{"id":113420,"date":"2022-08-27T01:26:26","date_gmt":"2022-08-27T05:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113420"},"modified":"2022-08-27T01:26:26","modified_gmt":"2022-08-27T05:26:26","slug":"bloom-for-women-to-celebrate-graduation-of-trafficking-survivors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113420","title":{"rendered":"Bloom for Women to Celebrate Graduation of Trafficking Survivors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bloom for Women, Inc.<\/a>\u00a0is holding a \u201cOwn the Dream\u201d celebration for three courageous women survivors as they graduate from Bloom\u2019s two-year program. This residential program is for women survivors of sex trafficking, exploitation and addiction. Offered in two different homes in the Lehigh Valley, this program provides structure and support to heal, empower and employ women survivors through safe housing, trauma-informed programming, partnerships with treatment providers, vocational and educational training, and ongoing connections with a growing community of supporters that believe it\u2019s never too late to start over. This program operates without 24-hour staff or live-in supervision and all services are offered to the women participants at no cost to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of my favorite Bloom events,\u201d said Bloom CEO, Carol Andersen. \u201cSeeing the happiness on the faces of those who have spent the past two years creating a free and beautiful future inspires me and is the reason I come to work every day. These courageous women deserve to be not only celebrated but commended and recognized for the hard work of recovering and charting a new course in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the graduates as they share their stories and celebrate their hard-earned completion of this two-year program, as well as from a Bloom graduate who mentors and supports current residents. Light refreshments and cake will be served. There is no fee for this event, but registration is requested. Please register by\u00a0clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bloom for Women, Inc.<\/a>\u00a0is a faith-based non-profit organization with the mission of providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ women survivors of sex trafficking.\u00a0As part of its mission, Bloom offers emergency response, a two-year residential program, and an independent living program in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania<\/a>. Bloom follows the model and is a sister community of the remarkably successful Thistle Farms Nashville program. In addition, the Bloom Creative Studio, located in Bangor, Pa., is a social enterprise to leverage art as a healing tool and provide employment opportunities for survivors. Bloom also has a women\u2019s upscale, resale boutique, My Sister\u2019s Closet, based in Bethlehem, Pa., providing employment opportunities for survivors and financial support for the organization.<\/p>\n

Sunday, September 18, 2022\u00a0 |\u00a0 2:00-4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u00a0SteelStacks Blast Furnace Room, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA<\/p>\n

Information Provided By:
\nKaren Higgins
\nBloom for Women, Inc.<\/p>\n

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