N. San Diego County Human Trafficking Collaborative

Guest Speaker
Andrew Schmidt

Emily and Andrew Schmidt started Awaken with a vision that a business could create one of a kind products and change lives at the same time. We’ve always felt blessed to grow up in a country that supports freedom and has given us opportunities many would only dream of.

We set off to find partners that were doing amazing work in challenging socioeconomic communities. Through a lead at a human trafficking presentation we heard about a Thai business that employs those coming out of prostitution and trafficking in Thailand. We headed off to Bangkok to share our vision and hear theirs and have now been working together for over 5 years. Awaken products are handcrafted by women who are rebuilding their lives and finding restoration through dignified employment.

The North San Diego County Human Trafficking Collaborative is a diverse group of individuals and community organizations committed to eliminate human trafficking and modern day slavery. Our mission is to raise awareness of human trafficking, provide a platform to share information, improve services, educate ourselves and the public, and advocate for policy and legislation related to human trafficking