[Pictured is my wearing a black dress and a Dressember pin in front of a bookshelf]

This will be my first year participating in Dressember. That means I will be wearing a dress every day in December in order to raise awareness about modern slavery and fundraise to combat it.

More than 30 million people are enslaved worldwide. It’s more prevalent and more local than most people realize. This is not something that just happens in some remote place you’ve never heard of; it’s happening everywhere. It could be happening next door and you would never know it.

Dressember has raised over 5 million dollars since it was started in 2013. This money helps to fund rescue missions, prosecute human trafficking cases, and provide aftercare for the victims of human trafficking.

I will be sharing daily updates during December on my outifts and fundraising progress. If you would like to donate (any time from now until the end of December) you can do so here! I would really appreciate it! I’m hoping to raise $1,000 which might be a big goal for the first year I’m participating but I’m confident I can do it.

Giveaway

[Pictured is a sign that says “Dressember Giveaway Fundraiser” next to a copy of Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak on a wooden background]

If you want to have a chance to win a signed copy of Bridge of Clay click the above photo and follow the rules on my Instagram post.

Books

I’m also planning to read books about Modern Slavery throughout December to learn more so that I can be a better advocate. For starters, I will be reading the two Diverse Books Club picks, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed and The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan:

[Pictured are a copy of Amal Unbound and a copy of The Bitter Side of Sweet amongst Dressember pins that either say Dressemeber or Ask Me About My Dress]

RuthAnn, one of the moderators of the DBC and the leader of my Dressember team, has reccomended some other books I’m planning to try as well, Sold by Patricia McCormick, The Lotus Effect by Gary A. Haugen, and Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo:

[Pictured are a copy of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a copy of The Locust Effect, and a copy of Sold amongst Dressember pins that either say Dressemeber or Ask Me About My Dress]