DREAM

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How Taylor Was Trafficked

Taylor’s Story

“After having a miscarriage… I was completely miserable.

I had a boyfriend at the time and he was telling me, “Well do you want to escort to make money so that you could move out of your mom’s house?”

Because I was miserable with my mom I agreed and he set up the ad for me and set up the prices.

I was getting calls working probably ten hours a day and eventually I was eventually exploited by a human trafficker who took me.

The trafficker was very abusive, he got upset because I couldn’t make the amount of money he wanted each day.

When I was just starting, I remember the trafficker took me to a parking lot and he screamed in my face, “you’re not worth this and no one’s ever gonna love you!”

Then he hit me across the face and I just remember crying on the ground in this parking lot.

Then he left me in the middle of Tempe with nowhere to go. From then on many human traffickers sold and traded me. 

It just wasn’t a good life for me. One of the traffickers was extremely abusive and vicious.

On top of that, he had a mistress and they tried to force me to bring in a thirteen-year-old off the street and I wasn’t comfortable with that.

Two days before I found the cop, I was raped by 20 different men that the human trafficker had set up because I wasn’t following his rules.

I said to myself I’m done physically and mentally I can’t do this anymore. I wanted a way out, but I didn’t know how to do it so I ran to the first cop car I saw.

I was crying and looked like I had nowhere to go and he asked, “Are you okay? Are you doing drugs?” I said, “No, I just need somewhere I could go where I’ll be safe.”

He then brought me to a rape clinic where I met my detective.

After that, they brought me to the Phoenix Dream Center’s human trafficking recovery program.

When I arrived at the Dream Center it was completely different than what I was used to.

It was a safe structured environment with people opening their arms, making me feel welcome and at home.

I’m so happy to be here. I was so used to hotel rooms that when I walked into my first Dream Room I thought there’s no way I deserved this and that I didn’t need to be in this beautiful room.

I remember one of the girls was showing me around and I thought they’re like gorgeous.

Even though I didn’t think I deserved to be here I got a lot of love and support.

The first person I met was Konstance and Marina and they were just bubbly and happy which I’m not used to. Because I was not used to that it scared me a little bit.

I remember Konstance telling me “Welcome home” and “you’re finally safe and no one can hurt you.”

I’ve been here for seven months and have learned how to accept love from someone other than the person trying to traffick me out and I understand what family actually means.

I’m learning what sisterhood is, what responsibilities are, and living a structured life.

Going through the Dream Center’s Where Hope Lives recovery program is literally the best!

I know this from my own experience. I was extremely hard-headed.

I thought, “I didn’t need this place, I’m better without it.” But your life truly changes being here at the Phoenix Dream Center.

You can actually make a difference. They really do care and love you for who you are. The Phoenix Dream Center helps you become a better person, the person God wants you to be.

I’m confident in myself now for the first time in 16 years and I’m learning that even if things don’t work out, God has a
plan for me one way or another and…

I’m gonna get there!

Thank you to everyone, even if you don’t know me.

The Phoenix Dream Center has helped me so much.  Knowing you believe in the girls who came here, gives me the motivation to continue.”

Taylor’s story is a story of triumph. She’s why the Phoenix Dream Center exists. Nobody should ever suffer from human trafficking! It’s our mission to end it and help restore the lives of survivors. Join us in the fight! Share Taylor’s story on social media and connect with us today!

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