Laird Art School, 1955

Looks like these young students are hard at work mastering the letterforms of Trajan! This image makes me smile. (via Matt Braun)

freedom

Image from www.restorenyc.orgThere are more slaves today than at any point in human history—27 million. Most slaves are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, and most (80%) are female. This makes human trafficking the third largest, and fastest growing, criminal industry in the world. I can't help but feel a bit helpless when I read statistics such as these. The sex industries in Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens range from street prostitution to strip clubs, peep booth shows, massage parlors, bars, private apartments and homes, and escort services. I often think of slavery as something happening in other parts of the world, but the truth is—it's in my own backyard.

Join me on Thursday, March 24 at 8pm for Restore NYC's second annual Freedom Gala. Restore is an incredible non-profit organization providing freedom, safety and identity to foreign-born survivors of sex trafficking in NYC. Along with providing other much-needed services, Restore is currently the only organization in NYC with a fully-operating safehouse for women who need long-term care after escaping the industry.

If you are able to attend the Gala, please purchase tickets here. If you'd like more information on Restore, or how to get involved, please look here. And if you feel compelled to give financially and join in the work they are doing, please do so here.

10 Answers to 10 questions

Many thanks to Rebecca at 10 Answers for featuring me last week!

Live What You Love

Here's my newest Valentine's Day-inspired time lapse video in case you missed it! Also, don't miss the interview that went with it.

The By & By from Dana Tanamachi on Vimeo.