Writing this column is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The heartbreak comes from knowing that there are many, many girls and women at this very moment suffering in the world of human trafficking and sex exploitation. The inspiration comes from people like Melissa Ice and the non-profit organization she founded, The Net, which is – as their slogan says – “fighting for a world where girls are not for sale.”
The Net held its annual Survivor Leader Luncheon at the Rivercrest Country Club on Wednesday, May 13, with the theme Liberta’, which is Italian for freedom. And The Net leads a quest for regaining freedom that has been stolen from so many girls and young women. “When we show up together, great things happen,” event host Ashley West told the crowd, which included such dignitaries as Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and Councilman Michael Crain.
Fort Worth is among the leading cities when it comes to fighting human trafficking as Texas leads the nation in reported cases of the crime. But it is a never-ending battle as The Net’s services have increased 137% since 2023, Ice stated. That only means folks like Ice and her friends are working even harder – and it means we have to work harder with our support. And not just money – though that it is important – but with volunteer efforts and spreading the word. To date The Net has helped change the lives of over 2,000 survivors of trafficking. They’ve even provided dignified employment to more than 20. And, as West noted, they are doing it “One relationship at a time.”
A recorded message accompanied by a video asked a simple question, why is there a world where girls are for sale? Then it immediately responded to itself with the answer, because there’s a market for it. Not being of such a cruel mindset, I nor you can understand why someone would want to destroy the life of another just to make money – and that is what it comes down to. To such despicables, money means more than all the suffering that results in such a transaction.
But, as Ice reminded the crowd, there is strength in numbers. The door to such crimes can be closed – just as it is opened by looking away – if we all decide to join the fight. Pay attention. Look for signs. Listen to the cries. Don’t be too busy to get involved and help. Then, she referenced her daughter Rosie, whom she said corrected her when Ice used some “literary license” to try and deliver a message to her. “If a 10-year-old saw it, she’d call it out,” she said. “What if, instead of huddling up, we looked around and asked ‘How can I help my city?'”
A chilling reminder from Ice that “She is your neighbor,” referenced victims of sex trafficking all around us. She also reminded the crowd that Jesus told us to love our neighbor always, and nowhere is that more applicable than this. “That is what Jesus came for, dignity restored,” she said.
PERSEVERANCE AWARD During the event survivor N. Williams was presented with the Perseverance Award. She joined The Net in the summer of 2024 after leaving her trafficker and a season of sleeping in her car. She was looking for an escape to a better life from the horror her world had become.” . The Net helped her find a new direction, a new purpose. She even got an associates degree and started her own business. “Where I was, the blessings started flowing in my life, I finally had peace,” Williams said.
INTERVIEW WITH HARMONY DUST A highlight of the day was a one-on-one interview by Toni Collier with Harmony Dust. Collier is the founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, an organization that helps women and children process through brokenness and get to healing and hope.
Dust is a survivor of exploitation turned UCLA Alumna of the Year. She is also the founder of Treasures, a pioneering survivor-led non-profit. Dust is the author of her memoir “Stars and Stilettos,” which details her journey of abuse and exploitation to healing and advocacy. “I actually have scars on my feet from the stilettos I wore every night,” Dust said, reflecting on her days of being a sex trafficking victim. She noted that her mother was also a victim of sex trafficking at a young age. “Back then they called it child prostitution,” she said.
Dust made a strong point when she said that it is a fallacy that many of those in pornography and prostitution are in that life because they chose it. The truth is they were led there because a predator capitalized on their vulnerability. For example, she cited that up to 70% of victims come from foster care. And, once in the sex industry, 89% of the women want out.
In her case, she was left stranded at age 13 with her 8-year-old brother after her mother left with a man who had been abusing Harmony. Desperate, she fell prey to such a predator and joined the 70% of trafficked girls forced into the sex industry. Desperation is a key to a door that leads to a path of darkness in this industry. When it comes to starving as an alternative, or doing without life-saving medicine, people will often do anything – and predators lurk in wait for just such an opportunity.
Collier praised states such as Louisiana and Tennessee for working to make stronger laws to fight human trafficking, adding, “I want Texas on that list.” Dust fought the problem from within. After hearing a man talk about God rescuing him, she thought to herself, “If God can do it for him, he can do it for me.” So she started spreading the word about survival from trafficking, even going to strip clubs and making positive impressions. She told of one woman who quit that same day and donated $1,000 to help Dust start her own non-profit in the fight. “I wanted to humanize the woman on the other side of the dollar,” Dust said. Then, she reminded the crowd, “We don’t all have to do everything, but every single one of us can do something.” I’m reminded of the little girl who was throwing starfish back into the ocean one at a time to save them. A man walks up and says to her that there are so many starfish on the beach, she couldn’t possibly make a difference. “It made a difference for that one,” the little girl said as she threw another one in.
If we all throw one starfish back – or help to save one girl – it will indeed make a difference. Thanks to organizations like The Net, more life preservers are available for us to throw to the girls so they don’t drown in the ocean of human trafficking. If you’d like to help and/or donate, visit them at thenetfw.com.
