Nonpro t
BY ANGELA BONILLA
Rebecca Cary founded Hands of Justice in 2017.
Hands of Justice is aided by volunteers to provide services for human tra cking survivors.
A fundraiser fashion show was held April 19 at the Woodlands Country Club.
PHOTOS COURTESY HANDS OF JUSTICE
Hands of Justice supports human tra cking survivors
Hands of Justice—a nonpro t organization based in Conroe—aims to educate others about what human tra cking looks like and how it impacts people in Montgomery County. What to know Founder Rebecca Cary, who self-identi es as a human tra cking survivor, began her mission in 2017 after seeing there were no resources for other survivors in the suburban area of Houston. “I am a survivor of domestic sex tra cking,” Cary said. “I was tra cked in my 20s. And honestly, when I self identi ed, which wasn’t until about seven years ago ... I started looking for help and there was nothing—there was absolutely nothing.” When looking to select a location, Cary realized there were many resources available in the city of Houston, but not in the Greater Houston area. She chose Conroe for the location as it was also 31.8 miles from Huntsville. Cary said there are no services available for tra cking survivors in Hunts- ville despite the presence of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison and Sam Houston State University, where students are vulnerable. “There’s no anti-tra cking nonpro ts in the city of Huntsville, which I nd appalling, because most of the prisons as well as Sam Houston are there,” Carey said. “And there’s cases of tra ck- ing in that area.” Cary holds the co-chair and survivor position on the board of the Montgomery County Coalition
Against Human Tra cking and served on the Survivor Leader Council for the state of Texas for two years. In May of 2022, she published her rst book, “When Silence Ends.” The approach Hands of Justice partners with organizations such as The Haven, based in the Houston area. The Haven is a nonpro t which works with female teenagers who are victims of sex tra cking and sexual exploitation. The two organizations work together to provide services including support groups and trauma therapy. It is one of the few nonpro ts that o ers services to male survivors. Hands of Justice provides resources such as scholarships, an edu- cation center, advocacy and case management as well as a boutique for survivors to get clothing, shoes or accessories. According to the Hands of Justice website, it has sponsored more than 150 survivors in support groups and educated more than 1,600 people through its education center and resources. It also began empowerment groups this year, training men, women and teenagers to educate the community on human tra cking. The organization o ers education through the community by hosting presentations and events with other organizations. It also holds fundraising events such as a fashion show recently held at The Woodlands Country Club on April 19.
A number of community models took part in the Fashion for Freedom event April 19.
Resources for survivors of human tra cking:
Advocacy and case management services
Community events
Dignity Boutique
Educational center
Scholarships for Texas residents
Survivor-led support groups
Trauma therapy
Volunteer training
SOURCE: HANDS OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION
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