Sound of Freedom

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Transcription: The Sound of Freedom
Charlie McDermott 0:00 It's time for the La Sabrina hair design podcast with Amy button. Welcome back listeners and viewers Charlie McDermott, producer, co host of the show here with Amy. Amy, how're you doing today?
Amy Button 0:14 I'm doing very well. How are you doing terrific
Charlie McDermott 0:17 on this fine Monday. And I found that Mondays are awesome when you're not sick. So the things we take for granted in life, right? Yes. You know, and which really speaks to a topic, a serious topic we're going to talk about today, you know, it's easy to assume Life is good. And it certainly is. And we live in paradise and all that. But there's some things happening in the background, and happen for a long, long time. And there's a recent movie that really took the country on by storm, if not the world, and I know something you want to kind of delve into here. So I'm going to turn it over to you.
Amy Button 1:03 Yeah, so there's a movie in the theater right now called Sound of freedom. And in the salon. That's usually where I get most of my updates on, like, what songs are out or what movies are popular. But this one I knew was coming out the Barbie one took me by surprise, because they didn't know that was coming. But no. Just out of the loop. So yeah, that's where I get my information is standing behind the chair. But yeah, so that may be it has done a fantastic job. And this whole story is about the founder of the operation Underground Railroad, because modern day slavery is still a thing. And there is this organization, one of many, but this one is a phenomenal organization of military men or ex military and they go they create a task force and they go in and they rescued children of humans that are in the human trafficking world being sold as slaves.
Charlie McDermott 2:17 Wow, wow. And the I have I have not seen it yet. But I, you know, I've listened to a podcast here and there and listen to the guest, the producer, I forget his name. So I know a little bit about the story. But you know, So correct me if I'm wrong here, because it's been a few weeks, but it sounded like these agents or whomever they are. It was part of their task force, like you said, but then didn't they get pulled off? And in? You know, the guy decided to just do it himself? I mean, it's, it's pretty amazing. That piece of it that? Are you familiar with that?
Amy Button 3:04 I'm familiar with the organization. I've been following them for years. And then there's some private organizations, even locally that I know some of the safe houses have used, or some of the organizations that we've supported, they've raised funding in order to, you know, hire a task force similar to that. So what I find so inspirational is not only this particular man's sacrifice, because he did, he basically said no to a lot of things, so that he could say yes to this issue. But it's inspirational to see somebody be so passionate about the topic, but then meet that passion with action. And I think that's usually when you see a big a big difference is made.
Charlie McDermott 4:04 So southwest Florida can't be happening here. Right. I mean, this is we're, like I said, Paradise. We're protected. This is this is stuff that happens in other parts, maybe along the border in Texas, things like that, right.
Amy Button 4:23 That is the common way of thinking yes, but unfortunately, it's everywhere. I mean, there's really nowhere to go to escape it. I know like on a world scale. I mean that it's an issue. It's been an issue for years, but unfortunately right now in the United States. It is next to drug trafficking. It is the biggest, I think they're tied right now for the biggest issue crisis in America. That means it's happening in everybody's backyard. And because we're in a touristy low Patient, that's where money is. And so therefore, that's where a lot of the victims are being found. Or, you know, the I don't want to call it a need, but like they are fulfilling something is being purchased here is what I'm trying to say. So, yeah, it's definitely happening in our backyard.
Charlie McDermott 5:27 And where are these victims coming from?
Amy Button 5:31 It's a lot of different kinds of places. I mean, the other way of thinking is, and I think even in the movie, they touch on this particular aspect, where it's, you know, kids being smuggled across the border. So they're not American citizens. But that's not just the case, either. I mean, we have we come across survivors that they're born and raised Americans, and they're found in the school systems and foster homes. You know, runaways will usually be learned in by somebody that's good at and trapping people in Hollywood, or anywhere where people are, you know, trying really hard to reach a point of fan of famous, they are willing to compromise certain things. And so that's exploited. The other area is any type of pornography, we think that you know, people chose that way of life, or at least that's the normal way of thinking, but a lot of times that is coerced, or somebody's blackmailed into doing that for profession. And so that fits under the umbrella of human trafficking as well. Most of the time, these people aren't getting paid, we think that it's a career and they're getting paid for it. And a lot of times, they're not, they're stuck.
Charlie McDermott 7:05 Wow. How did you get involved in all this?
Amy Button 7:11 Um, it, I had heard about it being an issue in the States, I'm trying to think what the year was, I think it was around 2009. Somewhere in there, I had gone to like a women's conference, and somebody had gotten up to try and raise funds for a safe house, and I just could not shake it, like it, I was losing sleep over it, I had two little girls at home, it just, it kind of rocked my world, and then wasn't going away. And so I was, you know, kind of in this place of okay, well, then, if I can't shake it, then I need to do something about it. Similar to what I said earlier, being able to take something you're passionate about, being able to like put some action to it, is extremely helpful. And so for the listeners too, and when I tell people behind our chairs, you don't all have to be the next founder of the next operation Underground Railroad. I'm not belittling that at all. But there are a lot of practical things that we can do that put action to, to the issue to the passion behind trying to get, you know, these girls safe and boys and girls, it's not just girls. So, yeah, practical ways with one, go see the movie. I know a lot of people are concerned, like maybe they want to watch it at home, just in case it does feel a little too heavy, if you can't make it through the movie, and you need to like pause and take a break. They do also sell like T shirts, or you can even buy tickets for people. And so then you you're you're purchasing a movie ticket and somebody who wants to go in might not be able to go, they can use that ticket. You also can look up the organization and there's ways to give directly to them that way. And then there's we have two galas coming up for two of the nonprofits that we are supporting as a salon. And their tickets are both launched and up for sale. One of them is for IBM fuse, which can be found on their website. And that gal is and the end of September and then path to freedom has a gala in January. And again tickets are on sale for that and that those are great opportunities to should put a little bit of action and might even open up doors for other opportunities if we're wanting to help out Tell
Charlie McDermott 10:01 me where did those funds go?
Amy Button 10:04 So the funds for which thing,
Charlie McDermott 10:07 my updates, will take them one at a time that the the one coming out the event coming up,
Amy Button 10:14 the events coming out. So I know both organizations have each of those galleries, they're raising funds for different things. And I don't want to get them wrong. I do know the one in January, I believe they're raising funds because they need a second safe home. More of a home that is designed for those who need a lot more attention than what they can do. At the safe home they currently have. So it would be a great starting point for somebody that needs a lot of extra help before they move to the other ones. So I know they're raising funds for that. And then the I am fuse, that gala that's coming up in September, which is coming up quick. So if anyone wants to buy tickets, I would hurry. But they're trying to raise funds to get their first location, their first brick and mortar, they're doing so many amazing things as far as linking survivors to resources and the things that they need, but they don't have a physical place yet for them to come and maybe sit down and have a counseling session, or they do a lot of job training opportunities where you're giving the survivors a lot of different tools to move forward in life, it would be really helpful for them to have a place to hold those meetings.
Charlie McDermott 11:43 And then the safe f8 or the safe house, Amy got in what's the How long does one stay there? Or how does that work?
Amy Button 11:54 It really depends on the situation. It depends on the age. And it just also depends on how how much each individual needs to feel first safe and then be able to build on that. Because the goal is always to have, you know, them independent. I mean, their their goal is to be free. And such, like you said there's so many things we take for granted. And freedom is definitely something that most of us take for granted.
Charlie McDermott 12:34 Awesome. Well, what, Amy, share those two events, again, for your listeners so they can make a note of that.
Amy Button 12:42 Sure. So I am fuse. And they have a gala, I believe it's September 30. And then path to freedom is the next gallon that's in January.
Charlie McDermott 12:58 Super, super. Anything else we should know anything else come to mind.
Amy Button 13:05 I think sometimes we forget even just the day to day inspirations that we can be for another person. I had somebody a long, long time ago, I was sitting in a church service and our pastor was preaching a sermon about if you ever want to be great, then you need to make somebody else great. And I think that's such a little great piece of something to hang on to. I know it's changed the way I kind of look at my day to day. And sometimes you don't know like, one of the biggest inspirations for me was I had the most amazing hairdresser as a little girl and she made me feel it didn't matter how little I was, I think the first time she cut my hair must have been like five or six years old. But she would get down on my level and she looked me in the eye call me by name made me feel so loved even at that age. And we still had a relationship. I think when I got my driver's license, she was the very first person I went to see. To show off my driver's license is such a big deal. She made a huge difference in my life like and she probably is one of the reasons why I became a cosmetologist because she just made every single person feel so loved on and that little tiny action. It didn't have to be this grand thing. I just Unbeliev she went to work every day with that mentality that you know, if she wanted to do something great or be accomplish something great and she needs to make someone else great and it didn't matter. I was six years old.
​ Charlie McDermott 14:47 Wow. neat story. Hello, Amy. Thanks for all you're doing and sharing this important message and we'll we'll continue to talk about the events and future Episodes and speaking your watch until then you have a great rest of the day there, Amy. Thank you. Thanks for listening to the law Sabrina hair design podcast. To learn more about my Sabrina hair design experience. Go to www dot raw Sabrina hair design.com that's www dot L A s AP r i n a hair design.com or call 23953793156