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When the Good People Fund asked me to write about unexpected connections, the question threw me for a loop. The pandemic made fundraising more difficult and prevented me from going to Ghana in the summer of 2020. How was this anything but negative?
However, I realized that many positive changes to BTCTE occurred during the pandemic. I had the opportunity to step back and reevaluate the organization and how better to help victims of trafficking.
Since I wasn’t able to travel to Ghana in 2020, I reached out to our social workers and beneficiaries more frequently. This led to a deeper knowledge of the inner workings of the organization and resulted in important changes with our staffing and the allocation of various roles and responsibilities.
As an organization, we are much stronger than ever. In June 2021, I was finally able to return to Ghana and visit for the first time in two years. The love I felt from my beneficiaries and the progress they have made filled me with an unbelievable sense of pride. I was so happy to see boys that I knew become young men running their own businesses, and girls I knew are now thriving as women in university and pursuing careers.
In Their Words: The Pandemic
Inspiring stories of how grantees are responding to COVID with our help.
“… Many positive changes to BTCTE occurred during the pandemic. I had the opportunity to step back and reevaluate the organization and how best to help victims of trafficking.“
— Evan Robbins, Breaking the Chain Through Education
“Seeing the disparity in this time of crisis fueled my passion to help and engage others to help all the more.“
— Paul Muratore, Connections Mentor
“Coming out of the pandemic, we will continue to connect Detroit Horse Power’s work in our region to the national effort to create pathways for under-represented communities.“
— David Silver, Detroit Horse Power
“I have a deeper resolve in the sacredness of reflection and rest — the two coupled together make me a better leader, social entrepreneur, and Good Person.“
— Courtney Smith, Detroit Phoenix Center
“I feel I have seen the best of us — and I am hopeful.“
— Pam Koner, Family-to-Family
“The rest re-energized me physically and mentally, and reminded me of the importance of taking care of myself so that I’m able to continue taking care of others.“
— Abby Sondak, Just Imagine
“Despite working with community-based resource centers every day, I did not realize how critical these places were until the pandemic took them away.“
— Max Levitt, Leveling the Playing Field
“Although we all look forward to frequent in-person gatherings, the pandemic has brought to elders truly unexpected connections.“
— Irene Zola, LiLY — Lifeforce in Later Years
“I am trying hard to become one of the good people. I am uncertain as to whether my efforts will succeed, but I am convinced of the nobleness of this struggle.“
— Stuart Chesner, Magen
“… Connections with new individuals and communities provided us with a sense of hope that we can continue to make an impact.“
— Dr. Michal Wosner, MARVA
