Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship: Helping Survivors Build Income, Confidence, and Freedom скачать в хорошем качестве

Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship: Helping Survivors Build Income, Confidence, and Freedom

#nonprofit #womenempowerment #traffickingawareness #domesticviolenceawareness #connection #community #collaboration #inspiration #survivor #fundraising #partnership #resources #support #impact #leadership #hope #podcast What happens when survival turns into vision — and vision turns into opportunity? In this episode, I sit down with Emily Sanders, Founder and Executive Director of Connect to Change, a Sacramento-based nonprofit redefining what recovery and reintegration can look like for survivors of human trafficking. Emily is the 2025 Sacramento Venture Philanthropy Fast Pitch winner, emerging victorious during the event’s 10th anniversary — not just with the most funding, but with a model that challenges how we think about long-term support for trafficked women. Emily’s story is deeply personal. After surviving trafficking herself, she chose an unconventional path forward — investing in her own education, entrepreneurship training, and mindset work before building a program that now helps other women do the same. This conversation explores why traditional “escape, shelter, job” models often fall short — and how entrepreneurship, confidence, and belief can become powerful tools for breaking cycles of dependency. As we recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Emily offers something rare: hope rooted in action, and empowerment built step by step. If you care about innovation in nonprofit work, survivor-led solutions, or sustainable paths forward after trauma, this episode is essential listening. ⏱️ Chapter Summary 00:00 – Welcome & Fast Pitch Victory Emily reflects on winning SVP Fast Pitch 2025 — and the power of intention, manifestation, and community belief. 07:30 – From Survivor to Founder Emily shares her personal journey out of trafficking and the moment she realized recovery had to mean more than survival. 15:45 – Why Traditional Models Fall Short We unpack why many survivors return to systems or the streets — and what’s missing from current approaches. 23:30 – Building the Plane While Flying It Emily explains how entrepreneurship training, coaching, and mindset shifts became the foundation of her program. 34:00 – Inside the Connect to Change Curriculum A breakdown of the five-week cohort model — from AI literacy and coaching to financial healing and community integration. 47:15 – Collaboration Over Competition How partnerships with Women’s Empowerment, The Table, Startup Sac, and Sac State create a bridge from crisis to capability. 56:40 – Funding, Growth & the Vision Ahead What it would take to scale the program — and why empowerment, not dependency, is the goal. 1:06:30 – Human Trafficking Awareness Month Why awareness must lead to action — and how entrepreneurship can change long-term outcomes. 1:12:45 – How to Get Involved Emily shares how listeners can volunteer, mentor, collaborate, or support the mission. 🔗 Learn More & Get Involved 🌐 Website: ConnectToChange.org 📧 Email: emily@connecttochange.org