Hey all-

Meet Heather James, our 2014 Summer Intern! Heather is a student at Newman University, who graduates this year! She is active at Audacity Church, where she learned about ICT SOS. Heather loves dogs and volunteers at the Kansas Humane Society. She is still deciding what she wants to be when she grows up but would love to join her city in the fight against human trafficking.

I can tell you this- Heather is already running circles around me! She's been organizing our shirt inventory and updating our online store (which was SADLY out of date!), working on some data entry projects and researching a few other things for us. At LEAST once a day I get a text or email asking, "What's next?"

Welcome to the team Heather- we're so glad to have you!

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March 13, 2011 the Wichita Eagle published a story about a trafficking case here in our city that involved a 13 year old victim. That article changed my life and was the catalyst for ICT S.O.S. becoming the organization that it is today.

Here's a quick overview of some of the things that ICT S.O.S. has been a part of over the last 3 years:

• Multiple awareness events including documentary screenings, speaking engagements and even a flash mob.
• Thousands of dollars worth of donations collected including clothing, hygiene items, food and Christmas gifts for local agencies serving homeless, exploited and at-risk youth.
• A human trafficking conference with the U.S. Atorney's office for over 450 attendees.
• 2 Race for Freedom 5K races (3rd in planning now!)- each with over 900 runners and a combined total of over $35,000 raised for local agencies (Carpenter Place & Child Advocacy Center).
• 2 years of our Rock The Market concert in Old Town.
• $25,000 State Farm "Cause an Effect" grant won and donated to create additional housing at Carpenter Place.
• Thousands of volunteer hours logged with local agencies.
• Volunteers, donations, and coordination to get the "OZ" drop-in center up and ready to open.
• Middle and High School curriculum available at no cost to local schools, churches and groups with the "Tell Your Friends" program.
• A great social media presence and participation from the community to share info, spread needs and educate the public about opportunities to get involved.

And we're just getting started!

This past 3 years have FLOWN by. We have so many dedicated volunteers, donors, runners, sponsors and participants in our events. And that is what ICT S.O.S. is all about- giving EVERYONE an opportunity to fight trafficking in our city through prevention, education, resources and volunteerism. We couldnt do it without all of you!

And a special note to our board members: You have given so much of your time, talent, passion, blood, sweat and tears to this organization and to our community. ICT S.O.S. would not exist without you. You have been amazing friends and cohorts on this crazy ride and I love each of you dearly. Thank you for what you give, so unselfishly, every time a need arises. You are AMAZING!

It's been a crazy, beautiful, hard, rewarding, exhausting, and humbling 3 years. Let's keep going, shall we?

Thanks just isn't enough,

Jennifer White

Founder, ICT S.O.S.

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We are very excited to have Lisa Brown joining our team this fall semester as a practicum student from Wichita State University! Here are a few words from Lisa:

I graduated from Derby High School in 2008 and I am studying Health Services Management and Community Development at WSU. I graduate in December. I've worked at the McConnell Child Development Center for the last five years and its the best job ever. I love working with children and helping people. I did a small service learning project with you guys last fall and really enjoyed it and thought that ICT S.O.S. would be a good site to complete my practicum at. I also look forward to working with you guys this next semester and can't wait to learn more about the organization.

Lisa will be helping with the Race for Freedom, Rock the Market and several new projects we have up our sleeves. She will also be giving some feedback and suggestions on how we can make ICT S.O.S. even better! We're excited to have her on the team and looking forward to getting to work!!

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We'll kick things off with the Race for Freedom 5K Run/Walk on September 8th.

The next couple of weeks we'll host several documentary screenings. Info about films, times and locations can be found on our events page.

We'll wrap up the month with a 2-day conference featuring Elizabeth Smart as our keynote speaker. Info and registration forms can be found HERE.

And finally we're going to Rock The Market! A huge concert in Old Town's Farm and Art Market square will send the message to our entire city that our kids are NOT for sale!

With so many options- there is something for everyone. Each event will include chances to connect with other passionate people and local agencies working to end trafficking in Wichita!

The post September- Month of Awareness! appeared first on ICT SOS.

Making "The OZ" from James Wilson on Vimeo.

My wonderful friend, James, was at both work days helping and shooting photos for this time-lapse video. Such a fun look at the project from start to finish!

To volunteer at The OZ, please contact Beth Thummel, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Wichita Children's Home.

The post Making The OZ...A Video by James Wilson appeared first on ICT SOS.

We have our monthly meeting on Tuesday evening 1/10/12 at 6pm. We'll meet at the new youth resource center at 1157 N. Emporia. There are still some items needed for the opening of the resource center and we'll discuss that. We'll also hear from the CASA program about how we can help as court appointed special advocates.

If you would like to pick up a few items off the wishlist and bring them to the meeting, that would be awesome!

http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

Then...The BIG Move In Day!!

Be sure to register at Volunteer Kansas: http://www.volunteerkansas.org/Opportunities/Opportunity/337:Extreme_Makeover_Day_for_Youth_Resource_Center

We'll move in the furniture, clean, set up the rooms, and anything and everything else to get the center ready for opening day. Come see all the beautiful work that has been done and help make this an AMAZING place for Wichita's kids! We'll also reveal the name the kids have chosen for the center!

It's been months in the making and I'm so excited to see the center open and serving our youth. THANK YOU to everyone who has had a part in it!

The post Big week for us! appeared first on ICT SOS.

Donations of gifts, time and service were given to:

Carpenter Place

Wichita Children's Home (Youth Resource Center)

Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County/EMCU

THANK YOU!!

Looking forward to 2012- here's what's coming up next for ICT S.O.S.:

January Meeting: Tuesday January 10 at 6pm at the Youth Resource Center

More info here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/320810844606944/?context=create

Youth Resource Center Move In Work Day: January 16t at 9am

Sign up to help here:

http://www.volunteerkansas.org/Opportunities/Opportunity/337:Extreme_Makeover_Day_for_Youth_Resource_Center

Many items are still needed, check out the wish list here:

http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

And here's a nice article about the project:

http://www.kansas.com/2011/12/26/2153506/midtown-wichita-center-for-homeless.html

Hope to see you at one of the January events! 2012 is going to be great year in the fight against human trafficking!

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We now have a move-in date set. This will be our next work day, NOT Dec. 17th as we originally planned. Check out Volunteer Kansas and sign up to help!

http://www.volunteerkansas.org/Opportunities/Opportunity/337:Extreme_Makeover_Day_for_Youth_Resource_Center

Keep watching our Facebook page for updated photos of the progress! www.facebook.com/ictsos

And if you want to help out with items for the center, check out the Target Wishlist!

http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

Our next meeting is Tuesday Dec. 13th at 6pm at the Youth Resource Center location (11th & Emporia)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/335796179769436/

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Here is a link to some of the photos from the work day on November 19th: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.299641800068452.77624.202503353115631&type=3

And don't forget, there are still LOTS of needed items. If you'd like to pick up a few while you're out Christmas shopping, here's a Target Wishlist: http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

Thnk you to everyone who has supported this project. It's going to be so wonderful for our community when it is finished!

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Homeless Youth Resource Center Clean-Up Day from James Wilson on Vimeo.

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