Nomi Network

A Princess and Her Castle: A Mother's Day Post

noreply@blogger.com (Rajdeep "call me Raj" Paulus-Writer of Young Adult Fiction) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:32:00 +0000

While sitting on a folding chair on the beach, I watched my girls jumping the waves on their boogie boards with my littlest next to me, digging scoops of perfectly wet sand into her red bucket. When the pail was almost full, Sarah put aside her yellow plastic shovel, lifted the red container to eye level, and tipped it over in her first attempt to make a sand castle.

Whimpering from disappointment, she asked, "Why didn't it work Mommy?"

"Let's try it again." I got off my chair and sat with her and together we refilled two pails and packed the sand down firmly and hubby and I coached her how to tip closer to the ground, quickly. Speed was key. And to her giggling delight, it worked! She had already collected several seashells to decorate her castle. Cuz that's what a girl loves to do. Once she has her castle, she has to furnish it. And make it her own.

As we walk across the sand to make our trek back to the hotel room, I think about another little girl whose story I heard during Nomi Network’s Mother’s Day Luncheon from Laura Lederer, J.D., board member and Vice President of Policy and Planning for Global Centurion. Her name is “Rosa,” and when she was thirteen, she walked across the sandy deserts of the Rio Grande, a journey that unveiled surprises that no little girl dreams of.

You see, Rosa's story is one that will break your heart if your heart beats. She came to cross the border from Mexico to Texas in hopes to work at a restaurant and make enough money to bring back to her family of nine, hoping to save her younger siblings from having to drop out of school to help feed the family. The opportunity to work in America offered wages and Rosa came to the designated location only to find herself among hundreds of girls of similar ages and told to pick up a backpack and a water bottle and to start walking.

When we drove through Manhattan Saturday morning, we saw plenty of New Yorkers walking, biking, and jogging along the Battery Park walkway, backpack in tow and water bottles everywhere, they were free to enjoy an exercise filled start to their days. Rosa didn't choose her backpack or the size of her water bottle. Or her destination.

When they walked across the desert on foot to illegally cross into Texas, they were shuttled to a town in North Florida, packed into trucks like sardines, and when the driver dumped them in front a trailer park neighborhood, a burly man stood in front of them and announced,

"I bought each of you girls for ten thousand dollars. You will now work for me to pay off the debt. And how will you do that?" He pointed to the trailers behind him. "Back there. That's how you'll pay off the debts."

"What about the restaurant job?" Rosa protested, unwilling to believe that she had been duped.

"There's no restaurant job here. This is the only way. And don't even think about running."

Rosa ran. She was immediately caught, and taken to one of the trailer parks, where she was gang-raped and physically reminded the painful price of disobeying this new boss of hers. For three years, she was trafficked to various visitors of the trailer parks until she escaped out of second story window with another girl and the ring of illegal traffickers were busted and prosecuted and the remainder of the girls were set free.

Most of the girls and young women being trafficked around the globe do not get this lucky. The only castle they will ever build will be of the clouds above their heads. Which will dissipate into nothing the moment reality reminds them that they are trapped. The only time they are called princess is by liars who use the word to get what they want and treat these girls nothing like princesses.

I could cry an ocean thinking about how so many little girls are shuttled into such sadness.

But the world has enough oceans. And the girls, I'm sure, cry oceans every night that they are not rescued and lie in wait for someone. A real prince. A soldier. A hero. To come and fight for them. For their broken hearts. For their whole selves.

Dr. Laura Lederer presenting at Nomi Network's 2012 Mother's Day Brunch

Listening to Dr. Lederer this past Friday, I heard one of the strongest voices fighting against the injustice of human trafficking. When she shared how she speaks to U.S. Troops overseas about the issue, I was acutely aware that she stood in front of our armed forces and the tables were turned. Here she was the front line soldier educating the Troops about the battle that they needed to help her fight. The battle for the voiceless.

Dr. Lederer shared a powerful slide show with a lot of stats and stories, reminding the room of fifty or so attendees who attended the Nomi Network Mother’s Day Luncheon that the turmoil of human trafficking continues to spread with the power of the Web and only second to drugs, humans are the second largest item illegally sold. In fact the online traffickers often speak in code such as “180 roses for half time or 800 roses for full time.” The roses symbolize dollars and the “time” represents they type of services offered by trafficked women and girls. The estimated 19 billion dollar revenue produced by sexually trafficked victims doesn't include all the undisclosed cases.

The stats are powerful, don’t get me wrong. But not until you think of how that little girl could be your best friend, your sister, your daughter. Because she’s somebody’s daughter. And when I look at Sarah playing freely in the sand, and my other three princesses jumping in the waves, I swallow the awful thoughts of what life would be like if I was forced to put a price tag on any one of my daughters, knowing that their sold bodies might be the only way we eat dinner tonight. The Catch-22 that pierces deeper than any dagger is one that so many poverty stricken families face daily. Life’s not fair. That’s a given.

So what can any of us do, apart from shedding a few tears and saying a prayer for these girls who never chose to be born into the life of desperation that found them? I know one thing for sure. We can all do our part. Even if we can’t do everything. We can all do something. Mother’s Day is as good a day as any to purchase one of the really cool items that survivors and women at high risk for human trafficking have produced overseas. And buy the special women in your life something lovely and useful in the process.

That’s what I love about Nomi Network and all the women present at the Mother’s Day Luncheon. Great food and visionary company peppered the entire event. Ava Chen also shared about Nomi's progress in India thus far. Every guest present has a heart for the issue of human trafficking and wants to do something about it. No one claims to save everyone, but we are all dedicated to helping some. And for each of the women in Cambodia and India that is rescued from a life of trafficking and given the opportunity to express their creativity and make Nomi’s products, the non-profit organization offers them a chance out of the desert. Across the line of hopelessness to a future where they are valued. Nomi says it well with their totes reading, “Buy her bag, Not her body.” The price tag should read “Priceless,” because humans are not for sale in a perfect economy where life is valued and each life is equally precious.

A Film on Human Trafficking: Sex+Money

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:51:00 +0000

When you mention the words "human trafficking," many people immediately think of underdeveloped countries on the other side of the world. What most people do not realize is the extent to which trafficking happens right here in the United States. Last month Nomi Network had the opportunity to attend the screening of Sex+Money at Hunter College. Sex+Money is a documentary chronicling the cross-country journey of a group of young adults seeking to discover the face of human trafficking in the U.S. Through interviews with government officials, journalists, heads of organizations, former trafficked girls, and even pimps and buyers themselves, the filmmakers discovered the shocking reality of sex trafficking in our country: an estimated 100,000 children are trafficked into the commercial sex trade in the U.S.

However, even if a victim is rescued, their pain does not end there. These young girls have been forced to endure violence and abuse from the pimps who sell them and the johns who buy them. The extent of their physical and psychological trauma is unimaginable. Intensive treatment is needed to provide these survivors with healing and hope for a brighter future. Sadly, there are few facilities in the U.S. equipped to provide the kind of therapy these girls need. All the shelters in the U.S. that specifically serve victims of child trafficking have less than 100 beds combined available to treat these survivors. The Sex+Money filmmakers highlighted one of the few facilities available: Streetlight in Arizona. The filmmakers are dedicated to raising money for this shelter so that more survivors of trafficking in the United States can receive aftercare services. If you want to learn more about Streetlight, you can visit their website at www.streetlightphx.org.

- Amanda Champman

When's Your Birthday FUNdraiser?

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:11:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again! You see the date marked on your calendar and whether you like it or not your Birthday is coming. It's an opportunity to gather friends and family and spend some quality time celebrating YOU!

So this year, let’s say that you want to do something special, something different. Let’s pretend that there's not much on your wish list and that you'd really love to give back for a change. Why not partner with Nomi Network to turn yet another birthday into an extraordinary act of generosity and impact?

This year you can help support Nomi Network through our new birthday fundraising initiative! Anyone can help us eradicate slavery by leveraging their special day to raise awareness and funds to empower survivors and women at risk of human trafficking.

With the new fundrasing platform, Crowdrise, this can be a fun experience for everyone involved as you personalize your campaign and find creative ways to encourage your network to get engaged in your efforts all month long. Crowdrise is an easy to use, highly rated website that gives back by supplying donors with tools to help facilitate online fundraising campaigns.

To start your Birthday FUNdraiser:

1) Create a Crowdrise page: http://www.crowdrise.com/nominetwork
2) Share with your friends and family
3) Follow up with your network in creative ways
4) Say thank you!

Email Caroline Hughes at caroline@nominetwork.org for more information! What a great way to celebrate!

- Caroline Hughes

Nomi Network Fashion Corner: Earth Day Chic

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Environmentally friendly fashion has come to the spotlight recently, making many consumers question how and where our clothes are made. Conscious consumers demand not only clothes made with eco-friendly materials, but chic clothes made with more sustainable production practices, too. According to Earth Day Network, more than one billion people in 192 countries took part in the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day. Many celebrated Earth Day by pledging “Acts of Green.” Fashion enthusiasts and prominent leaders in the fashion industry celebrated Earth Day by celebrating the growing trend of eco-friendly garments. Environmentally conscious models and designers reminded us that being green is always stylish. Leading designers, including Calvin Klein and Stella McCartney, continue to create cruelty-free collections by refusing to use fur. Model Miranda Kerr served as an ambassador for Earth Hour, an event that encouraged people to turn-off non-essential lights to an hour to raise awareness about climate change.

While these fashion icons promoted sustainable style, other leaders in the fashion industry launched eco-conscious lines. H&M launched a Conscious Collection with glamorous looks made from organic cotton, organic hemp, and recycled polyester. H&M is one of the biggest users of organic cotton. According to a Huffington Post article, H&M head designer Anne-Sofie Johansson expressed H&M’s vision to “make more sustainable fashion affordable and accessible to more and more people around the world.” Many celebrities, including Michelle Williams, Kristin Davis, Viola Davis and Amanda Seyfried, have supported H&M’s Conscious collection by wearing pieces from the collection on the red carpet. From high-fashion icons sharing their passion for eco-conscious style to affordable looks at H&M made with organic materials, Earth Day offers a chance for fashionistas to express their environmental concerns and encourage others to celebrate Earth Day, and every day, with eco-friendly style. With more consumers requesting sustainable items, the fashion industry must follow the growing demand for environmentally-conscious garments and sustainable production practices. It’s small step, but it’s a start.

For more on Earth Day fashion:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/earth-day-2012-fashion_n_1441308.html#s890523&title=Miranda_Kerr

http://www.refinery29.com/sustainable-eco-friendly-clothing

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/hms-conscious-collection-_n_1441917.html

- Sachi Pettit

Reporting Out on Networking for Peace

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:52:00 +0000

On a quiet Tuesday night in April in the Upper East Side, women from many different walks came together to discuss international, national, and local issues surrounding “Confronting Modern Slavery: Prosecuting Sex Traffickers.” Young and old alike heard from three well-versed panelists on the legal systems in place in each of these levels to address the issue of human trafficking in today’s world.

The conversation was organized by Network for Peace through Dialogue and co-sponsored by a number of organizations, each active in educating the general public on modern day slavery. Nomi Network was privileged to participate in the post-panel small group discussions in which groups of 5-8 people discussed action steps that could be taken immediately to raise awareness on this issue as well as to pressure legislatures and private corporations alike to stop funding groups that support human trafficking. Many things were learned learned throughout this evening, including the fact that everyone, no matter where life has taken him or her, can do a small part to eradicate modern day slavery!

Further concrete actions steps will be posted on Network for Peace's website. Check back frequently to learn how you can continue integrate this dialogue in your own life.

- Suzy Gaber

Bringing Rainbows to India: Weeks Four and Five

noreply@blogger.com (Rajdeep "call me Raj" Paulus-Writer of Young Adult Fiction) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:41:00 +0000

How can we help? What do we do? Where do we start? I’m wondering if I’m the only one asking these questions when I think of how a young non-profit like Nomi Network (“Nomi”) enters a densely populated country like India and attempts to make a change. In a place where traditions and history are rooted much deeper than the mango trees, change is not easy and not easily embraced. One thing is for sure: the first step is always the hardest.

As Supei continues the initial process of selecting the women who will participate in Nomi’s program in India, challenges have arisen, but thus far, none that cannot be overcome. Surveys need to be redistributed, some messages and expectations still get lost in translation. Even her toilet malfunctioned one day, which made Supei appreciate all the women in the world who carry buckets of water for several miles for their daily needs when she felt exhausted from her journey of carrying water a few blocks up a flight of stairs.

And a train fiasco reminds Supei that India will never tire of giving her an adventure. This time, when she purchased her ticket and was assured that her seat was “confirmed,” she arrived on board to find someone occupying her seat. After making her best sad face and begging for help from locals, she secured a seat in the three tier bunks of the non-air conditioned section. Not the most comfortable of accommodations, but she was thankful she had a seat. And there, her compartment companions adjusted to her “mother load suitcase.” Once again.

After laughing with her over the mishaps of daily life in India, I asked Supei the question that has occupied my mind since the beginning. How do you enter a country, trust people, start something from scratch, and make it succeed? Her answer was not what I expected.

“You start with a plan. We [the founding members of Nomi] sat together and brainstormed as to how we could create a selection process using surveys, write a manual to document the process, and then train the chosen women to complete one project at a time. Always leaving plenty of room for revisions of the process as we troubleshoot along the way.”

This made sense, but I still didn’t understand how you go about convincing women to do something different from what they’re familiar with, even if the familiar has been the devastating life of being trafficked. Because Supei confirmed that many of the challenges they face stem from a deeper cause than the lack of supplies or finances or space. The biggest challenge in Nomi’s quest to empower these women has been building their confidence and affirming their worth. Even the simple choice of riding a bicycle to a manufacturing facility in order to create Nomi products seems tangible if the women accept this option and believe they can do it.

“We always begin our meetings with the groups of women the same way. We tell the women three things:

You are beautiful.

You are talented.

And we see potential in you.”

Reminds me of that powerful line in the book and blockbuster movie hit The Help. I personally cannot think of any girl or woman on this earth that doesn’t need to hear the words:

“You is kind.

You is smart.

You is important.”

And that’s how Nomi does it. Bringing rainbows to India. One step at a time. One woman at a time.

And that’s the first step to change. To tell these women the truth. That they count. And someone cares. And they are worth it. And then love them until they believe it.

-Rajdeep Paulus

Change Begins in the Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Rajdeep "call me Raj" Paulus-Writer of Young Adult Fiction) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:19:00 +0000

An avid international traveler, Nomi Network’s Ava Chen avoided jetlag by staying awake for twenty-four hours and sleeping on her flight. Brilliant! Ava arrived in India to join Supei for the initial phase of Nomi’s new home in India, ready to meet the faces behind the plan. You see, when you come up with a plan, you theoretically determine the aspects, steps and people. But until you give breath to the words on the paper, the plan seems ideal, possible and foolproof.

Ava, as the Director of Programs for Nomi, came to see the plan unfold in real time. In real India. With the women in urban and rural India. The groundwork involves surveying potential women for their program and upon the initial run, Ava and Supei determined that the surveys were too long including several culturally irrelevant choices. This is all part of the process. To revise and rewrite the questions in order to select the 120 women who will best thrive under the structure of a Nomi-implemented business.

All this is necessary to analyze the plans, triage operational issues and write reports. Any well run business requires these basics, and someone with Ava’s background handles these aspects systematically and professionally. But when you ask Ava what she recalls about her time in India and the images that remain with her, the women and children she met remind her why she joined Nomi in the first place.

While visiting one of the hostels where the children of at-risk and red light district women are schooled, an eight-year old girl full of curiosity and energy took the time to show Ava a book and teach her some Hindi words. This little girl has a chance to escape the treacherous road her mother might have been forced to travel.

A woman sitting quietly across from her in a blue faded sari lowered her head when the other women explained to Ava how the season of trafficking has changed. In the past families often sold their girls into the industry, but today girls are often kidnapped by traffickers and the women all fear for their children.

All in all, Ava found the majority of the women she encountered anxious to participate in Nomi programs, willing to learn and do anything if it means a way to earn a living and choose an alternative life to the one they are predicted to be stuck in.

The minor inconveniences of heavy traffic, mosquitoes, cold showers and no toilet paper paled in comparison to the hope alive in the eyes of each woman Ava met. Sure, communication could be better, transportation could be easier, and an ice cold beer would take the edge off the coming summer heat. After only a week in India, Ava knows clearly that Nomi is here for a reason. Nomi belongs. Nomi will change lives.

“Something that really shocked me was the impact of the enormity of poverty in India. As I was driving out of the city during the day on the way to the airport, the poverty is so pervasive, I was not prepared for the way it knocked the wind out of me, leaving me with such a heavy heart as I departed India.”

Heavy hearts. Aching hearts. Broken hearts. This is where change begins. Inside our hearts. And out of the overflow of our heartaches, hope comes alive through our actions. Ava, alongside Nomi Network are making it happen, and the women in India will be forever changed.

-Rajdeep Paulus

Nomi Network Job Opportunities!

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Nomi Network is a nonprofit 501(c)3 based in New York City that is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty that perpetuates human trafficking globally. Specifically, Nomi Network leverages the fashion industry to implement product design, development and marketing strategies for slave-free products. This process creates employment and career development opportunities for women who are survivors and/or at risk of being trafficked. Nomi also manufactures products with our signature label, "Buy Her Bag, Not Her Body ®" to raise awareness about this global humanitarian issue. Proceeds from the sale of these bags provide wages, healthcare, childcare, and training for the women we serve currently in South East Asia. For more information, visit to www.nominetwork.org.

Program Manager

Experience: 3 – 5 Years in field and Headquarters coordination
Location: Willing to travel to Bihar and West Bengal
Education: Bachelors Degree required
Industry Type: International non-profit organization or government

Job Description:
1. Manage training program in Bihar and West Bengal
2. Coordinate with partner organization to schedule and deploy training sessions
3. Coordinate with team in the United States to communicate risks and issues
3. Assist in outreach to training participants
4. Produce and submit weekly, monthly and quarterly reports
6. Assist in managing local interns
7. Support finance and accounting functions
8. Implement other tasks as identified by the project manager

Desired Candidate Profile:
1. Minimum 5 years living in India and fluent in Hindi and Bengali
2. Experience in program management
3. Experience living in a developing country
4. Good interpersonal and motivational skills
5. Flexible
6. Experience in reporting
7. Experience in liaising with other NGO’s and government
8. Administrative experience
9. Experience in the private sector and fashion industry is a plus
10. Proficient at Microsoft Office programs

Salary commensurate with experience. Please send your resume, cover letter, and two references to info@nominetwork.org by April 30, 2012.

Local Trainer – Fashion and Sewing

Experience: 3 - 5 Years experience in retail merchandising, field sales, or
wholesale environment.
Location: Willing to travel to Bihar and West Bengal.
Education: Bachelors Degree preferred
Industry Type: Textiles/ Garments/Accessories

Job Description:
1. Assistant to the Lead Trainer/Designer.
2. Assist in the development of course material.
3. Consistently analyze program model and partners with Lead
Trainer/Designer to formulate creative product development and
marketing strategies.
4. Serve as the liaison between Apne Aap staff and Nomi Network.
5. Research

a. Form trend analysis, merchandising, design support from concept to completion, color, fabric and trim research and development, ensuring the best possible product for our customers.

b. Conduct market research, managing the fabrics/materials and trims process with the sourcing division, creating designs and specifications, creating collection presentations, maintaining, creating and updating line plans and specification sheets.

c. Work with technical and production departments to ensure the products are executed according to the Lead Designer's vision.
6. Technical Specifications
a. Responsible for training Apne Aap women. Patience and attention to detail is necessary.
b. Experienced in pattern making, technical spec, knit/woven fabrications, handbag construction and quality control.
c. Experienced in teaching various stitches, seams and joints.
d. Understand function, form and taste in executing a fashion product.
e. Translate designs into accessories by developing specifications.

Desired Candidate Profile:
1. Excellent knowledge working with Illustrator, Photoshop and Excel.
2. Excellent ability to translate hand drawings into technical sketch.
3. Knowledge of workmanship for accessories for both hard goods and soft goods.
4. Excellent creative ability and sense of style.
5. Organized, self-starter, and flexibility.
6. Strong communication skills.
7. Knowledge of Hindi and Bengali is essential.
8. Must be willing to travel 80% of the time.

This is an unpaid 6-8 month internship with the possibility of full-time employment. Please send your resume, cover letter, and two references to info@nominetwork.org by April 30, 2012.

Anti-Trafficking Legislation Reauthorized

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:52:00 +0000

Did you know that until 12 years ago the U.S. did not have a federal law against human trafficking? In 2000, Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) to fight human trafficking in the United States and provide funding for services for survivors. The law has been renewed three times since it was initially passed, and is once again being brought before Congress for re-authorization.

The TVPA is a vital piece of legislation that can help the U.S. continue to move forward in the battle against modern day slavery. Previous versions of the TVPA have helped the anti-trafficking cause by forming a Presidential task force to combat trafficking and creating the annual Trafficking in Persons report. The current version steps up the fight against child trafficking and takes proactive measures to combat trafficking abroad.

Unfortunately, the bill does not have full support in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. That is why it is imperative for abolitionists like you and me to let our legislators know we support this bill and want them to renew it. You can check the Library of Congress website to see if your Senators support this legislation. If they have not cosponsored the bill, contact them to say you want them to pass the Senate’s version of the TVPA, known as S.1301. Through the Senate website, it is easy to send Senators an email or retrieve their contact information to write them a letter or call them. The TVPA will soon be voted on by the full Senate, so now is the time to take action!

- Amanda Chapman

Spotlight on Home Patry Coordinator, Nok Chhun

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:48:00 +0000

Nomi Network’s awesome Home Party Coordinator, Nok Chunn, has been coordinating Nomi Network’s home parties across state lines and New York’s busy cities since 2010. Advising many hosts on how to invite their friends and family to make a positive difference in the lives of women in Cambodia through their product purchase, Nok has been an excellent asset to our volunteer team.

Nomi Home Parties are a great way to share our solution through the stories of the women we aid in Cambodia and India, and raise greater awareness among your network about human trafficking. Home parties also give an opportunity to your network to give back to the women, as 100% of sale proceeds are invested into programs that support the women.

Learn more about home parties and about Nok below.

How did you hear about Nomi Network? What inspired you to be involved?

I found out about Nomi Network through my brother who was the DJ for the 2010 Spring Fling Fashion event, where Nomi had an information and product display table set up.

My mom’s childhood stories inspired me to volunteer with Nomi Network. She grew up in Cambodia, the eldest daughter of thirteen children. When she was 11 years old, she had to leave home because of her family’s poverty. Her experiences inspire me to want to make a difference in the lives of women and girls around the world.

As the home party coordinator, what advice would you give to making a Nomi Home Party event successful?

Every home party is different, and hosting a home party is a great way to mingle, spend time with family and friends, and share a gift that brings freedom to women and girls. Whether the host is having a small party or a large gathering, hosting a home party is an opportunity to raise awareness about the global pandemic of human trafficking and ultimately invite the audience to take action by purchasing a Nomi Network product. Ultimately, the host is connecting with the people in their lives and sharing their passion and desire to make a difference in the world.

What is the most popular item sold at Nomi Home parties?

The Buy Her Bag Not Her Body® signature tote for its awareness-raising message and the fact that it folds into a portable carrying case and is perfect for groceries, traveling, and transporting miscellaneous items, great for a person on the go. It’s a great conversation starter and presents an opportunity to talk about Nomi Network and the work in which the organization is involved.

What is your favorite Nomi product and why?

The fish tote, because it reminds me of my father’s hometown of Koh Kong, Cambodia, a little fishing village situated on the border of Thailand. I love the water, and this Nomi product reminds me to take some time to do a little blue ocean gazing. Plus, this bag fits everything!

What is the most memorable moment working with Nomi Network?

There is not one memorable moment that stands out because working at Nomi Network has been a series of memorable moments. Every time I interact with a Nomi Network team member, a home party host, or another volunteer, I am reminded about the importance of service and community, and am impressed by everyone’s commitment and desire to effect positive change in the world and leave it a little bit better than they found it. There’s a lot of positive energy!

Who is your role model and why?

My mom is my role model because of her strength and perseverance. I see in her the woman that I hope to one day become--powerful and giving. She inspired her children to dream and to know that all dreams are achievable. Because she only had a third grade level education, education was important to her; for her, education paved the way to opportunities. She went without while we were growing up, so that her children would have basic necessities and would lead a different life than the one she led, and her proudest achievement is that all her children are college graduates.

What is the best compliment received by a Home Party host/ hostess?

I love it whenever a home party host shares stories and photos from their event. They are always impressed by the fact that Nomi Network is a volunteer-driven organization.

- Lisa Kim

Nomi Network: Fashion Corner Spring and Summer 2012 Trend Report

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:22:00 +0000

Spring runways were filled with vibrant colors and fresh, fun looks to prepare us for the warm weather. Spring and summer are ideal seasons for exploring chic new trends after storing away your winter coats and sweaters.

Several trends marked the Spring/Summer 2012 runways. From cool color-blocking to bold prints, this season is all about making a statement. One of the most notable trends is the new twist on color-blocking seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger. Staple pieces, like a cardigan or wrap-dress, are transformed as designers crafted them in color-block combinations of unexpected colors. Bold prints also ruled the fashion week runways. From Proenza Schouler’s tropical, vivid florals to Derek Lam’s mirror-like geometric patterns, one will be sure to stand out in any of this Spring’s statement-making prints. For those seeking an elegant, understated look, the runways were also ripe with sorbet separates in simple silhouettes. Ralph Lauren used sorbet hues to create feminine pieces while Calvin Klein’s signature minimalism softened with pastel shades.

Spring and summer 2012 runways offered a variety of new, must-try trends that are surprisingly wearable and effortlessly chic. We can’t wait to see how people integrate these trends into their own style!

Nomi Network is always excited about the latest styles, both on and off the runway. We love hearing from our customers and supporters about the fashion pieces and trends that they adore.

For more on this season’s latest trends:

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/top-spring-2012-trends-new-york#slide-1

http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2011/09/spring-2012s-most-wearable-fashion-trends#slide=1

http://www.refinery29.com/top-spring-trends-2012

- Sachiko Pettit

photo from Glamour.com

"Bringing Rainbows to India: Weeks Two and Three" by Rajdeep Paulus

noreply@blogger.com (Rajdeep "call me Raj" Paulus-Writer of Young Adult Fiction) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:54:00 +0000

“Fourteen! Fourteen! Does anyone know where seat Fourteen is?”

On her first train ride in India, Nomi Network’s Supei has somehow managed to pull her mammoth suitcase over steep steps, after crowds have climbed around, over, and almost through her to beat her on the locomotive that is not scheduled to leave for another hour.

When she finally determined she was on the correct train, between the relentless shoving and the sweltering heat that surrounded her like a wool blanket on a hot summer day, she resorted to using her best weapon to fight the crowds: her voice.

“Fourteen! Fourteen! Seat Fourteen! I’m looking for—”

“Here Madam.” A kind Nepali man heard the pleas of the foreigner and pointed her in the right direction.

“Was it a race to get first dibs on the best seat? The window seat?” I asked.

“NO! We’re all assigned seats. That’s why I screamed 'Fourteen!'”

Of course. That made perfect sense. What didn't make sense was the madness around her.
But when she managed to squeeze her “mother luggage” through the narrow walkway, she soon realized that there was no room for it under the two tier’s lower bunk. In the end, it sat in the middle, and like so much of her India experience thus far, her seat mates worked around it, over it, and just let it be.

Supei was on her way from Kolkata to a Rural State, making her rounds to the two main locations Nomi plans to partner with Apne Aap in training women to make and sell products instead of their bodies. Before she left Kolkata, she had a chance to tour the city a bit, visiting several sites, including the Victorian Memorial. In the end, the location that she recalled with wonder was simply Mother Teresa’s home. Because it was so—simple. The Nobel Peace Prize-holding nun lived a humble, basic life, and even her fame around the world didn’t taint her mission to love the poorest of poor. What empowerment and inspiration Supei must have felt from that visit!

The train ride, despite its chaotic beginnings, served to help transition Supei from the hustle and bustle of the city life in Kolkata to the country face of the Rural State, and after several hours of sleep on her second tier bunk with only a curtain for privacy, she awoke to see India passing by. And what a great way to soak in part of the country since the train, like most vehicles in India, didn’t move that quickly. The landscape changed slightly, as the villages passed by with waves from folks in the fields watching the train chug along.

Life in the Rural State is a tad less noisy than Kolkata, although there are many days when Supei wonders if she’s residing next to a disco club with the frequent pumping of Bollywood tunes mixed with Western music. Miscommunication is a never ending challenge. Is she going? Is she staying? Why didn’t the taxi driver told specifically to pick up her Nomi intern park so far from the airport? Without a sign of the intern’s name? Sigh. India. And the toilets. In her own words, “You just have to make sure you don’t go too often.” And the cold showers. Not loving them. But she’s making do.

With the frequent miscommunications and language barriers, [even the Hindi translators can’t always catch all the nuances of the various dialects,] Supei is learning to accept that things just don’t move quickly in India. Even the Government Officials from Delhi and D.C. called Nomi’s approach “a very ambitious project.” Regardless of the daily setbacks of electricity outages and unexpected delays, Supei’s voice reflects the radiant hope of Nomi’s dreams of helping women in India.

When you hear the story of one woman Supei met with, you know their efforts are well worth it. Lady M., a woman prostituted and beaten by her own husband, got involved in a SEG [Self Empowerment Group] when she had no where else to turn. She lived in a Red Light District, feared for her children, and had no idea how her life would turn out. Since she joined Apne Aap and became and SEG Group Leader, her husband found a job, her children attend school, and she wants a bike. In order to travel to nearby villages. So she can help other women!

When Supei met the at-risk pool of women, they seemed warmer, having not been tainted by the lifestyle that steals so much more than touch. The women still enslaved in trafficking carry a bitterness about them, used to outside volunteers helping for a day or two and then abandoning them back to their dark worlds. They come asking for rice and money, not expecting to be invested in. This is all they’ve ever known.

Nomi’s methods remind me of the old adage: "Give a man fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

So as Supei evaluates the pool of women in the various villages, she’s looking for women who can cooperate in groups as well as work independently and women who can grasp basic stitching skills and follow directions. Most of all, she’s looking for women who will show up and be faithful, sticking to the task. The reward of lasting freedom depends on it.

In addition to training the women, Nomi hopes to build the training space with the help of Apne Aap, provide childcare for the female participants, and assist with transporting the women to their jobs.

We closed our conversation with laughs over the Holi celebrations that just passed this week. “Everyone, young and old, was dancing all funky in the streets, going crazy with colors flying everywhere.”

Supei and her coworkers celebrated Holi without the chaos but with plenty of color. One staff member gave Supei a nice smear of pink across her cheek before “dunking another friend with a nice splash of many other colors.”

Supei laughed as she recalled her Asian skin with paint across it. “Even when you wash your face, when you start with such white skin, for days, you still look like you ate too many carrots!”

The last thing she shared with the help of a Nomi intern was a story they had heard a day ago. From a twelve year old girl. The story was titled, “Courageous Sister.” It was a make belief tale of an older sister choosing to work instead of following the traditional arranged marriage path. With the money she made, she was able to rescue her younger sister from a life of marital abuse and misery.

Nomi strives to shape many courageous sisters with their work in India. One woman at at time. Granting them significant and meaningful freedom that they can pass on to generations to come. Especially the little girls. Who can pass it on to their children. And on and on.

Musical artist Toby Mac sums it up when he sings, “If you gotta start somewhere, why not here? If you gotta start sometime, why not now. If we gotta start somewhere, I say here. If we gotta start sometime. I say now!”

It’s now time for Nomi in India. Let’s do this.

Working with Project Runway's Ivy Higa

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:46:00 +0000

Project Runway Season 8 contestant and New York Fashion Week veteran Ivy Higa launches her 2012 Collection "Chic & Sheer by Ivy h." Her online platform http://ivyh.net/ is being unveiled today on International Women's Day.

Ivy's philanthropic heart drew her to Nomi Network. For every product sold, Ivy is donating 10% to Nomi Network to strengthen its programs. Her generosity and dedication to empowering survivors and women at risk of trafficking underlines her signature style: effortlessly inspiring. We congratulate Ivy for this exciting venture and for her success!

“Bringing Rainbows to India: Week One” by Rajdeep Paulus

noreply@blogger.com (Events) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Nomi’s very own Supei had three words to describe her first week in India as Nomi partners with Apne Aap to empower at-risk and rescued women from the enslaving sex trafficking industry.

Those three words were chaotic, crowded, and colorful.

When she stepped off the plane in Delhi at 4:00AM on that February morning, the streets of India were just rubbing the sleep from their eyes. And as soon as her Apne Aap greeters shuttled her off to the first village, Supei’s eyes and ears could barely take in the speed at which life was coming at her. The traffic moved dangerously close to her at every turn, with a crazy mixture of rickshaws, cabs, cars, bikers, and motorcyclists, all fighting to get ahead of the other at a speed and proximity that give even the calmest of systems heartburn.

“Everything is just so intense in India! Makes me nervous to cross the street most days. I just wait for a crowd to go ahead of me and jump in behind them.” Sounds like Queens Blvd with a few extra million vehicles and people!

“Once the morning arrives, the noise takes over. It’s everywhere. Honking. Washing. Showering. [At communal water pumps with their clothes on.] And just moving. When you have such enormous numbers of people moving here, going there, you can hear them. I’ve never been so aware of the constant noise.”

Having traveled to several other countries outside the U.S., another detail that struck her as unique in India is the level of poverty and its proximity to the affluence. Right next to a glamorous hotel lies a slum. And then around the corner from that slum, a residential area with beautiful houses.

“It’s like in other countries, the rich move the poor out when they want to build [gentrification], but here, they build on top of, around, and over them. Everyone here just seems to move along. With the chaos. Through the chaos. Everyone just keeps moving. But there’s no hiding the poverty. It’s so in your face here.”

So why did she come? What was the purpose of this first trip? Why does Nomi want to be in India? Did you know that Kamathipura, Mumbai hosts the oldest and largest Red Light District in Asia? And many of the girls are trafficked from Kolkutta, the city where Nomi is working to give these victims training, options, and hope.

One of the immediate successes of her trip came with the face to face communication with the Apne Aap staff. “Just being able to share in person Nomi’s goals and ideas and approaches to helping the women and hearing from Apne Aap what is working already and how the two organizations can partner to make the efforts even stronger has been huge for this trip.”

One Apne Aap village in Delhi was once a host of thriving male-run snake charming businesses. With the government ban of this practice to protect the species, many households have turned to the women in the family to provide an income, making them desperately susceptible to marketing the one thing they can offer—their bodies. My gut churns at the irony of who and what is really significant in the eyes of today’s culture. A snake can be protected, while a woman or young girl can be trafficked? The depth of misconception heaps hot coals on top of a tragedy already ablaze.

In another small village in Delhi, Supei met women being taught by Apne Ap how to manage their finances in a grass roots monthly Savings and Loan program. Each woman participating is taught the basics of how to save up for expenses and how to borrow responsibly, as they take turns borrowing against the group for their needs. The economic venture really teaches the woman how to plan for tomorrow and budget their daily and weekly spending. Amazing how such a simple concept, when taught and applied, can contribute to the freedom of person’s livelihood, giving them choices they never knew they had.

Supei’s trip did not go without what she comically referred to as “foreigner moments.” During meals, when the staff offered her a teeny-tiny spoon to eat her rice, she learned to use her fingers like those around her, and from the scooping manner she demonstrated, sounds like she’s got the skill down pretty well. Another “foreigner moment” happens each time the topic of toilet paper comes up. She just bursts out laughing each time someone tells her there’s no toilet paper in the restrooms. Just a bucket of water and a cup. Hmmm? Yeah, too bad I didn’t get a chance to go over a few “survival” skills with her before she left. But she’s managing fine and she still cracks up whenever she’s in a restaurant and she hears a slew of words coming at her in Hindi or Bengali and every so often, she’ll hear the word, “foreigner.” “Yup, that’s me.” She knows they’re talking about her. At one point, she was told to follow, go this way, go that way, and the next thing she knew, she was at a new hotel. That’s just how they roll over there. I’ve been there. I know.

Finally, Supei gushed over the vivid hues of the women’s outfits, her eyes lighting up over how colorful India is. “The bright colors of the women’s saris are so beautiful. The women are so lively with their chatter and warmth, always offering me Chai and wanting to dress me up in their traditional clothes.”

I can’t say enough about my short time Face-timing with Supei—seeing and hearing her enthusiasm of her involvement and her interactions with the women she met in various villages. Supei, I have to tell you, even in your white t-shirt and jeans, you’ve brought a burst of color to India with your smile and your heart to work and help these women. Their lives will be painted afresh because of you and all those working for Nomi Network! Rainbows are on the horizon...and it’s a beautiful thing to see in a world full of so many storms.

What’s Your Slavery Footprint?

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:10:00 +0000

Nomi Network Advisory Board Member Justin Dillon and the staff at Slavery Footprint fuse creativity, technology and social media to mobilize consumers into action. Based in Oakland, California, Slavery Footprint’s mission is to invite consumers into an understanding of how their lives are connected to slavery and equip them with ways to transform the global marketplace. Slavery Footprint is also partnering with International Justice Mission (IJM) and the Polaris Project in a Google funded initiative to further the organizations’ collective missions of ending slavery. Slavery Footprint’s innovative “Free World” mobile app (available on iPhone and Android) and online action center provide an outlet to demand products “Made in a Free World.” While out shopping, individuals can use the app to send notes to brands asking them to check their supply chain for slavery, ‘recruit’ local businesses into the Made In A Free World network and drop facts for others to see. Engaging individuals, their networks and businesses in a conversation about making things in a free world, Slavery Footprint is working to end the most pervasive form of slavery in existence today. For more information go to www.slaveryfootprint.org.

We at Nomi Network are so honored to support Slavery Footprint’s initiative. This month, we have had the privilege of speaking with Slavery Footprint’s Director of Community Impact Fay Johnson to learn more about the app, her involvement, and the future of Slavery Footprint.

What is the mission of Slavery Footprint?

Slavery Footprint is working to end modern-day slavery, specificly labor slavery. By providing a way for individual to understand their connection to this issue, we hope to empower millions of people with the understanding that their voices matter and they can make a difference to end this atrocity.

What inspired Slavery Footprint to make the mobile application as a way to engage consumers?

We wanted to create a platform that allowes people to understand how their story and is connected to the stories of those living in slavery around the world. Abolitionists have always used the most modern communication devises of their time to educate and galvanize the public to action – the printing press, the radio, etc. Today, we can use the technology that is readily available to us to make our voices heard as we call for things Made In A Free World.

Fay, what is your role on the team? What motivates you to be involved in Slavery Footprint?

I am the Director of Community Impact which means I focus on our community engagement. I believe in what we are doing here at Slavery Footprint and I believe that we cannot solely focus on restorative care, we have to also work to prevent individuals from ending up in slavery in the first place. As a consumer, my consumption habits affect others and I want to leverage that influence to make a better world for all those in it – I am passionate about my job because I believe we all have that power. If we collectively work together we can change the system of how things are made.

How many consumers are currently using the mobile application?

Over two million visitors have been on the site. Over 500,000 people are actively participating. We have been blown away to see that people in over 150 countries that have found out how many slaves work for them. We have had quite a bit of activity in France, Brazil, Italy, India, Germany and the Netherlands.

How are stores and retailers taking action to change their sourcing of materials or the products they are selling because of the app?

Today, we are at the beginning of a journey – The individual actions that people take, sending letters to brands, help amplify the demand for things Made In A Free World. It’s an ongoing and important conversation between consumers and the brands that they purchase from. We are excited to see how companies respond, as they get a better understanding of how important this issue is to their customers.

Are there any new exciting developments with the app since the launch in 2011?

Yes! In the past few weeks we have released the 2.0 version of the Free World App and have added new features to our website. Many people have asked us, “what’s next?” and the follow up to knowing that there are slaves working to produce the things you buy is to take action to change the system which allows this to happen. With our new app and online action center, individuals can send letters to brands, fund frontline projects, plan events with their friends and form groups to track their progress.

Congratulations on your partnership with Google, International Justice Mission (IJM) and the Polaris Project! What role does each player play in this initiative?

Thank you. We are honored to work with such amazing organizations. As a staff we frequently comment on how amazing the IJM team is – they do great work from providing legal assistance to advocating on Capitol Hill. We feel the same way about the work that Polaris does on a domestic level. Particularly how well they are managing the National Hotline. Slavery Footprint hopes to bring new people into this movement by telling the story of slavery in a unique way, and will work to provide ways for people to leverage their purchasing power, time and their voice to end labor slavery.

What are the long-term goals for Slavery footprint?

Our goal is to show the demand in the marketplace for slave-free goods. We want companies to see that there are consumers that care about this issue. A new feature of the application is to say we would pay more for items such as soap and bread if they were known to be made without any slave labor. We are most excited about allowing people to raise the voice from the marketplace as actual consumers. It’s said that brands spend $27 per person on market research to learn what consumers want. The Free World app is a way to reach out to the company and tell them that you want to see an end to slavery and that you want them to share your values. For consumers to say they care about slavery and would pay more for an item if it is slave-free provides an incentive for companies to join the conversation of how they can more effectively audit the supply chain.

How can consumers make positive changes and get involved in fighting slavery?

First finding out how many slaves work for you. Then download the mobile. Third, share the story with friends and invite them to be part of the movement to end slavery. The more people that come into the conversation regardless of where they are living, the larger the impact it will have. It’s my goal to get my friends and family using the Free World app every day – I can touch the lives of people all around the world, just by using my phone to make my voice heard.

How could you see Nomi Network and Slavery Footprint working together in the future? And what can our supporters do to support Slavery Footprint?
We are all working towards the same goal – a better world where slavery and trafficking don’t exist. In addition to supporting survivors of trafficking, your network can engage their friends and family by inviting them to use Slavery Footprint. You can even form groups to keep each other accountable and track progress made. We hope that as we all work together, no one will ever have to face the brutality of slavery.

- Lisa Kim and Fay Johnson

GEMS Founder, Rachel Loyd and Girls Like Us

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:15:00 +0000

Rachel Loyd, the founder of Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS), an New York City based aftercare service provider just released the paperback edition of her latest book, Girls Like Us.

Join one of Nomi Network's partners, New York Urban Project in their supportive book launch event on Monday, March 5 at 6:30pm at the Cooper Union in New York City.

Pimps and the Platforms that Support Them

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:11:00 +0000

You may have heard bits and pieces of the debate between abolitionists like Ashton Kutcher and the folks at Backpage.com. Nicholas Kristof recently brought this debate to life in his op-ed piece detailing the story of a girl named “Baby Face,” a 13-year-old from Brooklyn trafficked on Backpage.com. In today’s technologically-saturated society, pimps and traffickers increasingly turn to the internet as a way to make money. In 2010 Craigslist decided to shut down their adult services section after public outcry over the incidents of trafficking on the website. However, Backpage has refused to take similar steps to curb sexual trafficking on their site. Mr. Kristof draws attention to the letter Backpage received last year from 48 attorneys general, petitioning for the shutdown of its adult services section. Sadly, Village Voice Media, the owners of Backpage.com, remain inactive.

Mr. Kristof suggests that Village Voice’s hesitancy stems from the financial interests the company has in the advertisements in this section. The letter from the attorneys general states “Backpage earns more than $22 million annually from prostitution advertising.” Nicholas Kristof provides an important reminder for those of us in the fight against the human slave trade: sex trafficking is not actually about sex, or power, or even men versus women. It is about money. If the sale of human beings were not profitable, slavery would cease to exist.

We commissioned our own op-ed piece on the Village Voice debate by inviting guest blogger, Rajdeep Paulus, to reflect on this issue.

“Whose Voice Really Matters?” by Rajdeep Paulus

When a medical study comes out to announce the benefits of red wine, liquor store sales naturally soar. When similar studies surface about how caffeine is good for you, Starbucks lines run outside their doors. And don’t even get me started about the anti-oxidants in dark chocolate.

Anytime a group conducts a survey or poll, the results no matter how they were achieved, sway the masses. Especially in a world when wrong and right has a decreased influence on how the average person makes their decisions. Justify is the new trend, and unfortunately, justice is more like her long lost twin who gets lost in the numbers.

When I taught eight grade several years back, I asked my students if they would cheat on a test to boost their grades if they knew they could get away with it. Next, would they use illegal drugs if they knew they wouldn’t get caught. Finally, I asked them if they would engage in premarital sex if they could guarantee the avoidance of a pregnancy. The responses were not as I had hoped. Every teen did not care so much or worry about the morality of the issue. Whether the decision broke any sort of law didn’t weigh in as important as the consequences. In each case, several students felt that in the end, the consequence determined their choice.

When a group like Village Voice decides to run a series of articles questioning the validity of the anti-trafficking statistics based on a study here and there that refutes the numbers, they show little concern for the fact that publishing this series downplays the truth of the atrocious realities of child trafficking and sexual slavery. It’s not a matter of right and wrong for Village Voice. It’s a simple choice of what makes the most money.

So in the end, like I’d ask the teens in my classroom, how do you want to be remembered? As one who did whatever lined the wallet with the oldest presidents or as one who stood up for the voiceless and chose right over wrong, even when it costs a shiny penny. Because the last I heard, you can’t take your silver dollars with you past the pearly gates.

Do you have thoughts on the Village Voice debate? We invite your comments on our blog!

- Amanda Chapman

Nomi Network Fashion Corner: Fashion Week

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:48:00 +0000

February is a notable month in the fashion world filled with numerous runway shows and high-profile events spread throughout New York Fashion Week. This year, Fashion Week not only showcased collections from top designers, but also included TheGreenShows, a premier showcase of sustainable design as an official part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Celebrities, editors, designers, and eco-fashionistas attended the event at Lincoln Center to see the vibrant collections of eight leading ethical designers: United Bamboo, Bamboo by United Bamboo, H. Fredriksson, Study NY, The Battalion, Luis Valenzuela, Ajna, and Artists & Revolutionaries. Each equipped with a unique aesthetic and vision, these contemporary designers also are dedicated to the implementation of ethical, sustainable and social principles in the design, sourcing, and production of their collections.

From incorporating recycled and organic fabrics to producing garments locally, the designers create beautiful pieces and share their vision of sustainable and ethical design. One designer, Tara St. James, formerly of Covet, debuted her first collection of her line STUDY. Her sustainable line incorporates eco-fabrics from Moral Fibre, an initiative that supports local weavers in India while sustaining the environment. The luxurious hand-woven wool is produced without harmful chemicals and little electricity. Other collections, such as Artists & Revolutionaries, specialize in using repurposed wool and leather to create new, striking designs. TheGreenShows highlight that high-end design and ethical, sustainable, and social consciousness can beautifully co-exist. As these modern ethical designs become mainstream, more consumers and designers will start demanding sustainable designs.

To learn more about the new platform for contemporary ethical designers, visit http://www.thegreenshows.com/

- Sachiko Pettit

Spotlight on PR Star Caroline Hughes

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:46:00 +0000

From engaging customers at the Union Square Market in the cold with a warm smile, befriending guests and attendees at an event and reaching out to media gurus, Caroline Hughes is always willing to lend her generous hand to boost Nomi Network’s day to day operations. Caroline is currently working full-time at a marketing firm and provides her creativity and expertise in raising more awareness to the human trafficking issue and Nomi Network’s fight to end modern-day slavery. Our youngest enthusiast on the core team Caroline Hughes reveals her motivation to support Nomi Network.

Why did you choose a career in media/ marketing? OR What inspires you to be involved in social media and marketing?

I am very much a people person so I always knew that my future career would involve working with others. I started off in school as a pre-business major and I found that marketing best suited my interests and strengthens. Marketing is a field that is used in many different capacities and I like the variety of involvement and projects it provides.

What motivates you to be a part of Nomi Network?

Nomi supports freedom of women, and a life of freedom is something that every individual should have the opportunity to experience! I wanted use my skills in marketing to help Nomi Network get the word out about how to get involved and be a part of the solution. Marketing is so vital to letting people know what is available to them. Sometimes individuals think that we as advertisers are just trying to sell, sell, sell, but how many times do we as people let our friends know about a good thing when we find it? I tell my friends about a delicious meal I had not because I am jut trying to get them to spend money but because I want them to know about a good thing. I want consumers to know about a good thing. That's why I think marketing is great about getting the word out about a good cause such as eradicating sex trafficking.

How have you grown in your skill-sets in working with Nomi Network?

Since working with Nomi, I have definitely learned more about the human trafficking epidemic, and have grown much more confident and knowledgeable in how to communicate the hard facts as well as the hope that Nomi Network provides to an audience whether it is in-person or in writing.

What is your favorite Nomi product and why?

I love the signature tote! It communicates the message to anyone I may pass and this opens the door for a conversation. It is perfect for carrying anything and everything. Plus, the small pocket on the outside is ideal for holding my keys, cell phone, and wallet so they don’t ever get lost and is easily accessible whenever I need it.

What is the best tool/ advice for reaching an audience on a wide-scale?

The messaging being generated must include two important elements: what is the benefit to your consumers and how is this different from the other offerings among the marketplace. I know this sounds cliché but the product, promotion, price, and placement of the brand should all align and be consistent if a clear message is ever going to spread to an audience. This is easier said than done of course!

What is your favorite Nomi moment and why?

Every moment with Nomi is a good moment. Cheers!

- Lisa Kim

Shopping With Heart Event A Success!

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Valentine’s Day always seems to come up fast! What did you get that special someone in your life? Well, on February 13^th Nomi Network had the opportunity to co-host an event with Same Sky to help individuals answer this question with real heart.

The Same Sky organization, founded by award-winning producer, Francine LeFrak, makes the skill of jewelry making available for HIV-positive women in Rwanda. Through this craft, the women are now able to support their families and pull themselves out of poverty. The beads are specially handcrafted and each bracelet comes with the artisans’ signature.

The event, branded as “Shop with Heart”, was a special opportunity for Nomi Network and Same Sky, two organizations passionate about empowering women, to come together with many of their supports and friends in order to raise awareness. These followers were able to touch, feel, and learn more about the stories behind the products while sipping on drinks in a friendly and hopeful atmosphere. Sponsored by One Group and the Gansevoort Park Avenue, this event took place in the Gansevoort Lounge, an ideal location situated in the center of New York City with an outstanding view.

There was a special guest at this gathering as well, Danielle Doty, Miss Teen USA! Having gotten the chance to speak with her personally, she is truly a picture of beauty inside and out and a wonderful role model. She absolutely loved all the products and we shared one of our bags with her.

As exciting and unpredictable as Valentine’s Day can be, one thing is certain, the reality of providing empowerment opportunities for even more women nations away is becoming closer and closer with each passing moment.

- Caroline Hughes

Network for Change

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Join fellow Christian MBAs and business professionals immediately following the 2012 Believers in Business Conference for a networking mixer. Proceeds go to benefit Nomi Network, a non-profit helping to create career paths for women at-risk and survivors of human trafficking through the fashion industry and economic development.

Date: Saturday, February 4th
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: Public House New York City, 140 East 41 St, NY, NY 10017
Tickets: $20 pre-sale and $25 at the door (includes 1 free drink ticket); cash bar (including $4 drafts, $5 house wine, and $6 mixed drinks)

Purchase tickets here!

For more information please visit www.nominetwork.org.

Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:55:00 +0000

“Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.”

– Martin Luther King Jr. in Letter from a Birmingham Jail

With Diggs and Tweets, product lines and website designs, the modern abolitionist movement has come a long way from the sit-ins and boycotts, the demonstrations and protests of Dr. King’s civil rights movement. The letter of the law stands on the side of the abolitionists in nearly every country on earth. The Civil Disobedience that Dr. King practiced isn’t the answer to today’s struggle to end slavery. In fact, slavery would disappear if the laws were followed.

Centuries ago, the companies with royal charters traded gold, sugar and slaves across oceans. Built on slavery they grew into massive organizations, unstoppable juggernauts backed by law. But the work of but a few abolitionists ended that dark chapter of human history. Those who abuse children, traffic humans and operate brothels must do so in the shadows, must veil their activities with bribes and lies. There remains a great deal of work to do but the tide of battle has turned in the fight against slavery.

With the dedicated efforts of modern abolitionists, we may well see the end of the slave trade in our lifetimes. In light of that coming victory we abolitionists should not only look forward and develop new strategies for the 21st century but also look to the past and draw inspiration from the work of our predecessors.

“We must stand up amidst a system that still oppresses us
and develop an unassailable and majestic sense of values.”

“As long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free.”

–both quotes from his address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ 1967

When we think of slavery in both its historical and current forms, we often think of the shackles, the ropes that bind the victim, the lash and gun that continues to threaten them. But these are only the physical emblems of slavery. The deeper, more insidious form of slavery is a systemic slavery that works invisibly and binds more surely than any manacle ever has. It takes the form of a slave owner telling his victim that because she was raped and brutalized, she is now worthless and should accept her destiny as a slave. It takes the form of slick talking middle men drawing up contracts to impress and bully the uneducated and impoverished into selling away their children. Educational initiatives are a necessary component to fighting slavery but along with an education that translates into economic security, abolitionists must also develop values education. Culture and poverty are strongholds that must be assailed if the captives are to be set free. It is not enough to legislate slavery into criminality.

The values of non-violence and human dignity that Dr. King held forth need to be communicated abroad. Not only to the globalized cities easily accessible via internet and airports but to the places where human trafficking and slavery thrive, in places of deep, global poverty. One fundamental value that must always be communicated is that at no point can a human being ever be deprived of his intrinsic dignity.

“The time is always right to do what’s right.”

– from his speech at Oberlin College, 1964

And so, one final thought on Martin Luther King Jr. and modern day abolition. The struggle for freedom has come a long way but more still needs to be done. There are still 27 million slaves yearning for liberty and if Dr. King has taught us anything it is that injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

- Stanley Lee

Nomi Network in the Press

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:13:00 +0000

The word is being spread about Nomi Network! Recently the holiday season brought about a huge amount of support from bloggers and columnists of lifestyle websites. Here are some brief recaps from some of these exciting features:

“Christmas Shopping The Way It Should Be” was a post featured on JSpace, a Jewish community website with content about events and culture. Danielle, the author of the article, mentions the uniqueness of the Union Square Holiday Market and how supporting these vendors supports local economics. She mentions how buying products from Nomi ultimately is a gift not only for the buyer themselves but also for the greater good.

http://www.jspace.com/guide/articles/christmas-shopping-the-way-it-should-be/6637

Mama Buzz is a growing blog with inspirational articles for women in their day-to-day lives. The site provides a huge realm of information, from recipes to movie reviews. Mel, the author of the blog, is passionate about sharing inspiration to other moms like herself. In the article, she touches on Nomi’s heart behind why it was first started. The piece features Nomi’s founders’, Diana Mao and Alissa Moore’s sharing on their heart to give women a voice. The article also gives information about how one can get involved with Nomi Network.

http://www.mamabzz.com/2012/01/nomi-network-buy-her-bag-not-her-body-2.html

5 Minutes for Mom.com wrote a great article highlighting Nomi’s ‘Sitting Taller Booster Seat.’ This product works great for young children who may need a little help reaching the table. A comfy booster cushion is held in a child sized backpack made of the same unique and durable recycled rice material from which all Nomi Network products are made. The bright colors and ideal size are perfect for children to carry around. When the bag is not carrying the seat cushion it can be used by the children to hold anything they need, from crayons to dolls. Susan, the author of the post, said that she needs one for each of her children now because they argue over the booster seat bag all the time!

http://www.5minutesformom.com/49143/booster-seat-in-a-backpack/

- Caroline Hughes

Nomi Network Fashion Corner: Carrie Parry

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:11:00 +0000

We always have our eyes open for the next rising designer with a commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable materials and practices. Recently, American designer and New York resident, Carrie Parry, has stolen our hearts. Ms. Parry graduated from the Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts in London and has already captured some serious recognition for her ethically minded work. Most recently she won the Category 2 award, plus €15,000 in prize money at the Green Competition at Amsterdam Fashion Week. She also won the Ethical Fashion’s 2011 Innovation U.S.A. Award as well as a spot at the competitive Designer and Agents’ Green Room.

Parry has a very interesting resume including working on the set of Memoirs of a Geisha and with the retro-themed Gifford’s Circus, however the aspect of her work that really made us fall head over heals was her commitment to sourcing her materials for a women’s collective in India. Parry has established relationships with her vendors, including Panchachuli, an independent weaving cooperative in India that employs more than 800 women from 32 villages.

Check out her inspiring but non-pretentious debut collection, “Mrs Montague,” here, including collars, cuffs, and bows that are interchangeable, and add flexibility to this business casual attire. http://www.ecouterre.com/carrie-parrys-modular-eco-fashion-line-lets-you-mix-match-components-at-will/

- Alissa Moore

Spotlight on Aram Bashian

noreply@blogger.com (gobigORgohome) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Our newest male designer, Aram Bashian has brought his creativity and inspiration in designing our newest plaid, stitched wallets and in creating our Spring 2012 Collection. Aram’s design specifications has helped introduce the women we work with in Cambodia to new styles and stitching techniques, and increased their skill-set in producing the latest trends. With his keen eye and passion to eradicating modern-day slavery, Aram continues to lend his expertise to Nomi Network to bring hope and a sustainable future to survivors and women at-risk. Read more about Aram and where he finds his inspiration below.

What brought you to NYC?

I grew up on the other side of the river in North Jersey and went to school at FIT in NYC so New York has never been far from home.

How did you hear about Nomi Network?

I attended a Redeemer Presbyterian Church small group for the Fashion Industry and heard Supei Liu, Nomi’s Lead Product Developer, speak about Nomi and felt compelled to lend my creative abilities to this wonderful cause.

What motivates you to be a part of Nomi Network?

Knowing that when I design for Nomi the gift God gave me is being used to positively impact the world around me.

What inspires your design? What inspires you in general?

I believe that good design must be functional so architecture, vintage garments, and general industrial design/packaging all inform what I create. The double-edged sword of being a designer is that I am always working whether I'm grocery shopping or at a museum or listening to music. Everything is processed through that filter and being picked apart to find something to draw from.

What is your favorite Nomi product and why?

The convertible tote. It’s the perfect marriage of functional design that I love and it’s fit for a guy or girl.

What advice would you give to designers that want to create a cause-oriented product?

Make sure what you bring to the market is 1. Well designed and well priced, 2. Stands on its own and differentiates itself from everything else that's out there, 3. Has a great "story" behind it because people want to connect with what they buy and 4. that your logistics are in order (meaning, how are you actually getting it into your customers' hands?).

- Lisa Kim