This section was copied and pasted from the Elijah Rising website:
ELIJAH RISING was founded in 2012 as a prayer gathering that focused on ending sex trafficking in Houston. Across Houston women and girls were being sold for sex, but there was little outcry. Elijah Rising began hosting Van Tours and showing the public the injustice happening across our city.
In 2013 Elijah Rising negotiated the closure of a brothel (Angela's Day Spa) and converted it into its headquarters. In 2014 Elijah Rising launched the Museum of Modern-Day Slavery. Now the same building that used to be a brothel houses one of the nation's few museums dedicated to exposing the brutal realities of sex trafficking and exploitation. The museum allows the public to explore what it looks like inside a brothel, and it displays a collection of artifacts and information from the fieldwork conducted by Elijah Rising staff and volunteers.
Elijah Rising also leads volunteers on Interventions in Houston and the surrounding areas multiple times a month. Through outreach into the brothels, sexually oriented businesses, and streets we provide women with resources to leave the sex industry.
As Elijah Rising's mission expanded a new facet was added with the purchase of Kendleton Farms: a residential program dedicated to the restoration of survivors of sex trafficking. Kendleton Farms is a faith-based program that provides housing, trauma-informed counseling, and a caring community of support for survivors of sex trafficking.
My review: On Tuesday evening I took a Van Tour provided by Elijah Rising. The tour began at 7pm and was about 2 hours long. This can give or take. We first went inside the establishment (which used to be a brothel) and walked through the museum which brought tears to my eyes. You think you may know what's all involved in human trafficking, but just wait until you walk inside Elijah Rising. You just know the tip if the iceberg, Personal stories are depicted on the walls and artifacts are placed in rooms. Information about the Houston issues are depicted in each room. You learn that woman are trafficked here from all over the world. Many are brought to the US in trucks or vans crossing the border from Mexico (however they may or may not be of Mexican decent).
Next Micah began the tour in the prayer room presenting us with a slide show and taking questions. Every question that was asked she was able to answer with full knowledge.
We then loaded in the van and drove around areas by Chimney Rock between 59 and Richmond. We saw a hand full of "massage" parlors there. She then took us by the Strip Club TREASURES which is a prime location for prostitution and has been sited many times. We then drove down 610 to Telephone road. Parlors are lined up side of the highway along Telephone road. In one section there were about 4 side by side. Along the way we learned how difficult it is to close these facilities. It takes years of investigations and they have to have women who are openly willing to testify. The traffickers are also never ever on site.
How you can help: Donte, adopt a project, host a work day, join the freedom circle, helping on Kendeldon Farms, Raise Awareness, come too an intervention. I would highly suggest starting by going to their wevbsite and taking a van tour. This is a must for anyone who lives in Houston!
Go to Elijahrising.org for more information. read more