The Freedom House Newsletter The Freedom House, ed. 1 4799 S. Virginia Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 74074

Table of Contents:p.2 Letter from CEOp.3 A story of freedomp. 4 Get involved

A Night Of Impact

The Freedom House is hosting its first event, “A Night Of Impact,” as a kickoff for its organization on September 15, 2013, from 4-9 p.m., at The

Freedom House location in downtown Oklahoma City, Okla. The Freedom House is a nonprofit orgnization based in Oklahoma City, Okla. that was established in January 2013 by four Oklahoma State University graduates. The mission of The Freedom House is to raise awareness about sex trafficking, cooperate with local and global organizations to rescue sex trafficked victims and restore the broken lives of these victims through mental and physical therapy recovery programs. The Freedom House partners with more than 10 local businesses, five artists and 15 media outlets to help promote and raise awareness of The Freedom House and the issue of sex trafficking in Oklahoma City, Okla. “A Night Of Impact” is a free educational seminar to raise awareness about the sex trafficking issue in Oklahoma City, Okla. This event will be a night including live music, testimonials from the founders and video and photo opportunities. Also included will be the story behind

The Freedom House, formal introductions of partnered businesses and media outlets, plus free food, drinks and pamphlets including statistics and facts about sex trafficking. “A Night Of Impact” is an opportunity for the

community of Oklahoma City, Okla., to come together as a force and become aware of the reality of sex trafficking in Oklahoma City as well as practical ways to end this issue in the city. The Freedom House hopes this night will allow the community of Oklahoma City, Okla., to come together as a team. The Freedom House hopes to gain volunteers, more avid promoters for its cause and partner more businesses and media outlets.

The overall goal of this event is to raise awareness to the community about sex trafficking. Along with the free informational pamphlets about sex trafficking, The Freedom House will be announcing upcoming events, objectives, goals and needs for the next year. The Freedom House plans to help rescue and restore at least five women or children in the Oklahoma City, Okla., area for the 2014 year. Through “A Night Of Impact,” this goal can be achieved through raising awareness first, building trust and relationships in the community and gaining new volunteers, businesses and media outlets to help in promoting awareness.

Letter from the CEO:

Hello and welcome to The Freedom House. This is our first newsletter and we are excited to tell you about our story, mission, goals, accomplishments, events and future opportunities for the community of Oklahoma City, Okla. During my college years at Oklahoma State University, I began to have a passion for sex trafficking victims

because of a couple conferences I attended that focused on raising awareness for human trafficking. After learning of the heart-breaking statistics of trafficking in our very own city, I knew I had to rise up and do something to stop this disgusting and massive industry in Oklahoma City, Okla. Four of my closest friends and I attended these conferences and all had a passion for raising awareness about the reality of human trafficking in our community. We talked of starting a nonprofit organization but felt like we needed to raise support and graduate from college first. Our last year of undergraduate studies at OSU, we began to break down the logistics of forming a nonprofit organization. Within six months, we had everything we needed to start The Freedom House. In January 2013, The Freedom House was established. Our team began putting together local business and artist partnerships, future events, education seminars, volunteer opportunities and housing for victims. Our team also began to brainstorm effective ways we could raise awareness to the community of Oklahoma City, Okla., about The Freedom House and our cause.

Our first event, “A Night of Impact,” is a night to educate the community, raise awareness, display our partnerships with local businesses and artists, gain volunteers and discuss future events and involvement with The Freedom House. The Freedom House mission statement is to raise awareness about sex trafficking by cooperating with local and global organizations to rescue sex trafficked victims and restore the broken lives of these victims through mental and physical therapy recovery programs. The finances raised through fundraising, donations, business partnerships, benefit concerts and support from local and global networks will go toward these various recovery programs, hosting events, housing the victims and paying our staff. Through “A Night of Impact,” The Freedom House hopes to gain at least five more business and media partnerships, 20 volunteers and future event opportunities at locations throughout the city. The Freedom House is already working with five women who were rescued from suburbs of Oklahoma City, Okla. The Freedom House team is implementing the various recovery programs to make sure that the victims are learning, benefiting and gaining skills for a hopeful future. The Freedom House has big dreams for the year 2014, including hosting more than 20 events throughout the city. Among these events, The Freedom House will be hosting monthly educational seminars, benefit concerts, volunteer training, hands-on projects and speaking events. From The Freedom House executive team to you, a sincere thanks for supporting our cause. We look forward to working with you soon,

Blythe Westfall CEO and Founder of The Freedom House

The Freedom House NewsletterLighthouse Publication Co.Rachel Jones, publisher and editor3200 N. Monroe Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 74083

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A Story of Freedom

She waits in the cold, dark room for the next customer, being forced to work and meet a daily quota for her pimp. Naomi Keyrobi, a Ugandan native, was trafficked into prostitution as a young teen, working in numerous brothels for more than seven years. Both parents passed away when she was a child, so Keyrobi was raised by family friends. At the age of 12, she ran away and was immediately thrown into prostitution. In March 2010, a brothel raid on behalf of International Justice Mission occurred in Kampala, Uganda. Keyrobi was one of the six girls rescued and brought to the U.S. in hopes of a new beginning to her life. Through IJM, these trafficked victims go through recovery and therapy to reshape and reframe their life. Keyrobi had dreams of being a teacher, having children and being an advocate for fighting against sex-trafficking all over the world. IJM sent her to a sister organization, Healing Hands, in Oklahoma City, Okla., where she went through six months of mental and physical recovery programs. In addition, Keyrobi pursued a degree in international business at a local community college. Keyrobi began searching for a job through Healing Hands outreach program and quickly learned of The Freedom House. The Freedom House is a nonprofit organization based out of Oklahoma City, Okla., that exists to raise awareness about sex trafficking. The Freedom House cooperates with local and global organizations to rescue sex trafficked victims and restore the broken lives of these victims through mental and physical therapy recovery programs. The Freedom House received a call from the outreach director, informing her of Keyrobi’s job search for an organization that helps trafficked victims. The Freedom

House team responded and met with Keyrobi, investing its time and energy to see how it could help her. Less than a month after meeting Keyrobi, The Freedom House added Keyrobi to its executive team and offered her a full-time job as CEO of outreach and restoration programs for The Freedom House. With an executive team of four, The Freedom House moved forward and launched The Freedom House in September 2013. Blythe Westfall, CEO of The Freedom House and Oklahoma State University graduate, is thrilled to have Keyrobi join The Freedom House team at such a crucial

time. “Naomi is exactly what our organization needed to get The Freedom House started,” Westfall said. “Her experience and closeness with this heart-breaking issue will be extremely beneficial for restoring trafficked victims in the OKC area.” Keyrobi has already benefited greatly from her time in America while having the opportunity to pursue an education and fight

for a cause so near to her heart. “It is surreal going from being a prostitute to having complete freedom here in America,” Keyrobi said. “I had to reframe every part of my mental, emotional and physical state to become stable. It is hard but worth every bit of recovery. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity to start my life over and help other women and children do the same.” The Freedom House team signed a lease on an office in downtown Oklahoma City, Okla., and are planning an awareness event in September 2013.For more information on Keyrobi’s journey, interest in business partnerships or volunteer opportunities with The Freedom House, check out www. TheFreedomHouse.net.

“I am eternally gratefuful for this opportunity to start my life over and help other women and children do the same.”

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There are many ways to get involved with The Freedom House. Whether it is volunteering, hosting an event, speaking, doing a fundraiser or partnering a business, there is always a way to help. The Freedom House can partner with just about anyone. They are willing to partner with a business, school, nonprofit organization, student, adult or even a local shop owner. Some of the programs and events that The Freedom House hosts throughout the year are as follows:• The first Saturday of each month is a free educational

seminar about sex trafficking at The Freedom House location. These seminars include basic information, statistics, videos, documentaries and guest speakers.

• Every September, The Freedom House hosts a benefit concert including live music from artists, testimonials from the founders of The Freedom House, free statistic booklets plus free food and drinks.

• “New Beginnings” is a program which local businesses teach the rescued victims beneficial ways to reshape their life. This program is the last Monday of each month at The Freedom House. Knitting, sewing, arts and crafts, therapuetic recreation and career services are some of the services offered.

Here are some ways to get involved with The Freedom House: 1. Partner a local business, company or organization

with The Freedom House to help promote and raise awareness about sex trafficking.

2. Volunteer for events, planning, community service projects or technical assistance with The Freedom House team.

3. Mentor a victim of human trafficking through numerous programs including life coaching, therapuetic sports, basic educational assistance, teaching and more.

4. Speak at an event or seminar about a personal experience or testimonial with human trafficking. 5. Put on an event. This can be a concert, seminar, mini carnival or a fundraiser. The Freedom House will provide promotional materials and assist in organization of event. 6. Join staff. The Freedom House can always use more help. The Freedom House is in need of people with the following experience: communications/

marketing, finance/accounting, event planning, guest relations and graphic design.

Visit www.TFH.net/getinvolved for more information on how to partner, donate or volunteer with The Freedom House.

Get involved:

Calendar of events:Sept. 15, 2013: Kickoff concert at TFHOct. 6, 2013: Sex trafficking seminar at TFH Oct. 27, 2013: Guest Speaker- CEO, Blythe WestfallNov. 3, 2013: Sex trafficking seminar at TFH November 17, 2013: Career and craft fair at TFHDec. 1, 2013: Sex trafficking seminar at TFH

**Dates subject to change. Check www.TFH.net/events for changes and details about event. **Events for 2014 will be posted to website December 2013.

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