Facing the Storm Together
A Special Moment in the Journey
I want to take a moment to share something close to my heart. As a survivor leader running a nonprofit residential program for survivors, there often isn’t much gratitude in the moment, and few people truly know the cost of keeping things going (personally & financially).
The work is hard, the stakes are high, and the victories aren’t always visible.
Recently, I was invited to join a Survivor Advisory Board that is actively working to change policy—and seeing success. Survivor voices are being recognized as essential in this movement, and it’s powerful to witness real momentum in our sector.
We recently gathered for a Survivor Advisory Board retreat—a space intentionally created to honor the journeys and relentless work of these extraordinary survivor leaders. I was humbled beyond words, and most of the seven days were spent in tears, moved by the courage, resilience, and vulnerability in the room. We stayed on a ranch in the high desert of Wyoming, surrounded by bison, wild horses, beautiful mountains and big sky stretching as far as the eye could see. The beauty and wildness of the landscape mirrored the strength and spirit of the women around me, and it was a rare, sacred space to breathe, heal, and simply be seen. There, I learned something I’ll never forget: when a storm comes, bison don’t run away—they turn and "face the storm" head-on. For a group of survivors of human trafficking who have fought the beast of exploitation and long-term effects of trauma not just for ourselves but on behalf of others, this was a deeply powerful image. It’s what we’ve been doing all along—facing the storms.
That retreat reminded me how rare it is to share space with other survivor leaders—women who carry the same battles, understand the same trenches, and know the weight and beauty of this work. In those moments, there was healing, sisterhood, laughter, and the kind of understanding born from a common lived experience.
Being part of this group has been more than an honor; it has been another level of healing for me. In this space, lived experience is valued, collaboration is key, and together we are helping shape a future where every voice counts and every story matters.
This is a reminder—to myself and to all of us—that the work we do is worth it. Even when it’s unseen, it’s making a difference. And when survivors heal and lead, communities are transformed.
Thank you 3strands, Thank you Survivor Solutions, Thank you to our gracious host and their community who lavished us so beautifully! Thank you to all the survivor sisters in this fight, I feel your support!
You reminded me, I am not alone, we are facing the storms...together!
I am undone by your love and hospitality!
Survivor Advisory Board
Kristi Merrill, founder of the Survivor Advisory Board in Sacramento, and a survivor leader, had a vision for survivor voices to be heard.
"The Survivor Advisory Board is more than a committee; it’s a beacon of hope and empowerment. As lived experience experts, we share a unique bond, offering our perspectives to foster resilience and instill hope. It’s where healing becomes a shared journey, and leading by example paves the way for others’ recovery. -Kristi Merrill, Survivor Advisory Board
Cherished would like to thank and congratulate the SAB for (most recently) the all that you did to help get AB379 passed! Well done!!
ZUMBA!
Many survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation have experienced deep disconnection from their bodies as a result of the harm, violation, and trauma they endured. For some, their bodies became a source of pain, shame, or fear—something to numb, hide, or simply endure. Reconnecting with their physical selves can feel overwhelming, even impossible at times.
Through our partnership with Emerge with Hope, Zumba has become a powerful and joyful bridge back to that connection. The music, movement, and freedom to dance allow survivors to inhabit their bodies in a new way—without judgment, without danger, and with a sense of agency. Each step, each laugh, and each shared rhythm helps rebuild trust with themselves, turning their bodies from a place of harm into a place of strength, beauty, and self-expression. For many, Zumba is not just exercise—it’s a step toward reclaiming ownership of their body and embracing it as part of their healing journey. We are so grateful to Zetta and the team at EWH!
Exzetta Willis, Founder of Emerge With Hope
What's Happening at Cherished?
I'm so glad you asked!
Survivors are learning, healing, and growing their own food thanks to a plethora of dedicated AMAZING volunteers and teachers. This is what happens when a survivor chooses to step into their healing journey—skills are gained, confidence is rebuilt, and a sense of empowerment blooms. Every seed planted, every lesson learned, and every shared moment in the garden is a step toward reclaiming strength, independence, and hope. Here is a sample of the tools we bring to the healing in the first 7 months!
Survivors Garden at Cherished
Join Us in Transforming Lives—One Month at a Time
Every day, survivors of human trafficking and exploitation take brave steps toward healing, hope, and independence. At Cherished, we walk alongside them—providing safe housing, mentorship, trauma-informed care, education, and life skills.
You can make a lasting impact by becoming a monthly donor. With your consistent support, we can plan ahead, expand programs, and ensure survivors have the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
MONTHLY PARTNERSHIP TIERS
$50 MEAL PARTNER Helps us provide food in our pantry so women in the home can cook and make meals together creating a community of trust.
$100 WELCOME HOME PARTNER CherishedLA reaches out to women actively escaping the sex industry. We give each woman we meet a welcome home basket full of love and comfort when they arrive.
$500 ARTISAN PARTNER This covers the cost to employ one Cherished resident or non-resident employee for a month. This is more than a job; it is a chance to change her story as she gains resume-building skills, confidence, and self-worth through employment in the Cherished LA studio.
$1000 RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PARTNER This donation covers all of the residential program costs per Cherished resident. This includes a rent-free room in the Cherished house for 1 month, all of the classes and activities included in the program, and support staff to ensure that the home is a safe atmosphere.
$3000 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PARTNER This covers the expenses associated with taking Cherished LA's handmade artisan products into stores. This partnership will allow a survivor to work and build her job skills in creating products and learning how to run a social enterprise, this also helps us to develop new products, update our labeling, and become more self-sufficient as an organization, so that we can offer the women job training and employment in the social enterprise.
Your monthly gift ensures that survivors are not just surviving, but thriving. Join us in making healing, hope, and opportunity possible—every single month.
Become a Monthly Donor Today
https://www.cherishedla.org/donate
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT
Get your copy of Kates' book EXPOSED
Purchase 10 copies of "Exposed" for Survivor groups
Invite Kate to Speak at your event
Host the Human Trafficking Immersive Art Exhibit "A Walk In Her Shoes"
Educate; Get trained by lived experience experts
Join our volunteer team- email cherishedla@gmail.com
https://www.cherishedla.org/book
"Kate is indeed a survivor, but the term by itself does not adequately capture the grit, resilience, and hope that are central to a survivor’s character and choices. Emerging from the industry as a survivor is as much a beginning as it is an ending, and this precarious nexus is where Kate has committed much of her life’s work. Escape and recovery are certainly linked but they are far from the same thing. Kate offers us the shaping stories of her life, and in the telling of these stories she exposes the true face of the sex industry. Crucially she debunks any remnants of the myth that women freely choose to enter and then remain in the sex industry without harrowing circumstance and profound trauma in childhood and early adulthood guiding the way. Cherished is the apt name for the non-profit organization she founded over a decade ago to help women rediscover both themselves and a path away from the sex industry. Built into the ethos and practice of Cherished is the gentle invitation for women to experience the liberating, terrifying practice of exposing one’s vulnerabilities, desires, and innocence in a place where it can be met with kindness and belonging. The antidote to the brutal impact of the exposure demanded from the sex industry is the exposure of one’s true self and heart. Throughout the pages of this book, we get to witness a rare interplay of these vastly different kinds of exposure.
Without claim of expertise or “arrival,” Kate has a keen understanding of the terrain that funnels women into the sex industry. More importantly, she knows intimately, the cost, compassion, and courage to be free of it by telling the full, complicated truth.
Though there are many trauma experts, the only true trauma sherpas that can help guide others through and to the other side are those that have traversed the range of their own heart and body in search of who they are most meant to be. You have such an expert guide in this author. Forward by Trapper Lukaart
NEED SUPPORT for yourself ?
✨ Book a Narrative Focused Trauma Care Session with Kate ✨
Even if you are not a survivor of human trafficking, you may still carry your own story of harm. Experiences of sexual abuse, assault, or other trauma can linger for years—reshaping how you see yourself, how you connect with others, and how you navigate relationships.
Through Narrative Focused Trauma Care (NFTC), Kate creates a safe, compassionate space to begin naming and untangling those stories. With certification-level training from leading professionals in the field of trauma recovery, she brings both skill and lived empathy to the process.
Your story matters. Healing is possible.
📩 Book a session today and take the next step in your journey.
Book your "Story Work' (Individual or groups) https://directory.theallendercenter.org/united-states/valencia/kate-ouimette-wedell