We wanted to provide an update to all our Allies about our collective efforts as we all work together to end sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
We’re #SeeingYellow All Summer Long
Our annual #SeeingYellow campaign is happening all summer long this year. In June, we lit the Calgary Tower and Reconciliation Bridge in yellow, as a beacon of hope for our cause. There are a number of ways you can support our #SeeingYellow campaign:
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Post our #NotInMyCity yellow rose in your place of business, on your vehicle or mailbox
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Encourage your friends, colleagues and family to purchase merchandise through our online shop
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If you run a retail store, consider creating an area in your store to showcase yellow merchandise and awareness materials.
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Host a fundraising initiative among your friends or colleagues
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Share proceeds from a dedicated yellow product to #NotInMyCity
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Assemble hygiene bags or food hampers for our immediate work with our Ally Agencies. You can view more details here.
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Support our newest Allies to support our #SeeingYellow campaign. Your love of coffee and chocolate will also do good for #NotInMyCity! For the month of August, purchases of Those Chocolates (6-chocolate or 12-chocolate boxes) will include a portion of proceeds going towards #NotInMyCity. Common Grounds Coffee has named #NotInMyCity its community partner for August – 50% of profits from all sales will be donated to #NotInMyCity.
New #NotInMyCity Merchandise – Shop Online
We have beautiful new merchandise available in our online store!
Our ongoing collaboration with Paul Hardy includes several new items, including a yellow scarf and grey scarf featuring our iconic #NotInMyCity rose, and a beautiful silk pocket square.
After selling out of our first sock design from Friday Sock Co. we’ve launched a new pair of heather grey socks with white and yellow roses.
As always, we have beautiful items from LETHRBAR, Hillberg & Berk, S’Well and more!
Agency Allies are Supporting our most Vulnerable
#NotInMyCity is actively working with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, CUPS and Victory Outreach to support those who are most vulnerable and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. https://notinmycity.ca/index/#allyagenciesClick here to learn more about these organizations and how you can help.
Allyships formed with Key Transportation Groups
We are pleased to announce that we have created an Allyship with the Alberta Motor Transport Association and Uber to help provide awareness and education about human trafficking to thousands of their members. Our team is working hard to mobilize formal training to these groups who can gain the potential to spot human trafficking. Stay tuned for additional information to be shared this fall.
The last few months have been challenging for the airline and airport industries, but we are grateful for our continued partnership with the Calgary International Airport and Edmonton International Airport and are in early stages of partnership with other airports across the country. We are committed and ready to continue to roll out programs at new airports when appropriate.
Alberta Human Task Force Work now underway
As we shared in our previous announcement, our Founder Paul Brandt was recently named as Chair of the Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force. He is joined by an esteemed group of experts in the field of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. You can read more about their work here.
Keeping Kids Safe Online
The COVID-19 pandemic puts kids in front of screens more often, and are more susceptible to online predators, which is on the rise in Canada. The CBC recently reported on pandemic child sexual abuse, with advice to parents to avoid online exploitation. We also recommend the resources shared by Protect Kids Online and Cybertip. We also developed a blog post that talks about this issue and how to keep kids safe.
Using Best Practices to Inform Responses
NIMC is working with Children’s Services, the Calgary Police Service, Hull Family Services, McMan Family Services, Boys and Girls Club, and CUPS to develop and pilot a Community Response Model to support adolescent victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Based on research into the best practices of successful programs, frameworks and models throughout North America, the Community Response Model will provide rapid, community-based wraparound services to vulnerable youth that need it most.