Carolyn Harding with Esther Flores and Molly Cruz, on the front-lines of human trafficking in Columbus, Ohio.
Esther Flores founded 1DivineLine2Health, a 501c3 public charity, gathering medical supplies for local and international clinics.
In Columbus she operates two safe houses that serve survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and addiction. Her team supports sex workers on the streets by feeding and providing first aid, Narcan, clothes and she operates the Love Drop-In
Center. In January 2021, she opened the first full-time Drop-In Center for women, their children, and transgender folks caught in the dark world of human trafficking. She created the Hilltop Butterfly community garden and in the summer produces the Camping in the Hood is Good event. Flores received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from The Ohio State University, a bachelor’s degree in Physical Anthropology, Biology and Chemistry from Lehman College, and an MBA in Health Care Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is an advocate for the Ohio Health Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio and a certified Trauma Informed and Responsive Trainer by Tristate Trauma Network.
Molly Cruz is a certified peer supporter and a survivor using her lived experience to help other woman in crisis. She’s currently studying to get her bachelor’s in addiction recovery services through Clark State including her Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA). She has been working at 1divineline2 health for 5 months and it has been the most rewarding and simultaneously heartbreaking work she’s ever been a part of.
Just yesterday a Columbus man was indicted for five felony counts, human trafficking in persons, rape, compelling prostitution, promoting prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation of a minor. Last weekend was the Arnold Sports Festival which spikes human trafficking in Central Ohio, and in October, 2021, “Ohio Knows” the largest human trafficking sting in Ohio history, a net 161 (including a city councilman, a fire fighter, a college professor) arrested for attempting to buy sex.
You work is on the front lines of this crime. Your work is a bright light of hope, help and belonging for the victims of human trafficking.
What do you need?
How can we help?
1dl2h.org
GrassRoot Ohio - Conversations with everyday people working on important issues, here in Columbus and all around Ohio.
Every Friday 5:00pm, EST on 94.1FM & streaming worldwide @ WGRN.org,
Sundays at 2:00pm EST on 92.7/98.3 FM and streams @ WCRSFM.org, and Sundays at 4:00pm EST, at 107.1 FM, Wheeling/Moundsville WV on WEJP-LP FM.
Contact Us if you would like GrassRoot Ohio on your local station.
Check us out and Like us on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/GrassRootOhio/
Check us out on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/grassroot_ohio/
If you miss the Friday broadcast, you can find it here: All shows/podcasts archived at SoundCloud! https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753
GrassRoot Ohio is now on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../grassroot-ohio/id1522559085
This GrassRoot Ohio interview can also be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ/
Intro and Exit music for GrassRoot Ohio is "Resilient" by Rising Appalachia: https://youtu.be/tx17RvPMaQ8
There's a time to listen and learn, a time to organize and strategize, And a time to Stand Up/ Fight Back!
