Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
We have known for several years that Black and African American women are disproportionately impacted by commercial sexual exploitation, as demonstrated in the demographics earlier in this report. We also know that compared to local demographics, REST serves a disproportionately high number of Black and African American Individuals.
This is why REST has made efforts over the last several years to improve Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) throughout the organization in hopes of creating an environment that feels safe and welcoming for people of all races and ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and abilities.
The leadership at REST, including the Board of Directors, is committed to listening, learning, and taking action to integrate DEIA work throughout our organization, starting with ourselves.
Some actions we took in FY21:
Eight-month DEIA initiative including organization-wide training and policy development in partnership with LTHJ Global
Grew and diversified our Board of Directors
Disaggregated our service data, to show where our services may be resulting in disproportionately positive or negative outcomes for people of different races or ethnicities.
We know that even though we have taken important steps, these efforts will be ongoing, as there is much work to be done.
Meet Renée.
Renée has been involved with REST for a decade—for the last seven, as a member of REST’s Board of Directors. Her passion for anti-trafficking work is personal. From the age of 16 until she was 23, she was trafficked and sexually exploited. She knows firsthand the deep impact it has on all who are involved—the victims, buyers, traffickers, community, and society at large—and she knows that survivors need to know that there are pathways out.
““I learned about REST back in 2011 after meeting Amanda [Executive Director at REST] at a sexual exploitation awareness and prevention training. I had shared my story for the first time ever and had shared my dream of creating a place where victims and survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation could go to gain holistic healing. Amanda made a beeline to me immediately after the meeting closed, and we scheduled a meeting. When Amanda shared her heart for REST, it became clear I needed, wanted, HAD to get involved.””
Renée’s work alongside REST has been multifaceted, including mentorship for survivors, speaking at a variety of events including REST Training Days, and using her career expertise as a Community Health Worker to help clients achieve better outcomes for their overall health and well-being. In recent years, she’s been a leading voice in REST’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access initiatives.
In addition, Renée is chairing the Strategic Planning subcommittee as REST looks out into the future and evaluates what it means to be a beneficiary-first nonprofit, and asks the question, “How does REST not just serve survivors of the harms of sexual exploitation, but also eradicate systems that create the harm in the first place?”
Renée’s service has made an incredible impact for victims and survivors of sexual exploitation, and it has also made an impact on Renée.
““REST and the [clients] are a very large part of my healing journey. While I had been out of the life for 10 years prior to serving, I had only just barely realized and began healing from a lifetime of trauma, only a year before I met Amanda. REST has helped/helps me grow and heal—from surviving to thriving—while serving.””
Underneath her personal ties to REST’s work, and her passion for providing quality, effective services to victims and survivors of sexual exploitation, is the same unwavering belief that REST holds at the center of all of our work: That everyone deserves to be loved, and everyone deserves a life free from exploitation.
““God is love. Therefore, we are love—worthy and deserving to receive and give it. When in the life, you often become consumed with deep shame and self-loathing. We serve as a reminder and reflector of this truth.””