[photo by katie basbagill]

There is power in our stories. A face, raw emotion, personal experience. A story can't be argued with - a person's journey is their truth. It is what the world has presented to them, brought them through, and it is the eyes in which they have chosen to perceive the experiences of that which we call life. A story has the power to break the hardest of hearts, and to bring humanity to a situation that maybe once had been part of a different realm than that which you and I live in.

I believe in the power of stories. I believe that change begins by telling our stories. I believe that behind our stories lies a common ground in which we are all eager to meet one another. A place of discovery, of identity, and of belonging. We learn from each other's stories, we are inspired by each other's stories, and we are introduced to new worlds and ways of thinking through the power of story.

The SOLD Project is exactly this: a story. Many layers of story, actually, piled up on top of one another. Stories are never simple, are they? SOLD is the stories of women and children who's lives have been exploited. Children who have watched their family members and friends sold into lives of prostitution. Children who themselves have been forced to the street because they were parentless and vulnerable. Stories of women driven to work in the red light areas of cities to provide an income for their family. SOLD is the story of hope found in the lives of people broken by these stories who have dedicated their lives to fighting for change. It is the story of healing in recovery, and hope in prevention. It is the story of people like you and I, inspired by the stories of women and children stuck in lives of exploitation, wanting to advocate and give a voice to those who are vulnerable. To read the stories of people reacting to this issue... visit our Re:Act page, and be inspired.