A Letter from the Founders: 2009 Reflections

Dear Supporters,

Happy Anniversary!  This Valentine’s Day, Polaris Project celebrated eight years of combating human trafficking.  V-Day has always been our B-Day, a conscious choice to commemorate the importance of living in non-violence and with love for our neighbors.

Every year, we ask ourselves sobering questions to track our progress in this fight:  What would this world look like if we did not exist this past year? Have we made any unique contributions that significantly helped to change the systems that perpetuate modern-day slavery?

During the last eight years, Polaris Project piloted victim outreach methodologies to increase the effectiveness of finding victims in our communities that are now practiced more widely throughout the anti-trafficking field.  We advocated for changes in policy to better protect U.S. citizen victims of human trafficking at a time when it did not seem politically feasible.  We proved that it was possible to operate in a multi-cultural setting, serving victims of all forms of human trafficking regardless of culture or nationality.

We worked with government and non-government organizations across the country to help strengthen local task forces and coalitions, helping to create a national infrastructure that can now better respond to cases of human trafficking.  And we took on the challenge of coordinating a comprehensive national human trafficking hotline that has helped triple the number of potential victims identified in the United States over the last two years.

We could not have done it without our government and non-government partners in the field.  And we could not have done it without you.

This particular anniversary coincides with the celebration of the Year of the Tiger – ringing in the lunar New Year that honors courage, passion, and resilience.  While we have much to celebrate at our eight-year mark, we are also mindful of the sacrifices many people made to join us on this bold journey.  Courage, passion, and resilience were critical during our early days, especially when challenged with the naysayers and critics, as well as the physical and emotional fatigue that accompanies this trying work.

We begin this Year of the Tiger with a spirit of celebration and renewal, excited for the continued progress we will strive to create this year.  We are also mindful of the importance of community support that allows us to maintain the innovative and courageous spirit with which we were founded.   We look forward to spending this upcoming year with you and sharing more victories in the fight for a world without slavery!

Sincerely,

Katherine Chon and Derek Elllerman