Sex Trafficking is happening in Northwest Arkansas

Hub of HOPE exists to bring Healing and Opportunities to victims of human trafficking and Prevention and Education to communities. We were formed in 2015 as a Coalition, bringing together concerned community members and other agencies working with vulnerable populations who are at a high risk of trafficking. Meeting every first Monday of the month, it was decided that there needed to be a formation of a nonprofit entity with a direct focus on raising awareness of human trafficking in Northwest Arkansas and one that could meet the needs of trafficking survivors as they were revealed within our NWA communities. This is how Hub of HOPE came to be and we received our nonprofit status on January 30, 2017.

To date, we still meet as a Coalition on the first Monday of each month. We currently serve 70 clients – brave women who are attempting to exit a life of exploitation and enslavement. We provide a variety of awareness and education presentations across Northwest Arkansas – in an attempt to promote prevention and assist our communities in recognizing markers and identifiers to aid in rescue. Our service area includes all of Northwest Arkansas, including Rogers, Bentonville, Lowell, Springdale, Fayetteville, Eureka Springs, Siloam Springs, and even into Ft. Smith and the Van Buren area.

We do this work through two services arms:

1.)   Victim Services

a.       Helpline Team – a phone number available for individuals to call if they believe they or someone they know is in danger of a trafficking situation.

b.     Victim Response Team - meets with potential survivors for an assessment and then helps the individual in establishing safe shelter, health, personal care, criminal justice, education and faith (if they desire).

c.       Relocation/Safe Transport Team – coordinates safe and comfortable travel arrangements for survivors to get them to a place of safety or any appointments needed in their restoration journey.

d.     HUB Staff Team – supports survivors who are staying in our HUB, 72 Hour Transition Center. Assists with “next steps” planning, extends hospitality by providing time for rest, meals, and other survivor needs.

e.     HOPE Advocacy Team – a “mentor” who provides first and foremost a platform for building a relationship between the survivor and the advocate volunteer. HOPE Advocates walk with survivors on their journey of restoration and healing and assist them in setting and completing goals. Advocates help build up skills and support with survivors which will decrease the vulnerability for trafficking.  

f.       Survivor Support Group Team – these groups are made available for survivors to meet together and support one another. Hub of HOPE facilitates discussions on topics such as Cultural Mindset of Trafficking, Tactics of the Trafficker, Trauma and the Brain, Triggers, Stages of Recovery, Boundaries, Priorities, Professional Business Skills and Leadership Skills.

2.)   Prevention and Education –

a.       Outreach Team – set up awareness booths at scheduled community events and upon special request.

b.      SEEDS Team – Sisters Encouraging and Empowering Direction for Survivors – provides awareness and prevention regarding sex trafficking within populations of incarcerated women.

c.       Education and Awareness Team – focuses on raising awareness in the NWA communities through speaking engagements.

d.     PACT Initiative – Parents Against Child Trafficking - works to bring awareness to the issue of child trafficking and how it impacts ordinary people every day. PACT leads conversations to equip parents and adults on how to be involved with their children, to faithfully and fervently promote the safety of children and how to actively protect and defend children from the advances of traffickers and other predators.

Hub of HOPE currently works with over 70 survivors of sex trafficking right here in Northwest Arkansas.  We are focusing our NWA Gives Campaign on raising $30,000 to increase the capacity of the work we are currently doing.    

Every penny of this goes to fund the initiatives and teams mentioned above.  

One GOAL - One DAY!  Hope you will plan to give on April 2, 2020!!!  Excited to have you partner with us in our mission!  

Thank you for helping us make a difference!