Brightstar Community, Inc.

Decades of physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and chaotic home life create major vulnerabilities that can lead women down dangerous paths. With few resources to overcoming their trauma, finding safe housing and making a suitable income, these women are perfect targets to get coerced into sex trafficking, prostitution and abuse, with no way out. Our community still has more work to do in bringing awareness to these issues and understanding that prostitutes are often victims of sex trafficking. Brightstar Community is a sister organization of the very successful Thistle Farms nonprofit which was founded in Nashville, TN, by Episcopal priest Becca Stevens over 20 years ago. This program was designed to heal, empower, and employ women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Becca’s program has been so successful, it has become a model and inspiration for similar recovery programs around the country, including Brightstar Community. ​ Our program focuses on four key elements to provide optimal care for our future residences and prepare them for their bright futures: 1. Residential: A two-year residential program based in Monroe County, NY that provides housing, medical care, therapy, education, and job training – free of charge for women looking to recover from their trauma. We partner with community organizations to provide complete care for the residents. 2. Social Enterprise: We create a social enterprise to help the women learn workforce skills to help support themselves for when they have graduated from the program. 3. Community Education: We work to educate the community about abuse and sex trafficking. We are dedicated to building awareness in order to prevent these issues from happening in our area. 4. Community Partnerships We collaborate with local organizations to provide our residents with healthcare, education, therapy, networking and additional care.

Brightstar Community’s mission is to help women survivors of sex trafficking, prostitution, abuse and addiction find healing, hope, and freedom. We do this by providing safe and supportive housing, the opportunity for economic independence, and a strong community of advocates and partners. We believe that in the end, love is the most powerful force for change in the world.