery would suffer an enormous set-back with de-resourcing of the Vice. We’ve come so far over the past 18 months, and it is time to ensure we can proceed along side these brave officers. Please consider sharing your feelings about the importance of the Phoenix Vice Squad with the following members of the Phoenix City Council, and signing this petition –> CLICK HERE

Mayor Phil Gordon - mayor.gordon@phoenix.gov

Thelda Williams - council.district.1@phoenix.gov

Peggy Neely - council.district.2@phoenix.gov

Bill Gates - council.district.3@phoenix.gov

Tom Simplot - council.district.4@phoenix.gov

Claude Mattox - council.district.5@phoenix.gov

Sal DiCiccio - council.district.6@phoenix.gov

Vice Mayor Michael Nowakowski - council.district.7@phoenix.gov

Michael Johnson - council.district.8@phoenix.gov

www.brandedphx.com

With “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” in our past, now comes the time to think through the gifts we hope to give over the holidays.  Often times the prices determine what we purchase and give… but what if we let something else become the prime factor in our gift decisions? Something we hold in higher regard than the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR?

Below lists some great ideas that benefit the cause of freedom from slavery, something that NEEDS to be a world priority!

• ABOLITION FUND - Consider joining the BRANDED Abolition Fund, or gift it to someone you know cares about the issue of child sex slavery in Phoenix. For $13.00 per month, ABOLITION FUND members will be treated as dedicated abolitionists and receive monthly update emails, invites to exclusive events, and more. Visit www.brandedphx.com/abolitionfund for more information!

• BRANDED T-SHIRT - Purchase a BRANDED T-Shirt and raise awareness by simply wearing clothes!

• HOPE JEWELRY - Local organization, selling slave-free jewelry and accessories.

• NOT FOR SALE: FREEDOM STORE - Accessories, clothing, coffee and so much more offered with one garauntee: EVERYTHING MADE AND SENT SLAVE FREE!

• BATON-IT-ON - A neat way to spread love and awareness, sending a baton is a unique message system that sends messages via the mail! Purchase one for $10 and half the proceeds are donated to BRANDED!

• FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY GIFT CATALOG - Exciting ways to support the International Development ministry of Food for the Hungry. Donate a Goat, Education Supplies, Mosquito Nets, or a Small Business Loan in the name of one who cares about poor.

www.brandedphx.com

When it comes to combating Domestic sex slavery, any and every action has the potential to make a DIRECT impact. At BRANDED we have heard dozens of reports sharing about stories where simply understanding the issue of child sex slavery… the methods of pimps… the warning signs of potential victims… the danger zones in communities… has resulted in preventative action! Therefore, we seek to provide actions opportunities for EVERYONE to take. In essence:

AWARENESS = PREVENTION

The more people know that human trafficking and child sex slavery exists in their communities, and the more they understand the dynamics of the issue, the safer we will become.

With that said, there are several ways for you to ACT and EDUCATE yourself in the upcoming weeks:

• Shea Homes Glow Run to benefit StreetLight

Hosted at the Encanterra Country Club Golf Course on October 10, all proceeds from the night run will be donated to StreetLight as they seek to provide a holistic after-care facility for victims of child sex slavery in the region. 5k, 10k and marathon options. Click here for more information, and Run for a great Cause!

• Catholic Charities Immersion Experience and Candlelight Walk

Catholic Charities will be hosting two awareness events to promote the after-care programs of Dignity House, which treats and trains adult women coming out of prostitution. On October 1, a multi-sensory and interactive IMMERSION EXPERIENCE will be exhibited. This is an amazing experience to better understand the deception and abuse that is involved in what is often considered “a victimless crime”. Click here for more information.

• Host a BRANDED Event - Get the word out!

We are looking for more venues to host BRANDED Screenings and Events. We see it essential that more people know about this heinous injustice that is thriving in our city. If AWARENESS = PREVENTION then one of our goals is to raise more AWARENESS. If you have ideas or suggestions for possible BRANDED events please click here!

Food for the Hungry’s City Initiatives Program is hosting a Golf Marathon to benefit the efforts of BRANDED and StreetLight. If you are driven to raise support and awareness on the issue of Child Sex Slavery in Phoenix, join us at Ancala Country Club on SEPTEMBER 21!

For more information on the event visit www.fh.org/cityinitiatives/golfmarathon or contact Even Coordinator David Curtis.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the efforts of BRANDED and StreetLight in attempt to raise awareness on the issue, develop preventation programs, and support the rehabilitation of victims.

Please consider your involvement with this Event, either as a Golfer or Sponsor. As if you needed more incentive to golf at a prestigous golf resort, for a cause that is more than worth… We are including rewards for reaching various support raising goals! Check them out… Register HERE!

$6,000 AND ABOVE

• A set of Ping Irons
• Dinner for two at a designated restaurant
• A two night stay at a designated resort
• Dozen golf balls
• City Initiatives Golf Marathon logo shirt

$4,000

• Dinner for two at a designated restaurant
• A two night stay at a designated resort
• Dozen golf balls
• City Initiatives Golf Marathon logo shirt

$2,500

• Dozen golf balls
• City Initiatives Golf Marathon logo shirt

Also, for company sponsors there are several advertising options for the event. If your business is interested in sponsoring the event please contact David Curtis. The following are the various Sponsorship Levels to consider:

TITLE SPONSOR - $10,000

• Weekend stay at a designated resort
• Listing and logo on City Initiative literature and promotional materials
• Listing on Food for the Hungry website
• Listing in Food for the Hungry’s award winning 6:8 magazine and newsletters
• Teebox advertisement
• Scorecard listing
• Antigua clothing
• § Dozen golf balls.

Diamond Sponsor - $5,000

• Listing on all City Initiatives literature and promotional materials
• Listing on Food for the Hungry website
• Listing in Food for the Hungry’s award winning 6:8 magazine and newsletters
• Teebox advertisement
• Scorecard listing
• Antigua clothing
• Dozen golf balls

Platinum Sponsor - $2,500

• Listing on all promotional materials
• Listing on Food for the Hungry website
• Listing in Food for the Hungry’s award winning 6:8 magazine and newsletters
• Teebox advertisement
• Scorecard listing
• Antigua clothing
• Dozen golf balls

Gold Sponsor - $1,000

• Listing on all City Initiative literature for weekend event
• Teebox advertisement
• Antigua clothing
• Dozen golf balls

After being referred from the Health and Human Services Committee, to the Judiciary Committee in the Arizona House of Representatives, Senate Bill 1423 is being a refused a hearing by one man.

The “John Bill” passed through the AZ Senate UNANIMOUSLY last week, with little opposition from Senators or Prosecuting Attorneys. However, now that it has landed on the desk of Rep. Adam Driggs, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.  At this point he is refusing to put the Bill on the agenda for his committee, which will effectively kill the bill… not by consensus… but by one person’s reservations.

This is obviously a blow to the effort to end Child Rape for Profit in Phoneix. There are a couple things that YOU can do to try to salvage the bill.

First, we continue to urge you to contact Rep. Driggs office to discuss your thoughts on Senate Bill 1423.

adriggs@azleg.gov - 602-926-3016

Second, please contact the offices of Speaker of the House, Kirk Adams to offer your thoughts on Senate Bill 1423.

kadams@azleg.gov - 602-926-5495

We thank you for your continued support of cause to end child sex slavery in Phoenix, and we hope that Justice will be facilitated through this legislation.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE “JOHN BILL” - SENATE BILL 1423

The John Bill (Senate Bill 1423) that was scheduled to be heard by the AZ House Subcommittee on Health and Human Services has been postponed indefinitely.

Representative Adam Driggs, chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee, has raised concerns about Senate Bill 1423 and effectively delayed it’s course. Please feel free to discuss Rep. Driggs’ stance by contacting his offices at 602.926.3016 or adriggs@azleg.gov

Senate Bill 1423 looks to REMOVE the complete defense from Johns who are caught soliciting sex from a minor and claim they did not know the prostitute was under-age. For more information on the John Bill click here.

Small Scottsdale Church takes lead on Serving Detained Victims

What began as simple conversations, discussing the issue of child sex slavery in the Phoenix Metro Area, turned into a church wide campaign to make sure victims were being served. Journey Scottsdale, a small but growing congregation located in Old Town, Scottsdale grasped the vision that child prostitutes are VICTIMS not criminals. Taking the information produced by the Phoenix Vice Squad, and the scenarios posed in the documentary BRANDED about the need for basic necessities for girls that are picked up off the street, the church took this as a “call to respond”. An they did so in a big way!

Organized by Pastor Eric Ehmann and several devoted and passionate members, the church took a Sunday to ponder God’s passion for justice, and how our lives should reflect that passion. Following the service the church assembled a variety of donated goods into “Green Bags”. These bags included basic toiletries, a small snack, bottled water, oversized T-shirt, and other products that a victim might benefit from after working the street for hours on end.

The small church performed an enormous act of compassion towards those victimized by the child sex trade in Phoenix. Though large scale efforts that require large amounts of capital and investment will be needed to eradicate slavery from our city, so are the smaller-scale initiatives like that of Journey Scottsdale’s “Green Bags”. Together, we can all bring an end to slavery in Phoenix!

www.journeyscottsdale.com

www.brandedphx.com

As a movement trying to “decentralize”, we seek people prepared to put their ideas and dreams into action. It is our hope that when people hear about the evil being done in our city, the horrors of 12 year old girls being raped for profit, night in… night out… that they are moved and compelled into action. That the greater public comes to the belief that the current situation is unacceptable, and therefore personal steps must be made to begin to RIGHT the overwhelming WRONG.

Such was the reaction of Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix. After seeing the documentary ‘branded’, the pastoral team made it a point to not only preach a message of justice and social responsibility from the pulpit, but to provide the first steps of this teaching IMMEDIATELY. They recalled the scene in the film when a Phoenix VICE officer shared the common reality, that when they arrest a girl from the street they often immediately bring the girl to a drive-thru because she has been working for 8-12 hours straight, has $200 in her pocket, but because she must turn over 100% of her earnings to her pimp, she has not eaten. The money for this food comes from the VICE officer’s own pocket.

Bethany Bible Church put together a Gift Card Drive within their congregation in attempts to serve these noble and courageous VICE officers. Within a couple days following the message and call to action, the church had received over 200 Gift Cards ($10+) to common fast-food restaurants. Beyond providing these VICE officers a means to continue their humble service to our city… and to the victims of child sex slavery… this church sent a message of overwhelming support to the men and women who are fighting on the front lines of this issue. This is a prime example of people putting their ideas and dreams into action. Thank you Bethany Bible Church, and all others that have begun to cry out against child sex slavery in Phoenix. Keep creating… keep dreaming… keep speaking out…

Please continue to support our valiant VICE officers through your thoughts and words.

When it comes to Motorcycles, you either love ‘em or you don’t! But one thing that is for sure, is that they always get attention. Therefore we’re excited that a group of concerned citizens, who happen to ride 2-wheeled vehicles, are coming together to raise awareness for the fight against Child Sex Slavery in our city.

Join the crew May 16, to ride for a cause. Rev those engines to End Child Prostitution in Phoenix!
For more information and registration

Join hundreds of local motorcycle enthusiasts to raise awareness about minors who are being enslaved and prostituted in our community. 100% proceeds benefit Branded Phx & Street Lights Programs

FEE:$20 single / $30 two up before 5/13

T-shirt to first 100 registered riders.

More Info. HERE | REGISTRATION | Promotional Flyer