🚨 Today, I'm pleased to announce that we're expanding the Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking to include domestic violence. The office, which was created in 2015, will now be called the Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence.
Recognized as a leader, the office has been asked to train mayors' offices across the U.S. and some international governments on Houston's unique municipal response to human trafficking.
We are adding domestic violence to this office's responsible because both domestic violence and human trafficking are forms of gender-based violence.
We know the stresses created by #COVID19 have increased the risk for domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse for women and girls nationwide.
In the last few months, @hawctalk has reported a 40% increase in calls and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse reported a 90% increase in request for protective orders.
The first step for this new office will be to launch the MAKR Collective in partnership with Magpies and Peacocks.
MAKR Collective is an independent Maker Entrepreneurship Program and will offer tracks to sew, cut patterns and use remote visual learning techniques.
We will host two information sessions, including one in Spanish, on September 15 before our anticipated October 1st launch.
MAKR Collective will be set up to transition 6 clients per month into the program for the 3-6 month pilot period. In addition to the upskilling, it will offer a broad range of logical, financial and therapeutic supports to ensure participant success.
In addition to working on economic empowerment of survivors through innovative programs like this, we'll also pursue additional avenues for economic security, dialogues on gender equity through community & civic engagement, focus on services deserts & changing cultural attitudes.
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