Day 7- Ally

We're one week in folks. One week, with lots to go so you'll start hearing more about some of the experiences happening throughout Dressember, and today you get to hear from Allyson Austin.

"To all the lovely folks that will read this,

It has been seven days of putting in the same black and white striped cotton dress and it has been the strangest and most beautiful of times. There is a glint of annoyance when the morning comes around and I know that I will, yet again, put the same thing on for the seventh morning in a row. BUT my minor annoyance over a dress, which truly is such a luxury, only reminds me of how called we are to fight for those who don't have the choice of what their day will hold. So, to the millions in bondage, we wear these dresses and these ties for you. For the millions enslaved we praise you tenacity and will to fight. For the millions hurting know you are loved, cherished, and special and we will not stop seeking justice on you behalf. It may just seem like a dress, but it is so much bigger than that.  Dress up this December, let's honor our brothers and sisters in slavery."

Fact: According to 'Free the Slaves' the average cost of a slave globally is $90. 

Day 6- Emily

Day 6 already, folks! Today you get to hear a little of Emily's heart, and trust me- it's beautiful. 

"Hey friends! My name is Emily Culver and I am a junior nursing major here at Northwestern College. It is day 6 of Dressember and I already want to take my dress and throw it across a corn field. I don't wear dresses very often and so to put a dress on everyday and the same one for that matter is a struggle. But here's the cool thing about it, I get to CHOOSE whether to put this dress on or not. Too many women in our world today don't have a choice. It may seem to be an insignificant parallel but I think that it is important. In some ways I feel trapped inside this dress. I feel chained to it. I can't put on sweats when I choose to and I can't criss-cross-apple-sauce my legs anymore. I feel limited. In a very miniscule way I try and parallel this to women who are being enslaved; women who are trapped inside their bodies, inside their situations. They feel as if there is no escape and their future is hopeless. Many of these women have brilliant minds but cannot express them because their bodies are being used and abused. The saddest part about this though, is that most of these women do not know that they are the Beloved bride of Christ. The God of this universe, the one who made caterpillars, stars, and the ocean chooses to love me. He longs for my love, and considers me His. Not only do I get to choose whether to put a dress on, I also have the privilege of knowing this radical, gracious, and undeserving  love. My heart breaks everyday for these women and that is why I am wearing the same dress everyday for the whole month of December; to raise awareness and to do my part in taking a stand because there is no excuse for this injustice."

Still time to join us!https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise/team?ftid=38529 

Day 5- Alexia

"Hey! I'm Alexia Pater.  I'm a senior exercise science major at Northwestern and I am participating in Dressember because in this season of holiday celebrations, cramming for finals, and other joyous chaos there are people in the world today who don't have these privileges that I so often take for granted. Putting a dress on every day, which isn't a very normal thing for me, is a way for me and hopefully others to be reminded of those people, specifically women enslaved in he sex trade. Whenever I wish I could just put a pair of sweatpants on for the day, I hope that my thoughts, prayers and conversations will be intentionally focused on these women.  Wearing a dress each day throughout December seems like such a little thing, but it's an opportunity here and now to be conscious of injustice and to take a stand."

Think trafficking doesn't happen close to home? Maybe you thought it only happened in other countries...
Fact: About 293,000 US children are at risk of being exploited and trafficked for sex, according to the 2011 FBI report on trafficking. Anyone under the age of 18 performing a commercial sex act is being trafficked, no matter what the circumstances may be. There's an interesting article on child "prostitution" here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-child-prostitute/2014/02/14/631ebd26-8ec7-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html 

Day 4- Ashley and Mady

You've learned that men can participate in Dressember and advocate for the oppressed, and today you'll learn kids can too!

"My name’s Ashley Stanislav and my daughter Mady and I are excited to participate in Dressember. I care deeply about the issue of human trafficking but I often find myself feeling a bit stuck when I think about what I can possibly to do make a difference in small town Iowa. Dressember provides a tangible way to actively “do something” about human trafficking. Proverbs 31:8 says to “Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate” (CJB).  If by wearing a dress all month long I can help shed some light on such a tragic thing happening in our world and advocate for people who are suffering, then I will happily change up my wardrobe! International Justice Mission is one of my favorite organizations and I love the work they do around the world on so many issues. I’m excited that the money raised through Dressember will help them as they continue to change people’s lives. I chose to have Mady participate in Dressember because I want her to grow up with a heart that is compassionate and empathetic to the world around her. Slavery is a tough issue and she doesn’t need to know everything about it yet, but I think it’s okay for her to know that there are people that aren’t free; families that don’t get to be together and kids like her that don’t get to go to school and play and feel safe because some people think it’s okay to make them do whatever they want. I think right now she’s mainly excited about wearing a dress every day, but I hope that by the end of the month she will be able to tell people why we are doing Dressember and that it will be about more than looking pretty"

Fact: The average age of a trafficking victim is TWELVE years old. - The A21 Campaign

Day 3- TJ.

Today you get to meet Tyler Janssen, or TJ as most people know him by. Northwestern is unique because we have had guys actually request to participate in Dressember, and therefore our campaign became "Dress(up)ember." Guys are pivotal in the fight of ending modern day slavery and here's what TJ has to say:

"My name is TJ. I go to Northwestern college as a 5th year senior studying Marketing. I was one of the college students that was confused at the topic of "human trafficking." I was curious on how this can be a thing. I was upset on how this could be ignored. I am currently wondering why this is a thing. I am also currently hopeful for this "thing" to be gone forever.
I was sick of letting others do something about this while I easily could be a part of something that can better our world, and I believe in a world where human trafficking doesn't exist. That is why I am fighting for this to end. If I must wear a tie everyday to show I care about the freedom and the dignity of countless women everywhere, then that really isn't too hard to do. I want to choose to be part of Dressember, and just because I'm a guy doesn't mean I can't care for the 30 million. I just want people to get out of the unawareness that I was in about the subjugation of women. People need to know. Because only we can end this."

Here's a link to another blog featuring Teej: http://buckeyesimplicity.com/2014/12/03/dressember-a-guy-in-a-tie/ 

Fact: "Over 85% of sex trafficking cases the National Human Trafficking Resource Center received from 2007-2012 dealt with women and girls, leaving almost 15% male and transgender victims." - NHTRC and Polaris Project