The unique perspective and approach that a peer can provide when it comes to mentoring and advocacy is unmatched. Those who have survived the trauma of being exploited need the support of others with lived experience to join them on their healing journey. I have worked with Katarina on various cases for more than 10 years and can attest to the compassion and insight that Rising Angels uses in their approach to supporting survivors.
Rising Angels works with survivors of sex trafficking, led by a woman who has lived experience. We know that those who work on the frontlines and lead frontlines services, who have lived experience, see significantly higher success rates when it comes to helping women and girls exit and rebuild their lives. The reality for many survivors is that access to therapy is incredibly limited. Mentoring, while not replacing trauma therapy, is a brilliant trauma support that Rising Angels gives to help exploited women recover. We are proud to have Rising Angels as colleagues and allies in the work of ending sexual exploitation.
We’ve had the awesome privilege of supporting Rising Angels as one of our ministry partners in the Brampton Area. As a church looking to play our role in making a difference, Rising Angels has given us the perfect opportunity. Their team is passionate and totally committed to the women they come alongside. They serve with dignity and respect, always seeking ways that are holistic in approach. We are delighted to call this organization our friends and to help them further serve the many angels whose lives they have the privilege of touching.
Rising Angels gave me the courage to rebuild my life and to heal. I would not have been able to provide such a wonderful home and life for my daughter without their help and support. I will always be grateful for everything they have done for me. I don’t know where I would be without them.
Kat came to our organization twice to build our knowledge and awareness first with our youth in care and second to speak to our staff, foster parents and board members.
We know that human trafficking is a growing concern in our community and share a commitment with police services and our province to create safer places for youth who are vulnerable to being lured into the sex trade. Youth in care are particularly vulnerable and need the information about human trafficking to help them know the risks that exist for them and what they can do. Our youth sat quietly through her presentation, thanked her for her courage and hugged her for caring about the safety of other people.
Our staff and foster parents walked away knowing more about the real presence of human trafficking, what to look for and what can be done to help build safer communities to stop this crime from occurring. They have taken that learning forward into the work they do with children, youth and families. Kat spoke from the heart, her own life, raw and real to help us know what needs to change for children to be safer.
One youth at a time, Kat has a way to reach into your soul and draw you into joining in the work to build safe communities for children and hold offenders accountable.
Rising Angels has been an inspirational, professional and dedicated support system for many women in Ontario and across Canada. They have the compassion and understanding to support survivors and provide expert guidance to work with women to gain confidence in themselves. Their team of leaders and mentors are dedicated to helping others with dignity and respect.
With the help and support of Rising Angels I have been able to exit the sex trade and stay exited. I have been finding my value, which is much more than the price tag that was put on me. I am finding my own wings to be able to soar!
When I first learned that my 17 year old daughter was being trafficked, I didn’t know where to turn. Trying to find help was like hitting a brick wall. No one understood or cared. Kat and Rising Angels did. Kat even sat in the car with me in a parking lot in late at night in a sketchy area, waiting [with me] because my daughter indicated that she wanted to be rescued! I’m still on this horrible journey and I don’t think I could have come this far alone.
Rising Angels is made up of a group of dedicated individuals who make sure every girl that has experienced trauma and lost everything is given the chance to recover successfully. It might be by just having an ear at 3 a.m. when you’re panicking and need to talk. It can even be a small as building a supportful community around you so you never feel alone again. Rising Angels does everything they can to build back your worth, and are given the ability to stand up for yourself against the man who took everything from you. They’re right by your side whenever you need them.
I can truly never express verbally how Rising Angels has impacted my life. By providing a mentor to help me acknowledge and accept how my involvement in sexual exploitation has affected me has had a huge involvement in me not only getting out of that lifestyle, but being able to share my experience with those who were in my position. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity of ongoing support, no matter how small or how big the issue is.
While my 17 year old daughter spent a month in the Child Mental Health ICU, I discovered her “boyfriend” had been trafficking her in the sex industry for several months. I spent 3 months working with Victim Services, police, doctors, psychiatrists; there seemed to be no one who had the experience with her “specific” trauma.
In July 2017, a random Google search led me to Rising Angels. Within 24 hours, the Executive Director Katarina McLeod was in my living room offering to walk the recovery journey with my daughter; if she was willing to do the work. For the past 3 years, our entire family has received wrap around care; from one on one peer support, financial assistance, court support, love and compassion. The parent group helped me to process my own complex PTSD and knowing I was not alone helped me to heal. The Rising Angels team helped me to love and accept myself and my daughter through the ups and downs of each step on the journey of healing. Forever Grateful!