Polaris Project
WISH LIST: $100: 1 night’s emergency shelter for a victim of human trafficking; $500: operation of multi-lingual hotlines for 2 months; $1000: rescue and crisis response from Sex Trafficking Assessment Team
Polaris Project was born when two Brown University seniors read about a case of modern-day slavery and decided to take action: they moved to Washington, DC and opened the organization’s first office. Five years later, with chapters around the world, Polaris has served 140 victims of trafficking; its hotlines have processed over 5,000 calls; and its network includes 6,000 grassroots volunteers. Named for the North Star and founded in the spirit of a contemporary Underground Railroad, Polaris brings together community members, survivors, and professionals to fight trafficking and modern-day slavery. Using a comprehensive approach that includes outreach to jails, juvenile detention centers, and courts, Polaris identifies victims of trafficking (most are women and children), provides critical social services, advocates for strong laws and legal protection, and offers training designed to build the next generation of leaders. Winner of numerous awards for innovation and leadership – from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, Ashoka, and others – Polaris is making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable people. If this is your North Star, follow it.

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