Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
View Point
There I stood on stage at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom in front of a thousand people, speechless, flooded with emotion and desperately wishing for a Kleenex. I had just been named "America's Best Young Community Leader" by Rolling Stone magazine and Do Something, a national organization that promotes community activism and leadership by young people. Many came to
assistance of SOSIt was a great honor and privilege for me. It was also a tribute to the people of Hawaii, who have believed in me and supported Sisters Offering Support (SOS).
Last year, a volunteer at SOS suggested that I apply for the "Do Something Brick Award," which recognizes people building better communities "brick by brick." I had no idea what an inspiring and life-changing experience it would be. I certainly had no idea that I would win this prestigious award.
When I flew to New York for the final weekend of interviews and met the 18 other finalists (out of 400 applicants!), I was in awe. These individuals from across the country were all under the age of 30, passionate, committed and doing amazing work in their communities.
I talked with a formerly homeless teen who is one of the nation's leading activists for prisoners with mental illness; a person in New Mexico who empowers residents of border communities to access water, sewer and electricity services so children can grow up in healthy environments; and the founder and teacher of a school who works with at-risk inner city teens to help them prepare for college.
Between our rigorous rounds of interviews, we shared stories about our work and experiences. It was then I fully realized how young people really do have the power to change the world. And we are doing it.
Six years ago, when I emerged from the ashes of my own experience as a victim of commercial sexual exploitation and started SOS, it was a pretty risky and frightening road. At times, I felt alone in my mission, wondering if those 80- to 100-hour work weeks were making a difference.
Today, I realize that I was not alone. With the help of God, and the support and open-mindedness of many wonderful people who believed in me and embraced the cause of SOS, we have made a difference.
One aspect of SOS's mission was to create a sea of change in the public opinion about commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), to really affect how people think and feel about prostitution, pornography, erotic/nude massage and trafficking for sexual purposes.
I believe that we are beginning to experience this dramatic shift in Hawaii. We are seeing changes in laws dealing with prostitution, in how victims are treated, and in the alternatives for women and children to escape from CSE.
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who helped me to turn around my own life and become an example for other young women to follow. The Do Something Brick Award is a credit to them, their commitment to the cause of SOS and their faith in the young women involved in CSE.
It is because of their acceptance and understanding, embodied in the aloha spirit, that I was able to come forward five years ago and publicly share my story of past life in prostitution.
Their involvement and support has contributed to 83 percent of our clients completing the SOS program, with 57 percent exiting prostitution or CSE within one year, and 85 percent of those clients remaining prostitution free.
Mahalo, Hawaii, for letting me be a voice for the victims who were once voiceless.
Kelly A. Hill is founder and executive director
of Sisters Offering Support, an agency which combats
commercial sexual exploitation through peer-based prevention,
intervention, education and public policy reform.