Empowering Women Everywhere

Standing Strong Together

Who We Are

Our Mission & Vision

Sandra’s Giving Heart,

founded by Sandra Mayo, is a nonprofit organization driven by a deep commitment to addressing the critical need for resources and advocacy for sex trafficking victims, particularly brown and black girls and women who make up 40% of all victims. Our mission is to provide comprehensive support to these survivors, including access to mental health counseling, financial literacy resources, specialized therapy, transitional housing, and job building skills. Our vision is to raise awareness and provide sustained, long-term assistance to empower survivors and help them rebuild their lives. Join us in our fight to protect and empower those affected by this heinous act of sex trafficking.

African American girls are disproportionately at higher risk for human trafficking. Why is this? What makes this group particularly vulnerable to trafficking?

Social inequalities present in America for many years, African Americans often find themselves in “…situations of poverty, of absentee fathers and incarcerated parents. Historically, black women were exploited as a sexual commodity, because they bore children and these children were forced into slavery.

The following situations can exacerbate the conditions for

human trafficking to occur:

Public health crises, like epidemics or highly fatal diseases.

Existing prevalence of black markets.

Lack of health, education, or government infrastructure.

Extreme weather events, like drought and flooding.

Weak institutional norms around law enforcement, control of the military, and impartial courts.

Resource scarcity.

Op Ed

Charlotte Post

Her name is Sharon. In 2002 she became a registered sex offender as a result of being sexually trafficked. Her story is not unusual; in fact thousands of young women - especially African American women - are targeted, groomed and dehumanized through the sex trade. Very few escape unscathed. Black women are easy prey because they are ambitious, they want more in life, and are actively looking for personal and professional relationships to add respite to their grueling journey. The isolation of achievement forces this population to reach for strength, for each sunrise, in the most unusual of places. As a college freshman she thought they were in love. His validation of her academic drive and strong will opened her soul to what would become a period of servitude, torture, fear and an emotionally bruised and traumatized future. His love granted access to her heart in exchange for an irrevocable pledge of duty. In this instance, the crime of trafficking took place on the prestigious campus of an elite HBCU. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are considered an educational safe-haven for emerging African American professionals. She studied to excel in life, while he was studying her. He soon learned of her vulnerabilities and put his plan into action. Before long, she was engaging in sexual behavior against her will; and wanted out. He refused to let her go. According to the Polaris Project 40% of victims and survivors of sex trafficking are Black women and girls. This underscores the need for culturally sensitive wrap-around support services and advocacy for survivors of trafficking within the African-American community. This troubling reality demands urgent attention and intervention. Sharon and I met through a friend of a friend of a friend; our relationship was no longer separated by six-degrees. I became a pillar on her road to redemption. Watching her reclaim her life hasn’t been easy. The impact sex trafficking has on the mental health and overall well-being of its victims is clear, I see it through my life’s work as a behavioral healthcare expert. She shared with me, “The police wanted him, and he wanted me. I chose me, along with the consequences that came along with me choosing me above all else.” She served a year in prison and had to register, for life, as a registered sex offender because she wouldn’t tell on her abuser. She still fears for her life. Sharon is a client of Sandra’s Giving Heart; my client-centric non profit organization. I possess a first-hand understanding of the dire impact sex trafficking has on the lives of Black women and girls, and our services are designed to address the social and soft skills required to help these women begin to achieve success at their highest level.