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Air Force Spouse makes a change one thread at a time

  • Published
  • By Ms. Minnie Jones
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Air Force Spouse, Evan Menendez, a clothing designer, and owner of Evan Brooke Ethical Clothing, decided a few years ago to take a stance against human trafficking.

The Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as a “modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain.”

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, sexual exploitation is the most commonly identified form of crime ahead of forced labor. And the numbers released by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, suggest in the U.S. there were more than 4,000 cases of sex trafficking reported 2016. It is estimated that there are 20.9 million human trafficking victims worldwide.

Menendez’ journey against sex trafficking started when she read a book, titled, “Lioness Arising,” by Lisa Bevere. In the book, the author uses the lioness as a metaphoric symbol for women, in challenging women to discover their passion and purpose was she has done, by waking up and changing their world.

“I can say, it changed my life,” Menendez said. “ I drew inspiration from that book. I wanted to find a way to help as a stay at home Mom ,” she said. “I wanted to be a contributing factor and a part of the solution.”

Evan, a mother of five- three are adopted, knows the blessings of giving back and helping people rebuild their traumatized lives through acts of compassion and dedication.  Although she did not know what her calling was at that time, another occasion materialized that led her down her path.

 

Back in 2012, some friends called to tell her of their plans to move overseas to do something about human trafficking and forced labor. Their plan was to start a garment manufacturing business, with the mission of employing the oppressed who have been discriminated against, exploited, or sex trafficked. This was sort of an epiphany for her that ultimately launched her clothing line.

Although Menendez has been sewing ever since she could remember, “I would sew for my dolls, myself, my friends and my kids,” she said.  She never did it professionally, until she discovered two organizations who shared the same goal or interest has hers, making it their business to empower women; Purnaa in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Open Arms in Austin, Texas.

Purnaa creates training and job opportunities for survivors of exploitation; Open Arms is a U.S. owned business, which manufactures sustainable apparel and sewn goods, which empowers refugee women, through living wage employment.

Menendez said she partnered with them, with the intent to grow her small company while bringing hope and support to the ethical employment of more and more people around the world.

Since founding her business, her contribution, although small to the cause, she estimates that she has touched more than 30 women in several countries.

Menendez designs the clothing, purchases the fabric, in most cases from the manufacturer, and sends the patterns to one of the companies listed above, who in turn make the end product. Her contribution to the survivors of exploitation is to keep these women gainful employed, by having them make her clothing line.

Her husband, Maj. Mathew Menendez, an Air Force Reserve pilot with the 433rd Airlift Wing, receives great inspiration from Evan.

 

“It’s really a neat contribution that she is able to make towards making a difference around the world in a different manner than I do,” he said. 

 

Evan’s mission coincides with the U.S. government’s attempt to combat global human trafficking and bring about a positive change to those in need .

 

“As a military member, I get a chance of having inputs around the world by protecting our country’s interests. On the civilian side, Evan, on the other hand, has a very different but still powerful impact; especially on women around the world that makes their lives better. I think it’s a great thing she does. I'm very proud of her.”