1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Freeway Fanom, a production of iHeartRadio, 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: Tenderfoot TV, and Black bar Mitzvah. The views and opinions 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: expressed in this podcast are solely those of the podcast 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: author or individuals participating in the podcast, and do not 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: represent those of iHeartMedia, Tenderfoot TV, Black bar Mitzvah, or 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: their employees. This podcast also contains subject matter that may 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised. 8 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: Here's the reality of missing youth in a sad reality, 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: the reason why you all don't see it. So if 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: you're listening to this right now, I want you to 11 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 2: go on DC's website, police website and look for missing kids. 12 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 3: And I'm missing children that come up. 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 2: I'm going to tell you right now, ninety percent of 14 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: the boys and girls I'm in my program. The hard 15 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: thing is we can't tell you who because these are 16 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: still open cases. 17 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 3: So it's hard when it's trafficking. 18 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 4: The homicide detectives termed the cases the little girl cases. 19 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 4: This child was laying on the side of the road. 20 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 5: I wouldn't go no way, I would call up my house. 21 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: Those first five murders should have been a huge warning 22 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: bell for the police. 23 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: We just want to know what happened. 24 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 4: This person must have saw that. They were thinking that 25 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 4: maybe it's just one person, and he says, uh, they 26 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 4: need to know. 27 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: This is me. 28 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 5: I thought that they would catch him. 29 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: I thought it was just a matter of time. 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 5: I'm Celeste Headley, and this is Freeway Phantom. Over the 31 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 5: course of this season, we've covered the murders of eight 32 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 5: young black girls that occurred in Washington, DC between nineteen 33 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 5: seventy one and nineteen seventy two. Six were confirmed victims 34 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 5: of the Freeway Phantom and two were unconfirmed. In talking 35 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 5: about each of these cases, we've uncovered bigger systemic issues 36 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 5: at play, like racial bias in the media and police response. 37 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 5: But while talking to Henderson Long of DC's Missing Voice, 38 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 5: we became aware of another issue that's sadly too prevalent today, 39 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 5: human trafficking. Today, many of the reports of missing children 40 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 5: can be attributed to child sex trafficking. 41 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 6: Whenever you talk about missing people, you better address trafficking 42 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 6: because it's always going to come up. 43 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 5: In twenty twenty two, twenty five thousand children were reported 44 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 5: to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as runaways. 45 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 5: The Center reports that one in six of those kids 46 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 5: were likely victims of child sex trafficking. 47 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 6: Anytime a young person is missing, they can fall victim 48 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 6: of sex trafficking, they can fall victim to physical abuse. 49 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 3: This is important, whether. 50 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 6: They ran away on their own or whether they were abducted. 51 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 3: It's so important. 52 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 6: And I don't want to minimize structures in the family. 53 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 6: And voluntary when the person leave voluntarily, don't mean he 54 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 6: left voluntary. It's coercion going on from the pimp. And 55 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 6: Tina's going to get. 56 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 3: Into all of this. 57 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 5: Henderson told us about Courtney's House, a DC based organization 58 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 5: that works with survivors of childhood sexual exploitation. The organization 59 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 5: receives dozens of referrals every year. For this bonus episode, 60 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 5: we sat down with its founder, a domestic sex trafficking survivor, 61 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 5: to discuss the issues currently facing other survivors and the 62 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 5: work that her nonprofit does to advocate for and support them. 63 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: My name is Tina Front, executive director and founder of 64 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 2: Courtney's House, is based in Washington, DC. 65 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 3: The mission isn't. 66 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: To rescue right, is to get survivors a place of 67 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: community and encouragement to help them get it out the 68 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: life and that they learned the tools so they. 69 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 7: Won't re enter the life. 70 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 2: It's not about saving people. What the hell that's got job. 71 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: I can't save you, but I can help you and 72 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 2: lead you. 73 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 7: To the water and encourage you to drink it. 74 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 3: That's what I can do without judging. 75 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 5: As a trafficking survivor herself, Tina decided to devote her 76 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 5: life to helping others escape exploitation. She joined advocacy groups 77 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 5: fighting to support other survivors, but it wasn't easy, and 78 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 5: her own journey out of trafficking wasn't quite over. After 79 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 5: years working in anti trafficking nonprofits, she considered going back 80 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 5: into what she calls the life. 81 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: I actually was in a very bad place, couldn't make 82 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: no money, correctly lost jobs. 83 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 7: It was crazy doing all this stuff. Want to see 84 00:04:58,240 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 7: in the Heroes of. 85 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: Water that still I'm doing good because I wasn't supposed 86 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 2: to be there. So I went out on the track. 87 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: This is like two thousand and seven, So I went 88 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: out on the track of track. It's like where you go, 89 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: right if you want to sell yourself. I'll never call 90 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 2: it the sex one because I never thought it was. 91 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 8: So. 92 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: With that being said, it's Chicago. It's one of real winner. 93 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: It is literally five degrees outside, you know, it's people out. 94 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: But what I was paying attention to was I'm just 95 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: gonna walk around and see if any pimps out here. 96 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 7: It's a pemp track, and it was the car start 97 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 7: following me. 98 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 8: It was a pimp. 99 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 2: So I'm like, shit, I can't go home because he 100 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: following me. So I'm like, I'm about to cut through 101 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: the alley. I hear this sound and I'm about to 102 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: run because I think that it's a wreck. It's I'm 103 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: about the hall. But then I'm like, that's not a wreck. 104 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 3: So it was this girl, it was. 105 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 2: Like fifteen, hiding behind the dumpster. And then I realized 106 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: like that Pip was also looking for her. So I 107 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: was like, hey, I'm about to help you. 108 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 3: So I did. 109 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: And at that time, like I really couldn't find anything 110 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: in Chicago, you know that really worked in trafficking or 111 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: really did what they said for. 112 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 3: A place for her to go to. 113 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: But I was able to talk to Foster Care and 114 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 2: like find this placement and then I realized I'm supposed 115 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 2: to go back to DC. 116 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 5: Teni's calling was clear helping survivors like herself get back 117 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 5: on their feet, but she still struggled to find her 118 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 5: place within the system. Her previous experience is working for 119 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 5: domestic trafficking advocacy groups left her feeling burned out and exploited. 120 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 7: I didn't want to start my own organization. 121 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: And when I say that, that's because I was at 122 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 2: another organization and being a survivor is actually pretty hard 123 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: in this movement. Being at this organization, it was difficult. 124 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: I worked ninety hours a week, took care of my mother, 125 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: and also had two small children at that time. And 126 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: when I left that place, I was drained. I was 127 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: mentally drained. So I was feeling pretty down. And as 128 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: a survivor, I felt you sing that, I felt like 129 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: I had another pimphany. It was an organization as a 130 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: black woman, I felt like this movement wasn't created for 131 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: me as a survivor. 132 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: I felt that, and that's crazy because it was off. 133 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: Of my teas of what happened to me that it 134 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: was created off of. 135 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 3: But I was feeling pretty down. So my mom at the. 136 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: Time was like, look, you gotta start your organization, Like 137 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 2: I want you to start my your organization. 138 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 3: She's very religious and I. 139 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 7: Said, uh uh no, that's not no girl, that's not 140 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 7: the science. 141 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 2: Two weeks after that, I get a call from the 142 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: foundation that used to find the organization I was with 143 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: from the housing so they funded this. So they do 144 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: iran it and it came to me and said we 145 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 2: have a grant coming out you should apply for it. 146 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: Got the grant was one hundred and twenty thousand ain hand, 147 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: no staff. So I said, well, why don't you do 148 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: with team to know how to do street over reach. 149 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: So we started with street over reaches like I started 150 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: for other people. Said I'll start that getting people. I'll 151 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: get volunteers and I'll train them correctly and we're gonna 152 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: do real ass street outreach, right like on the pimp 153 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: control tracks on the ground with were pemps at so 154 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: I did. So we did things different. I switched up 155 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 2: the items we gave out every six months. So first 156 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: it was like chapsticks. 157 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 5: Mirrors getting into the neighborhoods themselves, showing up in these communities. 158 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 5: Her willingness to meet people where they were helped establish 159 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 5: Tina and her volunteers as friendly and supportive faces in 160 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 5: the communities. 161 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 2: What made me feel good at night. Like what really 162 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 2: made me feel good was that you would see people, 163 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: they would pull them out and move on past and 164 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: smile and they would say things because you have to 165 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 2: bring a message that's you for them. This is not 166 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: you get in one situation and then you out. We 167 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: had a youth I first met her at thirteen when 168 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 2: they started doing raids. She didn't come to me until 169 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: she was fifteen, but I used to see her at 170 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 2: the raids. And what happened was most of Barby firls 171 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 2: come word of mouth. And I'm so honored by that 172 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 2: because it's other youth in the program to tell their friends. 173 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: And so that's what actually happened with her. She knewed 174 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: so many people that were receiving our services, she decided 175 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 2: to trust us. 176 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 5: After months of hard work securing funding, five oh one 177 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 5: C three status and establishing community relationships, it was time 178 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 5: to find a home base. Tina settled on a house 179 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 5: in the Congress Heights neighborhood of DC. This would become 180 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 5: Courtney's House, which opened in two thousand and eight. 181 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 2: My youngest daughter's name is Courtney and my oldest daughter's 182 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: name is Shaney. For the housing was going to be 183 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 2: Shay and Courtney's House, but I didn't name it. My 184 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 2: mom left that in her will the name, and she 185 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 2: left me a small amount of money to star Courtney's House. 186 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 5: Courtney's House works with youth survivors of trafficking. They come 187 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 5: to the program through referrals and many of them have 188 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 5: been on the Missing Children registry. Tina and everyone who 189 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,719 Speaker 5: staffs Courtney's House had built a robust community in the 190 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 5: DC area, connecting with many of these missing kids who 191 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 5: might otherwise be forgotten by the system. 192 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 2: So if youth are missing, there's two parts of that story. 193 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 2: If they're currently missing right now, foster care, others parents, 194 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: they still refer them to me. 195 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 3: I still look for you from mine. There are sites. 196 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: But more importantly, most of our kids, Norman and people 197 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 2: who are in the life you all, we all know 198 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 2: that it's the same people. So that's my first start. 199 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 2: And because I have a relationship with them, we can 200 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: work with the police and help in that sort. Is 201 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 2: because I usually have more information than the police do, 202 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: So that's one. And I know a lot of different 203 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: places where people put people, so. 204 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 3: That's one too. Henderson Long and I've been thinking a 205 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 3: ways where we can say things. 206 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 2: So behind the scenes I do email Henderson long and 207 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 2: say who's in our program or not and if we 208 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: need their help, but publicly he cannot give that information. 209 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 5: Henderson and Tina agree that when legal terms like trafficking 210 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 5: are turned into buzzwords through media firestorms, the risk of 211 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 5: misinformation that comes with the heightened detention is high. 212 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 2: The way I kind of break down a few words 213 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 2: so that we can understand modern day trafficking, trafficking. These 214 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 2: are buzzwords we've all heard. So the reason why they 215 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 2: came up with trafficking that confuses everybody. Think of the 216 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: other things that are connected to trafficking, right, drug, trafficking, 217 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: oregan trafficking, Guys, it's a government word. 218 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 7: Government doesn't make. 219 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 3: Up new words for things. 220 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 7: They don't. 221 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 3: They added to one. 222 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 2: So then it confused all of you because it's created 223 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 2: by the government and lawyers, not by people. So what 224 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 2: that meant is the charge of trafficking. So that can 225 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 2: mean you walker to came here today to interview me 226 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 2: and I and. 227 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 3: That's what I told you. 228 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 2: But I locked the doors, took everything, and I forced 229 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: you either to clean the drop in center, force you 230 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 2: to have sex with somebody against your will. You're over 231 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 2: the asia eighteen just barely, so then I have to 232 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 2: prove any trickery, any fraud. So trickery, how did I 233 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: trick you to come here? 234 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 3: Fraud? I lied about something. 235 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 2: And then you're over the age of eighteen, so I 236 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: have to prove that you didn't choose it. 237 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 7: If you are twelve or under. 238 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 2: The age of eighteen, then you don't have to prove 239 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 2: any force of fraud. So that's what trafficking is. 240 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 3: Now. 241 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 2: The next thing that confuses people is a pimp and 242 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 2: a trafficker. The reality is a pimp and the traffic 243 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 2: is the same. Pimp is a trafficking charge. They don't 244 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 2: get a pimp charge, they get. 245 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 3: A trafficking charge. 246 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 2: That's the confusion, right because we try to separate it 247 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: because the TV glamorizes pimps. 248 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 7: Oh they're just fun. They had a pimp slab. 249 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 8: They fun. 250 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 7: It's so fun. 251 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 5: But it's not, Tina says. The business of sex trafficking 252 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 5: is much more complicated than most people realize. It can 253 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 5: take shape in various forms, influenced by gender, ethnicity, and 254 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 5: a number of other social and cultural factors. 255 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,719 Speaker 2: I want to break down real quickly so you all 256 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 2: can understand the four forms of domestic sex trafficking. Right, 257 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 2: there's pen control, most people just talk about that. There 258 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 2: is family control. Since the pandemic, forty two percent of 259 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 2: our youth family control. The next thing gain control, which 260 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: you see a lot here of our Latina population, so 261 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 2: you'll see MS thirteen in eighteen street Los Locos, so 262 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 2: that'd be the most popular. And then of course the boys. 263 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 2: And the reason why the categorize that way is. 264 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 7: Because different you go do different things. 265 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 2: Right, you're not traffic the same. So it's very difficult 266 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 2: with the boys because what boy wants to say they 267 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: were sex traffic sexually abused without unfortunately the African American 268 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 2: community thinking their game. 269 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 3: And I'm just it's that's the saddest piece to me. 270 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 5: Tina points out that it's not just a misunderstanding of 271 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 5: the terminology hurting the movement, but also a misunderstanding of 272 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 5: how to combat trafficking as well. Throughout this season, we 273 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 5: talked about how the twenty seventeen hashtag Missing DC Girls 274 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 5: went viral. What began as a way to raise awareness 275 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 5: of several cases involving missic black and brown teenagers quickly 276 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 5: led to complications for the DC's police Department and organizations 277 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 5: like Courtney's House. 278 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 3: But they got everything wrong. 279 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 2: One it was just girls and not all the boys 280 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 2: that were online missing as well, who were also in 281 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 2: my program. 282 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 3: I'm like, wait, it's a whole section on the boys. 283 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 2: They didn't understand the trafficking and didn't even reach out 284 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: to people to help them understand. They just like hash 285 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 2: egg and not. We were furious, our kids was furious 286 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: coming to the center, like not understanding trafficking also made 287 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 2: the kids angry and having trauma. They were literally telling me, 288 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 2: like they always do, Miss Tin, you need to call 289 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 2: them I love them because they think I have more 290 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 2: power than I have. And they're like, you need to 291 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: call them a tellone because it's misinformation. 292 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 3: It's not true. 293 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 2: You heard the cause when you leave out a whole gender, 294 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 2: So the real the kids are missing, like right now, 295 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 2: that is a quick that lasted for a few. 296 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 3: Months, child a couple of months and. 297 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 2: Then that's it and no one cares and the list 298 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 2: has grown more than it was and. 299 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 3: That's what it did. It hurt. And again with the boys, 300 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 3: it's more boys missing right now than girls. 301 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 7: But we're not talking about that hashtag nothing. 302 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 5: And this begs the question, if more young boys are 303 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 5: missing than young girls, why aren't they receiving at least 304 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 5: an equal amount of attention. 305 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 2: They don't want to believe the trafficking good boys. That's 306 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 2: why I think it is. I really think is they 307 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 2: don't like I have to convince people, which doesn't make sense, 308 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 2: and the way I say it just to make them 309 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 2: think always is this. Why do we think we know 310 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 2: that boys are abused just like girls, So why would 311 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: we think, oh, I'll just abuse them but not profit also. 312 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 3: Done like say it out loud. It don't make sense right. 313 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 2: But the problem is the boys are the perfect you 314 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 2: know why they look down The girls will the boys won't. 315 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 5: Tina says racial disparities are another hurdle in the movement 316 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 5: to help traffic teens. These disparities are present in the 317 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 5: legal system, in policing, and even in institutions meant to 318 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 5: provide support the nonprofit organizations. She says, Courtney's House is 319 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 5: fighting against that and trying to set a better example. 320 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 3: I'm part of whole court. 321 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 2: Hope Court in DC is a specialized court for sex trafficking, 322 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 2: so I'm part of that. I don't believe in a 323 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 2: court system that you should go into a court system. 324 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 2: I'm on it so they can get the right services. 325 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 2: At the same time, Courtney's House is trying to shut 326 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 2: it down. Why because it's all youth of color, And yes, 327 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 2: Caucasian kids are traffic here. 328 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 3: They come to me a different way. 329 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 2: They come to me byby firls do through therapists you are, 330 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 2: and they're at private, very well known private schools in 331 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 2: the area. But because I trained therapists, it always comes 332 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: that way. The police returned them home to give them 333 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 2: a therapist, and then they come to me. It's not 334 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 2: that way for you, fo A. People of color are 335 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 2: black and brown. Yeah like that if you look right now. 336 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 2: Most of the organizations are Caucasians that work on trafficking, 337 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 2: that have houses, and most of them are faith based. 338 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 7: Most of them when you go on. 339 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: Their website, will also tell you and no shape because 340 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 2: God led me to this. But God led me to 341 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: this to be sure I had skills. But they say 342 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 2: I just prayed on it all that and God gave 343 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 2: me a house. I've never seen it because they call 344 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 2: me all the time. I've never started a housing the 345 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 2: day of my life. I don't know what to do, 346 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,239 Speaker 2: but God put in my heart to do this, and 347 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 2: I say, in that right, I said, well, God, I've 348 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: also probably told you. 349 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 7: Contact people and contract people that know what they're doing, so. 350 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 2: They don't partner with me. They want to steal my 351 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 2: information for free. They always tell me how they don't 352 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 2: have money for it. So you think these are the 353 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: places I will refer to any of the black youth, 354 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 2: and also all the programs they go to they want 355 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 2: to leave because of the racism, other kids teasing them 356 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 2: that are Caucasian, the staff not saying nothing. 357 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 7: The racism is throughout this movement. 358 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 3: It's very difficult. 359 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,959 Speaker 5: And Tina solution to get involved in every aspect of 360 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 5: the movement, from working on policy to training judges to 361 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 5: implementing a curriculum on domestic sex trafficking in the school system. 362 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 2: I will tell you if you talk to anyone in 363 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 2: this area, they are going to say, Tina, do everything 364 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 2: Hanti you have to, because one needs the other. I 365 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 2: started a youth policy group and it's funded and our 366 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 2: youth get paid. I don't believe in these things where 367 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: they ask the youth and give them twenty five dollars 368 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 2: gift cards to get seventy five dollars every week and 369 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 2: one hundred dollars for all politicians you know they talk to. 370 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 3: First, we worked on because they really wanted to work 371 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 3: on the. 372 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 2: Not legalizing prostitution in DC, so we were able to 373 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 2: block that bill. And right now we're focusing on foster care, 374 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:20,919 Speaker 2: change some policy. Then I am the first faculty survivor 375 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: African American for the National Judicial of Judges Training Center, 376 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 2: So we train judges on like how to identify and 377 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 2: not arresting. So I focus heavily on don't arrest because actually, 378 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: because they're judges, were all over them. Okay, I just 379 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 2: want to tell you how many of them are like, 380 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 2: you know what I do? I just put her in 381 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 2: jail and then she'll talk. And that's actually the behavior 382 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:51,120 Speaker 2: that we try to change other alternative ways. The other 383 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 2: way I work on that is we have a curriculum 384 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 2: coming out in schools not in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, 385 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 2: but twenty three other states, and it is for kindergarten 386 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: through twelfth grade. 387 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 3: I really feel like it all has. 388 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 2: To be a community of understanding what's going on in 389 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 2: our own neighborhoods and what's affecting our kids who are 390 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 2: getting good grades, who go to good schools in the area. 391 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 2: Things about grown people manipulating, so of course any one. 392 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 3: Can get manipulated. 393 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 2: We have to work on five hundred things of changing laws. 394 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 2: If we didn't change laws like we have to write, 395 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 2: because we have to still do the work and support them. 396 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 8: Tina says. 397 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 5: Approaching the issue holistically like this makes a huge difference because, 398 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:44,239 Speaker 5: unlike many other similar organizations, Courtney's House provides support that 399 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 5: lasts four years down the line. 400 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 2: Think about us is several long term program We have 401 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: people right now that are at college and surrounding areas 402 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 2: doing well, went through college, maybe when it became you know, 403 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 2: dentistry work or chefs that we were able to help. 404 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 2: The thing is I get to see the growth, which 405 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 2: I love. We go to their events. I get to 406 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 2: see that they're getting in college. So some of the 407 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: things that we did for two of our youth that 408 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 2: got into college and are going away, we were able 409 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 2: to get a grant and pay for books. 410 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 3: Y'all know how expensive books are, so we were actually 411 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 3: able to do that. 412 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 2: Because we have a fund for scholarships and school items. 413 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 2: We're going to go with one of the youth because 414 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 2: she's in care, so we'll be going with her and 415 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,360 Speaker 2: buying items and setting it up. We helped pick out 416 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 2: her list of what she thinks she wants to do 417 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: right now. So when we say a family, I get 418 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 2: to see all of y'all get to see their. 419 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 3: Children live healthy. 420 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 7: You find a need that they need, and you make 421 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 7: sure you do it. 422 00:22:46,480 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 8: That's what I say. 423 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 5: After sitting down with Tina, she agreed to give us 424 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 5: a tour of Courtney's house. It's a large, two story 425 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 5: house with five rooms, a communal kitchen, and a spacious 426 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 5: living room. We started at the front door, working our 427 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 5: way through the house as she walked us through how 428 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:21,959 Speaker 5: it works. 429 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 2: So Courtney's House, let me kind of start from the 430 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 2: beginning real quick. 431 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 3: We're dropping center. So a driving center is not housing. 432 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 2: So the popular misconception is everybody just need housing and 433 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 2: we can't provide services because they need housing. 434 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 3: Like that doesn't actually make sense. So the reason why we're. 435 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 2: In a house is because I always tell you this 436 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 2: is like their house right there, a center. We just 437 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 2: happen to work out it here. So I think that's 438 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 2: important for a community. But also a lot of our 439 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 2: youth do have placements. You know in foster care has placement, 440 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 2: so they do, some don't. And then here in DC, 441 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 2: so youth age go to twenty four in DC, which 442 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 2: is good. 443 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 3: That's because they had specialized housing. 444 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 2: And what was happening in like the regular over eighteen 445 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 2: houses is they were being sexually assaulted, they were being retrafficked. 446 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 2: So DC had to like do something different, right, So 447 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 2: our ages here are eleven to twenty four. So again 448 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 2: it goes up, so we can find housing for people 449 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 2: who need it because of the youth at that past here, 450 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 2: so more people provide housing. Even though they provide housing 451 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 2: in these places, say we accept sex traffick king, they 452 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 2: really don't do the case management. So you still need 453 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 2: a program to work with them. And again we have 454 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 2: a relationship and usually those programs don't know anything actually 455 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,959 Speaker 2: really about them. So the next part of that and 456 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 2: we work with boys and girls and always have because 457 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 2: of my own experience, so we've always worked with boys 458 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 2: and girls. 459 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 7: At the beginning of Coordina's House almost twelve years ago. 460 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 3: Twelve years ago. 461 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,360 Speaker 2: So with that being said, when you come I'm here, 462 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 2: you're signing right. The other thing is we have because 463 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 2: of the young population. Every day we have your activities, 464 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 2: So we have a calendar that we have with different 465 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 2: activities that the survivor's service coordinators do, so we don't 466 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: say case managers that coordinates house. So if day there's 467 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 2: an activity we have one on ones. One on ones is counseling, 468 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 2: but no kid wants to be like, I can't wait 469 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 2: to go to counseling. It's so great, So we call 470 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 2: them them one on ones because that's what it is. 471 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 2: They get to pick a topic. But I promise you 472 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 2: can pick a topic and I'm always going to be 473 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 2: able to make it back to trafficking. But that's the 474 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 2: good thing is that we say thirty minutes on purpose. 475 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 2: Those are how long the sessions are, but they're not 476 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 2: and that's because they talk more. So it's usually forty five. 477 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 2: So with kids, you gotta be like thirty right to 478 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 2: get them to forty five right. So we do that, 479 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 2: but you earn points. So when I go upstairs, I'll 480 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 2: show you what are like. You know, when you go 481 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,479 Speaker 2: to the subway or get something to eat, and they 482 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 2: have those little cards. You know, my hairstyles got those 483 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 2: and the fifth one you get free, your half off 484 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 2: or whatever. So here we have those cards and they 485 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 2: gets punched when they do group group. It's on Saturdays, 486 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 2: so those are still in online right now and they're 487 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 2: call transitioning your mindset out of the life. Then we 488 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 2: have a boy's group specifically too that's here and it's 489 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 2: thirty minutes. All of them say thirty minutes, but again 490 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 2: they go over of course. So with that being said, 491 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 2: June was prime month, so we also did some prime 492 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 2: Black Lives matters. 493 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 3: And look how it's just artistic they are because. 494 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 2: Girl, I can't ain't not them around none. 495 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 7: So this is some of our work from some of 496 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 7: their things. 497 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 3: We have a lot of no competitions. Won't play with 498 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:50,879 Speaker 3: the no. 499 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 2: And then Thursday we unfortunately had a we fortunately we 500 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,159 Speaker 2: had a pool day, so you know, kid games, light 501 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 2: mintos and sharp and you know, and I think saying 502 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 2: these things and are hide and seek competitions here will 503 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 2: tell you the young population. 504 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 7: So when I say I work with youth, I don't 505 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 7: know why people think the. 506 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 2: Higher age when like our average change is between eleven 507 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 2: and seventeen. 508 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 5: Next, we moved into the downstairs kitchen which leads out 509 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 5: to the backyard. 510 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,400 Speaker 3: Okay, so we eat all together. 511 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 2: We have a dropness center eight that cooks every day. 512 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 3: She's putting a new menu up. 513 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 8: Holda turned my legs on. 514 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 3: She's putting a new menu up. So that's not here. 515 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 2: But we do have all our babies, you know what 516 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 2: their allergies are and such here too. 517 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 3: We had some. 518 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 2: Stuff donated and when it was those high winds. 519 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 3: It tore up our little umbre looon. But this is 520 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 3: our back game. We do all of that was donated to. 521 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 3: We do cookouts and stuff for the kids. 522 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,679 Speaker 2: When it's not a hundred degrees, they like to do 523 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 2: their on the ones outside. 524 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,120 Speaker 5: Walking back inside, Tina tells us how COVID nineteen has 525 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 5: impacted their services, including how they do meal times. 526 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 2: We're open right now since because of the pandemic two 527 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 2: days a week here Tuesday and Thursday. 528 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 3: Twelve to six. 529 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 2: So we say they like to call it dinner, but 530 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 2: it's like lunch and really dinner whenever people come towards stands, 531 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 2: so it's really two meals today. But nothing so here 532 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 2: you're not allowed to use cans to process foods, so 533 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 2: actually everything is clicked from scratch, even the chicken. NOI kets, 534 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 2: everything clicked from scratch, just so they can learn what 535 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 2: fresh food is. And I mean the kids, y'all. I 536 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: still got to force them to eat vegetables. So we 537 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 2: just find new ways. The Dropping center a of doing 538 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 2: that so they'll be able. 539 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 3: To eat things to introduce. 540 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:51,719 Speaker 2: But Thursday I have food from another organization at barbecue 541 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: for the kids. 542 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 3: So that was like a treat. 543 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 2: Chipotle like donate, so we get a lot of food donation. 544 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 3: I'm good at free. 545 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 5: Tina has set up the lower as a hangout area 546 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 5: for the kids. 547 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 3: This is the basement area. 548 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 2: Okay, so there's two bathrooms, once upstairs, once down here 549 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 2: with a shower so people. 550 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 3: Do take showers. We have all this stuff. 551 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 2: They love being down here, and then more artwork and 552 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 2: items for the survivors as well. Gangs you have, like 553 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 2: I said, gang competitions, washing and. 554 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 3: Drying, so people are allowed to wash clothes. 555 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 2: I have a ton of things so they're also able 556 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 2: to get all the toiler trees things. We have clothing 557 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 2: donations as well, and that's another bathroom. 558 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 5: Tina says working with so many kids can be challenging. 559 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 2: They have to clean every two hours here. I mean 560 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 2: I work with kids that do not believe in getting fascinated. 561 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 2: Out of seventy two, we have four youth. That's why 562 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 2: we couldn't really come in because people were getting COVID. 563 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 2: No one stayed in the house. I mean, it's wasn't 564 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 2: the story at all. So I have to do a 565 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 2: thing that we're all fascinated, but all the kids aren't. 566 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 2: So we still take them down the street. There is 567 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 2: a test site, so we take them once a month. 568 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 2: I mean our work with cares go. You can't take 569 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 2: them there fourteen days and ain't gonna have them. And 570 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 2: we go with them, you know, to get tested. 571 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 3: And it's the quick one so that they'll know. Oh, 572 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 3: and movies. 573 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 2: We have a screen, so we usually put something up 574 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 2: and it's usually movies and shows like we've been watching 575 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 2: Grown Ish too, because I love some of their topics, 576 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 2: you know. So and then it's a discussion about it 577 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 2: over food. 578 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 3: I like that, and I make popcorn for scratch because 579 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 3: won't go like a wave. 580 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 5: While walking us around the second floor offices, Tina takes 581 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 5: us through the price system that's meant to encourage participation 582 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 5: in counseling sessions. 583 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 3: Remember they're talking about the one on one survivors. 584 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 2: So every here we say survivors, and I actually don't 585 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 2: like when people say survivors and victims, Like nobody wants 586 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 2: to be a victim. 587 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 3: So you were surviving when you were out on the street, and. 588 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 2: That makes them want to tell you and not say 589 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 2: that they were a victim because then you don't want 590 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 2: to talk about You want to be stronger than that. 591 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 2: So survivors, so they have a grand goal. So the 592 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 2: grand goal when you get your whole chart kind of 593 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 2: feel can be like getting your hair done braided. Boys 594 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 2: love getting their haircuts. So one of the one, you 595 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 2: get one whole punch on your car complaining more than 596 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 2: your car weekly one on one we're on the special treats. 597 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 3: So then you get to pick from grab baggs that 598 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 3: we have of items. 599 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 2: There's a whole bunch of stuff and you'll see a 600 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 2: lot of phone things we got do it because. 601 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 3: Those go quickly. 602 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 7: Complete three consecutive weeks of one on ones and you 603 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 7: win a swag bag. 604 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 2: Then you have like another bag with things they probably 605 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 2: would like and want that they can win that. 606 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 7: Complete four conservative weeks of one on ones and you'll 607 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 7: earn what your grand goal is. 608 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 3: We have big il ticket items for the winner. 609 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 2: Like real ug boots and big ones for going to 610 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 2: all your items. We have a lot of like boy 611 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: boots and things and clothes for them as well, and 612 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 2: some some slash for both boys and girls. 613 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 3: So we got some good prices. 614 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 5: To earn these prizes. She has each person pick various 615 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 5: goals to work towards. 616 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 2: Each child is different, so goals could be things like 617 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 2: that sleeping without a night light because of their nightmares 618 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 2: and how to work on that. It could be learning 619 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 2: how to say no to people, not getting a car 620 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 2: with somebody, So those are some of the Beaconning goals. 621 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 3: These are not. 622 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 2: Goals like school and get straight eggs. 623 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:52,960 Speaker 3: If I can get them to go to school, I'll 624 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 3: be happy. So that's a goal. Went three days a 625 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 3: week like amen. 626 00:32:57,720 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 8: So yes. 627 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 5: Courtney's House is a crucial institution in the Congress Heights neighborhood, 628 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 5: and the work they do extends from the DMV area 629 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 5: through the rest of the country. Every day, Tina and 630 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 5: her crew are fighting diligently to help traffic teens and 631 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 5: eradicate racial disparities in the missing children's system. The work 632 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 5: is tough, funding can be hard to come by and 633 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 5: the staff is often shorthanded. As such, we thought we'd 634 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,240 Speaker 5: end this episode by having Tina tell you how you 635 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 5: can support Courtney's House and all about the incredible work 636 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 5: they do to support their community. 637 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 3: You know, I think the. 638 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 2: Great thing about Courtney's House is that you can support 639 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 2: from anywhere. 640 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 7: Www dot Courtney's House. 641 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 2: We're official ig so on Instagram, we are Official Courtney's House. 642 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 7: Guess what, y'all we got a TikTok. 643 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 2: We don't show the kids' faces, but Official Courtney's House. 644 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 2: Follow us on TikTok. We have TikTok wars every day 645 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 2: with the youth. That's how they alls from one prizes. 646 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 2: So there are a few things you can send some prizes. 647 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 2: We have an Amazon list. 648 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:10,240 Speaker 7: Do you want to know how sixty youth eat food quickly? 649 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:15,600 Speaker 3: We go through snacks boxes daily, so we have a 650 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 3: full food program. 651 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 2: You can donate and help with that, and that is 652 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 2: a true need. We really do run out of food. 653 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 7: We take field trips with our youth. 654 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:24,319 Speaker 6: We have a. 655 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,839 Speaker 2: Witchelift because we do a lot of art projects and 656 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 2: I'm telling you our kids are artists. 657 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:31,759 Speaker 3: So there are some things. 658 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 2: That people offer online We actually had a cartoon artist 659 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:38,319 Speaker 2: offer some free cartoon design online with kids and they 660 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 2: loved it. So think about what you're good at, think 661 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:43,720 Speaker 2: about what you can do out there, and think about 662 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 2: what you can do here because you don't have to 663 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,600 Speaker 2: do direct services. There are so many things you can 664 00:34:48,640 --> 00:34:52,320 Speaker 2: do and help and feel an impact at Courtney's house. 665 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: Freeway Fantom is a production of iHeart Radio, Tenderfoot TV, 666 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,359 Speaker 1: and Black bar MITZVAH. Our host is CELESE. Hilly. This 667 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 1: episode was written and produced by Noemy Griffin. The show 668 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 1: is written by Trevor Young, Jamie Albright, and CELESE. 669 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 8: Hilly. 670 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: Executive producers on behalf of iHeart Radio include Matt Frederick 671 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 1: and Alex Williams, with supervising producer Trevor Young. Executive producers 672 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: on behalf of Tenderfoot TV include Donald Albright and Payne Lindsay, 673 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: with producers Jamie Albright and Tracy Kaplan. Executive producers on 674 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: behalf of Black bar Mitzvah include myself, Jay Ellis and 675 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 1: Aaron Bergman, with producer Sidney Foos. Lead researcher is Jamie Albright. 676 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,719 Speaker 1: Artwork by Mister Soul two one six, original music by 677 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:45,480 Speaker 1: makeup and Vanity set special Thanks to a team at 678 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 1: Uta Beck Media and Marketing and the Nord Group, Tenderfoot 679 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 1: TV and iHeartMedia, as well as Black Bar Mitzvah, have 680 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:55,880 Speaker 1: increased the reward for information leading to the arrest and 681 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:59,800 Speaker 1: conviction of the person or persons responsible for their Freeway fantom. 682 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:03,439 Speaker 1: The previous reward of up to one hundred and fifty 683 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:07,480 Speaker 1: thousand dollars offered by the Metropolitan Police Department has been matched. 684 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 1: A new total reward of up to three hundred thousand 685 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: dollars is now being offered. If you have any information 686 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:17,400 Speaker 1: relating to these unsolved crimes, contact the Metropolitan Police Department 687 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:21,399 Speaker 1: at area code two zero two seven two seven nine 688 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:26,359 Speaker 1: zero ninety nine. For more information, please visit Freeway dashfanom 689 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,680 Speaker 1: dot com. For more podcasts from Ihar Radio and Tenderfoot TV, 690 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:34,399 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen 691 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows. Thanks for listening.