Currently, two stories strangely overlapping in my newsfeed are those about Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Immigration. The Combs story is gut-wrenching. I usually cannot finish an article with the latest update because the details are so violent and degrading. Combs is awaiting trial, and I imagine the details of his alleged abuse will only become more challenging to read. But here is what I want the community to know: most of what we’re reading online regarding this case is often parallel to what we read on an intake application to one of our programs.

We sense your presence every day at Naomi’s House. Your partnership this year has already helped 156 courageous women take steps toward healing. They are seeing personal breakthroughs in therapy sessions. They are working and pursuing educational degrees. They are building relationships with family and in churches. Women are walking in healing and hope, thanks to you. Your presence is changing many lives, and we cannot wait to see what’s possible in the second half of 2024.

There is nothing like a graduation from the Reside Program. Naomi’s House started the year with our 16th graduation and by recognizing Jackie’s* accomplishments. Jackie came to us after being homeless and exploited for a decade throughout Chicago, but she also came to us ready to heal. Determined to never return to a life controlled by trafficking, Jackie embodies everything we hope for in survivors.

When I arrived at Naomi’s House to lead the women through our weekly devotions, I walked in to the living room to find a woman who has been in the program for several months was balled up on the couch. She’s just the sweetest, tender young woman. She’s unique in how she holds herself, demonstrating from her first impression that she is kind and gentle.

In the last few weeks, my attention has been drawn to a few eye-opening events and cultural moments that have spotlighted human trafficking and the objectification of women.

The first is the Sound of Freedom movie. I hesitated attending the movie because I knew it would be hard to watch…and it was.

Naomi’s House is currently serving half of all the identified survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in IL*. We are so humbled by this reality, and we are equally grateful to be the leading organization in the state that is working with adult survivors of sex trafficking.