Become an Abolitionist

Nutrition Starts With Freedom

Three square meals a day. It is fundamental for proper nutrition. But a nourishing breakfast, hearty lunch and wholesome dinner are distant dreams for people in slavery. They are typically fed just enough to stay alive to work another day. Donating to Free the Slaves...

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Innovation Starts With Freedom

Slavery stops innovation dead in its tracks. It keeps children out of school. It blocks entrepreneurs from access to credit. It steals a community’s wealth and labor and hope. Freedom brings creativity and positivity. This jumpstarts a village economy. People start...

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Health Starts With Freedom

Traffickers don’t care about the health of people they enslave. No doctor visits for those who fall sick. No vaccinations for children. No prenatal care for pregnant women. That’s why the work of Free the Slaves is so vital. We ensure that the people we liberate...

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Why I Don’t Buy Into Slavery

I am a descendant of slaves. Some of my ancestors were from Malaysia and Indonesia, brought to South Africa to work in the port of Cape Town. It always surprises Americans when I tell them that people were brought to Africa more than a century ago and enslaved....

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Everything Starts With Freedom

You probably take many of life’s essentials for granted. A good education. A nourishing dinner. A clean drink of water. A visit to the doctor. A safe place to sleep. These basics are denied to people in slavery. That’s why your support to liberate the enslaved is...

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Fashion for Freedom Event Gets Rave Reviews

The reviews are in, and our 2018 Fashion for Freedom Event in New York is being heralded as a fantastic success. Scores of Free the Slaves supporters and ethical fashion advocates gathered in Manhattan for the uplifting evening. “The Fashion for Freedom Event was a...

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DoneGood Makes Conscious Consumerism Easy

Countless friends and family ask me: “How can I tell if a company is using sustainable practices when I shop?” Let’s face it, the 40 hour workweek is a thing of the past for most people. And, who wants to spend their spare time researching corporate supply chains when...

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The Fashion Revolution Is Here!

It’s here!  Actually, it's been going on for a while, but for those of us who are behind the curve, it's not too late – you can still join the ranks. “We are a diverse community that includes board members who have been tackling sustainability and ethical fashion for...

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Four Myths About Conscious Consumerism

I think in theory we all want to be ethical consumers, but in practice that task can sometimes seem daunting or even impossible. That’s why I’ve written this post – to debunk common myths about ethical consumption and offer some useful tips on how to become a...

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Fathers Fighting for Freedom

As we enter Father’s Day weekend, I am reminded of the many fathers I have met in communities plagued by modern slavery around the world. “My father was a slave,” one man told me. “I was born a slave,” he continued. “I don’t want my children to be slaves,” he...

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Rebecca Ballard Brings Ethical Fashion to Workwear

“The industry is ready, and I’m ready," says Rebecca Ballard when asked ‘why now’ about her brand, Maven Women. The brand, which was fashioned into existence in 2016, aims to provide the working woman with a professional wardrobe that puts ethics and sustainability at...

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Return of the Fashion for Freedom Campaign

The Free the Slaves Fashion for Freedom Campaign returns this summer to bring awareness to atrocity of modern slavery within the fashion industry. By bringing together brands and speakers that offer alternatives to questionably-made clothing, we will show that there...

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Celebrating 200 Years of Frederick Douglass

February marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass, one of history’s great abolitionists. At Free the Slaves, we’re proud to follow his footsteps and finish the work he helped start generations ago. Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland – the...

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“Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free”

Today brings a close to Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. But at Free the Slaves, it’s not a time to relax. We will not rest for one instant until everyone, everywhere is free from bondage. The great civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer noted that...

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One Year: How Trump Has Affected Global Slavery

Saturday marks the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration – and around the world there will be Women’s Marches in major cities. For Free the Slaves, the anniversary is a moment to take stock of Trump promises and performance. In February, Trump pledged to...

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Three Things to Do, Three Friends to Mobilize

January 11th has been designated by Congress as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. For supporters of Free the Slaves, today is an opportunity to help the anti-slavery movement grow. Please go to the social media links for this blog (on the left on a desktop or...

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The New Tax Law and Human Trafficking

Talk shows and websites are buzzing with ideas to help you prepare for tax changes passed by the Congress and signed by the president for 2018. One suggestion is universal, summed-up in The Wall Street Journal: “The most important tax-planning tip between now and the...

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How Will You Take Action to End Slavery?

Free the Slaves donors all have one thing in common: a burning desire to make slavery a thing of the past. That's why we sent award-winning documentary filmmakers this year to spotlight four Free the Slaves donors to learn how they discovered that slavery still exits...

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FTS Board Launches Special Funding Challenge

Double Your Impact - Donate Today Dear Friends of Free the Slaves, We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to making the work of Free the Slaves possible. Your donations are spreading freedom to thousands of people around the globe. All of us on the board...

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Why I Free Slaves – Musician Derek Mount

In his music, friendships and faith, Derek Mount thinks often about connections and impact. He imagines his music carries with it a “little trail of peace.” He sees the freedom in his life, the chance do what he loves. Then he looks outside himself, at the 40 million...

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Why I Free Slaves – Photographer Lisa Kristine

Over a 30-year career, Lisa Kristine has documented native cultures and causes in more than 100 countries. She is an internationally acclaimed humanitarian photographer. Today she is a global voice of anti-slavery activism. Yet it wasn’t always so. Seeing Slavery at...

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Thanks for Standing United With Free the Slaves

Free the Slaves would like to thank our Washington-area supporters for coming to our D.C. United tailgate and soccer game event! With your help, we have raised more than $2,000 for our “United for Freedom” campaign. We had a great time sharing our work with the D.C....

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Building a United Front to End Slavery

The fight against slavery cannot be won by one group working alone. It takes many organizations, governments and communities acting in unison to free the enslaved and protect the vulnerable. The work of Free the Slaves is only possible because of your help! That’s why...

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We Are United for Freedom

The fight against slavery cannot be won alone. It takes unity. Freedom is possible when organizations, governments and communities work together to safeguard the lives of the vulnerable. That's why Free the Slaves has created a network of partner organizations that...

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Fair Trade Fashion Show Sponsors Walk their Talk

We never get tired of highlighting the amazing work that our partners in the Fair Trade Fashion Show are doing. Maggie’s Organics, a conflict-free silver level sponsor, is committed to providing fair trade fashion to their customers. Bená Burda founded Maggie’s...

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Fair Trade Fashion Can Help End Slavery

An educated consumer has the power to end slavery. That’s why Free the Slaves and Bead & Reel are hosting a fair trade fashion show July 29 to raise money and awareness of modern slavery. This show is the third annual of its kind. With slavery being a $150 billion...

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The Obligations of Freedom

Joshua Nichols is a junior at the University of Iowa, and the winner of our 2017 "What Freedom Means to Me" student essay contest. Freedom is a tricky thing, an impish desire deeply ingrained within the human psyche. For every person, freedom means something...

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Taking a Stand for People in Slavery

As thousands march today in Washington, Free the Slaves stands arm-in-arm with activists in the social justice movement who are calling for America's elected officials to maintain U.S. leadership in safeguarding human rights. Free the Slaves belongs to many policy and...

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Why I Free Slaves: Rabbi Debra Orenstein

Slavery is a key part of Jewish identity. The central narrative of Jewish faith is being enslaved in ancient Egypt; it is the story the Jewish community tells on Passover, every Sabbath, and during daily prayers. The book of Exodus recounts the miracle of Moses...

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Why I Free Slaves: Actress Virginia Williams

Virginia Williams, a Hollywood  television actress, did not seek out Free the Slaves. She was actually wary at first. Seven years ago a friend invited her to the Freedom Awards, a FTS ceremony honoring the world’s best anti-slavery work. A presenter told the audience...

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Why I Free Slaves: Investor Margaret Graff

Margaret Graff, an investment professional in Atlanta, helps her clients find charities that are both authentic and inspiring. She counsels them to choose a trustworthy group that truly speaks to the heart. She found that in Free the Slaves. As a wealth management...

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Why I Free Slaves: Author James Hannaham

In the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, James Hannaham sees slavery everywhere: the coffee shop, crowded sidewalks, the vegetable aisle of his supermarket. Some people could be wearing clothes sewn by slaves, others eating fruit picked by slaves. “I look all over the place...

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Why I Free Slaves: Teacher Robert Birk

In Robert Birk’s 8th-grade English class, his students read The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. The abolitionist’s powerful autobiography tells of Douglass’ escape from slavery and life as a free man, overcoming obstacles to become an influential writer and...

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New Film Series Spotlights Seven Inspiring Donors

Free the Slaves filmmakers have traveled the globe to document inspiring stories of slavery and freedom. Now, they’re turning the camera on our committed contributors. Today we’re launching a unique film series: “Why I Free Slaves.” It spotlights the deeply personal...

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