The Enitan Story is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for victims and empower survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. As you may have known, if you have heard my story or read my book, I am a survivor who wants others to be free just like I am. When I put my face to my story for the first time in February 2009 at Winona State University, my main goal was to bring the message of hope to the hopeless. I remembered like yesterday, how I poured my heart out in front of the almost filled auditorium in the morning. I spoke after an immigration lawyer who drove me to the venue of the event had introduced me to the audience immediately after her speech.
At the end of that presentation, where we had driven two hours to get to, I waited patiently for the next presentation in the evening at a different auditorium at the college. Meanwhile, I was taken for lunch by the university staff before my next presentation. Many other countless presentations followed my presentations that day. I was just sharing my story to help others.
Things began to take a new turn when I began to receive calls from victims or someone who knows a victim or works with a victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse. I even received emails, phone calls, and Facebook messages from middle, high, and college students, who have papers to write on human trafficking. I have taken the time to answer their questions as much as I can, either one-on-one at my hair braiding shop, telephone, or email. Even, members of the media have also got my attention when they needed information on these topics.
As a journalist, I took a step further by producing a television show through Public Access, North Metro TV in Blaine.
My journalism background was rather in print than broadcast; therefore, it was like wrestling as I went through the pain of TV production. I will always be grateful for the help of various volunteers, who helped to produce the show. Despite the flaws of the show, many have cited it in their research works. Some of the guests, who have appeared on the show have made it to be a respected show by presenting it to their audience and supporters to show their efforts in combating human trafficking. I have been honored to host the Anoka County Sheriff, Sheriff James Stuart and County Attorney, Attorney Tony Palumbo more than once; In addition, other notable people in the community have graced the set of the show as guests. In fact, Imprisoned Show was documented by the department of state as one of president Obama’s success stories in combating human trafficking in 2014.
In my journey to bring freedom and hope to victims and survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse, I see a lot of gaps in the services provided. For example, a victim could get free legal help as a foreign-born, but may find it difficult to get medical help, such as that of a civil surgeon specified by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Such is a service that cannot be rendered at any of the regular clinics or hospitals because of the USCIS specifications. Another is for a victim not being able to get help because the crime was committed outside of the US. And for survivors, truly surviving is beyond having basic needs such as shelter and food, but becoming self-sufficient. The Enitan Story hopes to help them accomplish the goal of true self-sufficiency through education, further education, or business.
For these reasons, and many more, was why I was compelled to take another step further by forming a nonprofit organization called The Enitan Story. Please, take a look at the short video about the organization below.
I hope that you will be compelled to support Taste For Hope in whatever way you can join me to help these people
who may turn around to help others in the future. The event will hold on Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the United Methodist Church of Anoka, 850 South Street, Anoka, MN 55303. It will be a night of music and food tasting. You can buy tickets online at www.enitan.org. If you will like to be a vendor at the event providing finger foods for tasting, please, contact The Enitan Story at info@enitan.org.
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Bye for now, until next time.
