Newsmakers: Stories Foundation Fights Human Trafficking
The Stories Foundation is a nonprofit that raises awareness on human trafficking.
“This isn’t just a Third World problem. It exists in the United States, it exists in Minnesota. There’s not one county that’s exempt from that,” said Board Vice Chair Mark Thurston. “Our mission and vision is simply that we want to inspire communities, influence culture, and implement action to help fight the realities of human trafficking.”
The nonprofit has plans to build a Storyteller Café in Ramsey that would help further their mission. The functioning cafe would also have space for apartments as well as a shop where people paying a fair wage can sell their products. Thurston says the land has been purchased and fundraising is underway. The nonprofit is currently selling bracelets for $15.
“They say ‘your story matters’ and the message is we want to get out to everyone that your story matters, regardless of your age, situation or anything like that,” said Thurston. “There are people whose average age is 15 that are coerced and manipulated, they have a story. They have their childhood ripped from them. They have a story and their story matters.”
Stories Foundation sells bracelets to raise money for Storyteller Cafe. Learn more: storytellercafemn.org
For Thurston and other volunteers including his daughter Stephanie Page, the Stories Foundation has been a labor of love that at times has been rewarding.
“The rewards come from the success stories,” said Thurston. “If we can make a difference in someone’s life, if we can help them stay out of trafficking, recognize the signs of what traffickers look like… if we can help raise awareness or save that one person at a time, then there’s a success.”
Stories Foundation bracelets. The Stories Foundation is a nonprofit that raises awareness on human trafficking.
See also: Newsmakers: Brooklyn Park Native Spearheads Effort to Fight Human Trafficking
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