The past couple of months have been busy and joyful in the life of our movement. Thousands of
you have raised your voices in urging lawmakers to respond to violence against women and children in Central America. You’ve joined the campaign by signing the “I Am Here” petition, taking to social media
to reach your representatives, and storming the halls of power to meet your Congressional offices in person at the Advocacy Summit in October.
Amidst this progress, there have also been changes within the movement here at IJM HQ that we wanted to share with you.
When I began working at IJM in mid-2008, I could never have predicted the adventure that lay ahead. Over the course of eleven years, we have experienced dramatic legislative defeats and victories, including the creation of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery — something that had only been a pipe dream back in 2008.
We’ve also engaged in the steady, collaborative, day-to-day work of figuring out how to build a movement together, in the midst of drastic changes in our country’s politics and culture — heck, none of us here had even heard of Twitter 11 years ago!
Perhaps most surprising for me personally has been the incredible experience of community that I have found locking arms with you. It has fortified and changed me.
I’m sticking around at IJM, but am moving into a role where I’ll focus on supporting our global team’s advocacy work. So it’s time to pass on this leadership torch, and I couldn’t be more excited to pass it on to my incredible colleague Nate King.
Many of you know Nate, as he has served in the Regional Mobilization Manager role across the southern and central U.S. since 2016 and has led our team’s appropriations advocacy work for the last couple of years. He is a person of great skill and character and he’s the leader who will take this justice movement to the next level of scale and impact.
I am beyond grateful to have had this opportunity to partner with you and the amazing Advocacy & Mobilization team in building the U.S. movement to end slavery and violence against the poor, and I can’t wait to witness the good work, joy and change-making that lies ahead.
Warmly,
Eileen Campbell
It is a joy to continue on with this team in this capacity leading our Advocacy and Mobilization efforts in this country. In just a few short years, you have built the foundation for an unstoppable movement to mobilize citizens, activate the American church and influence elected leaders to bring an end to slavery in our lifetime.
We are just beginning to glimpse what is possible as we build this movement for justice in the United States. I can’t wait to take the next step with you, and I’m
grateful we’re in this fight together.
Until all are free,
Nate King National Director of Advocacy and Mobilization
280 advocates. 35 states. 200 congressional meetings.
Just two weeks ago, IJM advocates set foot on Capitol Hill with the rallying cry of “I AM HERE” to end violence against women and children in Central America. Our time together was filled with passion and purpose, and we have already seen how this act of advocacy has tipped the scales toward justice. More people have added their voice to the petition. More constituents reached out to their elected leaders, and more senators signed on to co-sponsor the Central American Women and Children Protection Act.
If you attended, you can submit a press release about your experience to your local paper. This press release will amplify your efforts by getting the word out to your community and your Members of Congress. We’ve made it easy — download a template with simple instructions and our group photo.
Keep the momentum from the Summit going and urge your friends and family to sign the petition to Congress in support of this life-saving legislation to combat violence against women and children in Central America. We’re just getting started!
Watch Jakelin's story
At the summit we were joined by Jakelin, a survivor of violence in Guatemala. Her story is an incredibly hard one – and one that is all too common for many children in her country. But advocates like you made justice for Jakelin possible.
We wanted to share her story in film with you, and we hope that it encourages you to continue advocating on behalf of women and children just like Jakelin.
Hear Esther’s story on The New Activist
As we head into the end of the year, IJM is focusing on the story of a young girl named Esther, who became trapped in slavery in Ghana when she was just six years old. IJM’s podcast, The New Activist, is delivering a five-part series giving you a 360-degree view into Esther’s life, family and rescue — something we’ve never had the opportunity to do before.
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