{"id":105327,"date":"2021-02-17T15:59:13","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T20:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=105327"},"modified":"2021-02-17T15:59:13","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T20:59:13","slug":"aspire-joins-forces-with-ywca-bethlehem-and-delta-sigma-theta-sorority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=105327","title":{"rendered":"ASPIRE JOINS FORCES WITH YWCA BETHLEHEM AND DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(LEHIGH VALLEY, PA) – On Tuesday, March 23, from 7-9 p.m., Aspire to Autonomy Inc. (ASPIRE), is partnering up with the YWCA of Bethlehem and Allentown Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta for a free, virtual, training — part of ASPIRE\u2019s Project: Underground Railroad initiative.<\/p>\n

The mission for Project Underground Railroad is to create a network of partnerships between faith-based organizations, business owners, and community-based organizations that will cultivate a system of support for individuals who have been trafficked while educating on the components of human trafficking, infroming parents how to keep their children safe, and understanding the effects of trafficking on those who have been victims. ASPIRE\u2019s objective for this program is to create a grassroots movement that will educate and equip the community to not only be more aware of human trafficking but provide the necessary tools and resources to take a stand against human trafficking and lead vicitms to safety.<\/p>\n

Tiwanna Hatcher, YWCA Bethlehem\u2019s Director of Administration said, \u201cI have listened and documented the stories of women who survived human trafficking, while working at a domestic violence and sexual assault emergency shelter in Annapolis, MD. The brave faces of women telling their story were often Black. As a member of two organizations with missions to empower women, it is my responsibility to support efforts to stop the human trafficking. Human trafficking affects Black women at a disproportional rate, which can be attributed to many systemic inequities in our society. The Allentown Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta is looking forward to working with ASPIRE to inform the community and call to action others to help stop human trafficking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jen Wanisko, Program Director at YWCA Bethlehem said, \u201cThe YWCA in Bethlehem works to empower women and girls primarily through an array of enriching and educational programming, we are keenly aware of the critical need to assist the most vulnerable in our community, including victims and survivors of interpersonal and gender-based violence. The \u201cIn Her Shoes\u201d awareness and activation workshop will connect the expertise and resources of ASPIRE to Autonomy to our family of YWCA friends and community partners. The YWCA is proud to join the fight against human trafficking to create a world that promotes peace, justice, freedom and dignity for everyone in our Lehigh Valley community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Human Trafficking is\u00a0 the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.<\/p>\n

Human trafficking is happening in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n

To learn more, please visit ASPIRE\u2019s Facebook page: Aspire to Autonomy Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is an organization of college educated women founded on Christian principles. The Allentown Alumnae Chapter is committed to the vision of their 22 founders by sharing a common bond of sisterhood, scholarship, and service. They strive to implement innovative community-based service programs through the sorority\u2019s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust:<\/p>\n