Mosaic is in Motion to STOP THE ABUSE!

Want to be a part of a social movement (literally)?

Mosaic Family Services is pleased to announce our 2nd Annual Mosaic in Motion 5k and 1 mile run to STOP THE ABUSE! Since this is our second running event, we decided to celebrate by using a tagline that would encompass ALL of the programs that Mosaic houses, including:

Services for Victims of Human Trafficking
Multicultural Legal Services
Multicultural Family Violence Program
HIV Early Intervention Program
Refugee Case Management Services
Immigrant and Refugee Counseling Services
Multicultural Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Mosaic House (transitional house for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking)

As you can tell, our services are as diverse as the people we serve! But they need YOU to:

1. Participate in the event as a runner/walker/virtual walker.
2. If you own a business or know someone who does; we needs SPONSORS!
3. If you are a college student, help us to distribute our event flyers and brochures/spread the word in any way you can on your campus!
4. Tell everyone you know about the event (by word of mouth; invite them using this event on our Facebook page; "share" this blog; change your profile picture to our Mosaic in Motion logo; etc.)
5. Get your friends and family registered!
6. Show up on May 14th ready to HAVE FUN!

For more information and to register online, click here.

Check out our beautiful venue for the race:





WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

Upcoming Super Bowl Raises Awareness for Human Trafficking

The upcoming Super Bowl 45 is raising awareness for human trafficking. As many football fans (particularly men) will be coming to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for the big game, many anti-human trafficking advocates worry that the demand for commerical sex will increase, thus raising the demand for trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation.

Similar concerns have been raised for major sporting events, including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this past June-July. With the new arrival of about 500,000 foreign fans to South Africa, as many as 40,000 were thought to be "sex workers" who were seeking economic opportunity from the surrounding impoverished countries, particularly Zimbabwe as well as from abroad. Because they presented themselves as prostitutes, it is hard to determine if they were coerced into commerical sex work or not. Many people consider prostitution to be a form of human trafficking because no one could "choose" that life and pimps often control the women. With the definition of trafficking being controlling, forcing, or threatening someone into labor or sexual services, many anti-human trafficking advocates debate as to whether prostitution is actually human trafficking or not.

So with the Super Bowl around the corner in February, many think that the same thing will happen right here in North Texas. Texas State Attorney General, Greg Abbott said "the Super Bowl is one of the biggest human trafficking events in the United States." View below video of the Fox News interview with Mosaic's Deputy Director, Bill Bernstein.

TABC Gets Proactive for Super Bowl 45: MyFoxDFW.com

The key to preventing human trafficking is awareness and education. Many people have been inquiring as to how they can help; We need your help in educating our community! There are many ways this can be done:

To start, you can...

• organize a group in your community to volunteer with Mosaic (volunteers are vital to providing services!)
• request a speaker from Mosaic to present on human trafficking.
• organize a showing of a documentary/movie about human trafficking, such as Cargo, request an entry fee and donate proceeds to Mosaic.
• learn how to recognize potential trafficking victims and how to report

(24 Hour Trafficking Hotline= Locally: 214-823-1911; Nationally: 1-888-373-7888).

TWU Social Work Students Make a Difference at Mosaic House

Beginning in June 2009, six students from the Texas Woman’s University social work program began volunteering with us for a class project. The students began by visiting our agency and identifying some of the shelter’s essential needs. They chose to adopt one of the shelter's units and update the unit with new bedding, decorations, bathroom accessories, and kitchen supplies. The students worked diligently and held a garage sale to raise money to purchase new items for the unit adopted. In addition to the garage sale, the students collected items needed by the shelter clients, including clothes, shoes, hygiene items, toys, baby items, and children's car seats. The students also created hygiene gift bags for the women and children currently residing in the shelter as well as additional bags for future clients.

The students had a celebration party on August 6, 2009 where they revealed their final renovations to the adopted unit. The students partnered with several local companies to donate drinks, food, and a bounce house for the shelter clients to enjoy during the ceremony.

A big thanks to TWU Social Work Students Elizabeth Cuevas, Pamela Martinez, Dawn Coley, Esther Espinosa, Belen Fuentes, and Cassondra Jones!

Project 7 Volunteers at Mosaic House

Members of the group Project 7 volunteered at Mosaic House on July 10, 2009. The group painted the shelter's exterior and helped replace window screens and blinds. Project 7’s basic mission is to “Change the Score," and the group strives to build a better world by creating a collective awareness and improvement in the seven areas of need. Project 7 has a special interest in helping victims of human trafficking in Dallas as one of the group's seven causes: Heal the Sick, Save the Earth, House the Homeless, Feed the Hungry, Help Those in Need, Build the Future, and Hope for Peace.

Project 7 Volunteers at Mosaic House

For more information on Project 7, please visit their website at http://www.project7.com.

The Baron and Blue Foundation Supports Victims of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking

The Baron and Blue Foundation awarded Mosaic Family Services with a $5,000 grant for our shelter Mosaic House. This funding will be used to help provide supplies for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking residing at the shelter, including food, clothing, and utilities, and would help cover the staffing costs of our 24 hour hotline.

The Baron and Blue Foundation strives to enhance the function of non-profit organizations in the Dallas Community by assisting to maintain existing programs and further opportunities for grassroots organizations focusing on homelessness, transitional housing and the needs of the underserved.

For more information on the Baron and Blue Foundation, please visit their website at http://baronandbluefdn.org.

Wilshire Baptist Church Youth Group Volunteers at Mosaic House

The youth group at Wilshire Baptist Church volunteered at Mosaic House on June 30, 2009 and July 7, 2009. The group was a huge help at the shelter, and the staff and residents appreciate their hard work. The group painted inside the units, cleaned off the playground equipment, organized the clothing closet, and helped clean the apartment units.





Thank you to the Wilshire Baptist Church!

For more information on the Student Ministry of the Wilshire Baptist Church, please visit their website here.

Mosaic House Receives Support from The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust

Mosaic Family Services has received a $30,000 grant from The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust. This generous grant will support Mosaic House, which provides comprehensive, holistic services to immigrant women and children who have experienced domestic violence or human trafficking.

The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust supports organizations that assist with education, health, arts and culture, science, relief of human suffering, and youth and social services. The Trust focuses its philanthropy in the state of Arkansas, and in Dallas County, Texas.

Part of this funding from the trust will be used to purchase new bunk beds, coffee tables, and living room chairs for each of the apartment units at the Mosaic House shelter facility. The increased awareness of our services in the Dallas area has led to a rapidly-growing number of victims served by Mosaic House. The number of residents served increased by approximately 27% in the past year. This growth has led to increased traffic at the shelter and high wear-and-tear on the furniture in each unit. Funding from the Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust help us meet the high demand for shelter services and provide brand new furniture for residents.

Thank you to the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust for your support!