February 14 - V-Day - End Violence l FUNDRAISERS: Fab Fem l Sarasvàti: So You Think You Can Act

February 14 is also V-Day – a day dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. 

Honor this day and help Polaris Project embark upon our second decade of success.

Polaris Project was founded with the belief that everyday people could end modern slavery and human trafficking. 

Just this week the U.S. Senate passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), cornerstone legislation in America’s fight against human trafficking.

Thousands called and emailed Senators, urging them to make this bill a priority. 

The Senate passed this legislation 93-5 as an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act on President Lincoln’s birthday.

Urge the House of Representatives to pass the TVPRA and help victims of trafficking.

The fight against human trafficking isn’t only waged on Capitol Hill. It’s on our streets. When people see the young girl being abused and sold for commercial sex 

or the nanny who is too afraid to leave the house because she’s been threatened, 

citizens are taking action and calling the Hotline (1-888-373-7888).

Last month, Polaris Project’s call specialists answered a record-breaking 2,850 calls. 

That’s 65% higher than our entire 2012 monthly average. 

In this one month, we:

• Identified 323 victims of human trafficking and connected them to services

• Directly supported 71 survivors 

• Reported 114 potential cases of human trafficking to law enforcement

Here are three things you can do:

• Share the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888)

• Sign our petition to increase protections for child victims of sex trafficking

• Make a donation and help fund our work

Bradley Myles, Executive Director

P.O. Box 53315, Washington, DC 20009

Tel: 202-745-1001, Fax: 202-745-1119, Email

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Feb 20

West End Cultural Centre

Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre's 30th Anniversary and

Fab Fem Fundraiser!

Entertainment, a silent auction, delicious food!

Call 204-477-1123

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Sarasvàti: So You Think You Can Act Fundraiser

February 20, 7 pm 

Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Avenue)

Tickets are $25 and are available on-line.

Winnipeg celebrities who do not have acting experience pair with local actors to perform a scene. A panel of judges will provide hilarious commentary in the style of reality-television competition programming. Ultimately, the audience will vote for their favorite pair! 

This year’s theme is Family Ties – scenes will explore the humor and conflict that we all know exist in family relationships!

Hosted by Lee White (CRUMBS improv group)

Judges: Mariam Bernstein (local actor and director), Ryan Miller (Hot Thespian Action) 

and Robb Paterson (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Associate Director)

Sarasvàti Productions is proud to present the celebrity line-up for its fun fundraiser:

Jenna Khan (Breakfast Television), Jon Ljungberg (comedian), Marcy Markusa (CBC Radio), Ron Paley (Ron Paley Big Band), Kerri Salki (102.3 Clear FM), Desiree Scott (Olympic bronze medalist) and Jeff Stoughton (world champion curler).

“After last year’s amazing success, that saw Ace Burpee take home the trophy, we are excited to welcome a whole new list of celebrities,” says Artistic Director Hope McIntyre.

Funds raised will go towards the spring production of Jail Baby, a partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba.

Petition: Kids are Sex Victims, Not Criminals

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day and Polaris Project is launching a new petition to help protect and support young victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

When minors are involved in commercial sex, they are kids, not criminals. When a boy is sold for sex by a family member, he needs services, not a prison sentence. When a girl is trapped by a pimp who sells her for sex online, she needs protection, not prosecution. Yet, all too often, these children are still arrested and treated like criminals.

Polaris Project is fighting to pass Safe Harbor laws in 2013 to protect these vulnerable kids. These laws define child victims of sexual exploitation as kids, not criminals, and provide funding for the services they so desperately need.

Please ask your friends who don’t know about Safe Harbor laws to sign, too.

trafficked l Polaris Project: the National Human Trafficking Hotline

December 20, 7:00 pm

The Edge Gallery and Urban Art Centre, 611 Main Street

Please join us for an evening of art and education. 

Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar market, bringing in an estimated 

31 billion dollars annually. It is the fastest growing organized crime business, 

currently ranking third after the trafficking of illegal drugs and arms. 

Human trafficking happens all over the world, including Canada. 

It is not someone else's problem. It is our problem as well. 

It's time we start talking about it.

Still accepting submissions, please contact if you are interested.

Younger girls forced into prostitution in economic crisis conference 

Polaris Project runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888)  

Maybe you've already called us to report a young man selling magazines door-to-door, terrified to miss his quota; a truck stop where young teens approach big-rigs late at night; a neighbor's domestic laborer who is never paid for his work.  

Maybe tomorrow you'll stay in a hotel where a young woman came to work as an exchange student but is being threatened with deportation if she tells you that they're not paying her; or this weekend you'll go to a restaurant and learn one of your servers is being forced to work long hours without breaks or the ability to quit. 

If you do, you will want to be prepared. 

It is a tiny step forward toward a world without slavery. 

But people who took that step save lives. Every day. 

Not sure how to recognize trafficking in your neighborhood? 

We can help you learn the signs, 

but the first step is to learn our number: 1-888-3737-888.