What We Do

Damascus Road Project, Inc. is a 100% trained volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit organization. No one draws a wage, so 100% of funds donated directly serve our local communities. We have over 30 years of collective experience working with human trafficking in Wisconsin, Las Vegas, and across the U.S., as well as abroad. We assist those who have been victimized, advocate for survivors, conduct training, raise awareness, partner with law enforcement, and coordinate outreaches. Damascus Road Project, Inc. has participated in hotel outreach efforts at six Super Bowls. We have worked alongside a national missing children’s organization, other anti-trafficking NGO’s, and local law enforcement, resulting in recoveries each year.

Office Drop-In

Welcome to Damascus Road Project's Office!

We are delighted to be able to provide a place of support, safety and love for each of the women that we serve.

Safe Place To Be

Volunteers open our office to the women that we serve so they can enjoy time in a homey place filled with love. Mentorship, support services and a comfortable place to spend time with other overcomers is vital to these women. We always have art projects, movies, games, activities, and plenty of chocolate and coffee on hand!

Boutique

Thanks to generous donors, this awesome room is always stocked with new and gently used clean clothing, undergarments, shoes and accessories that are such a blessing to those rebuilding their lives.

Healing

A smaller private library room is available for relaxing and reading. Damascus Road Project maintains this special library of books, including autobiographies written by overcomers, AODA recovery books, and healing books that focus on mental health and faith. Donors make it possible for us to be able to supply these books for women to keep.

Cozy Kitchen

We want our guests to feel at home. We always have hot and cold beverages and snacks available for the women who drop by to spend time with us.

Jail Outreach

Damascus Road Project implemented a pilot jail outreach program in the Winnebago County Jail. With the support of jail administration, we have placed identifying posters in the PODS that encourage inmates who have been trafficked to reach out to us for help and support. With the success of this program, we expanded, and are also serving women at the Outagamie County Jail as well as other county jails, and at several local residential AODA programs. Our advocates partner with Probation Officers, Public Defenders, District Attorneys and Judges to assist our clients who qualify and want to participate in long-term faith-based residential restoration programs. If approved, we fully fund transport to these out-of-state programs. In addition, Damascus Road Project provides incarcerated clients with access to services, uplifting reading materials, support, love and encouragement while they are in jail.

Our organization regularly receives calls from agencies throughout Wisconsin, looking for assistance in other jails throughout the state. It is out hope to someday have qualified trained individuals to serve each woman needing services.

In addition, Damascus Road Project is currently serving over 50 women within the Wisconsin prison system. These women, currently housed at Taycheeda Correctional Institution, Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center and Milwaukee Women's Correctional Center receive weekly encouragement notes, letters, books, bible studies and support. We work with them supporting their release planning and maintain relationships with them as they return to their communities.

When a woman we served is released from incarceration, we continue to walk alongside her in the community. When it is appropriate, we fund their transportation to long-term restorative care programs. We also offer faith-based support opportunities and mentorship. Each woman who needs one is given an "Exodus Bag" filled with necessities such as toiletries, hygiene items and clothing. We treat them to dinner with our staff, and provide them with a personalized homemade blanket to wrap them in comfort and love.

They touch our lives as much as we try to touch theirs!

Professional Education

Damascus Road Project offers professional training to:

* Attorneys

* Law Enforcement Agencies

* TSA Agents

* Medical Professionals

* Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

* Mental Health Providers

* Department of Probation& Parole

* Public Defenders

* Judges

* Pregnancy Resource Centers

* Prison and Jail Staff

* Social Workers

* Physicians

* Dentists

* Tattoo Artists

* Limousine Companies & Taxi Services

* Hotel / Motel Staff

* Foster Care Programs

...and more

For more information on professional training for your business or organization, please contact us.

Hospitality Outreach

Finding Hope in a Hotel

We approach hotels with educational awareness materials in order to help locate missing children. Staff can then create a connection between missing children and human trafficking. We educate hotel staff on how to spot and report human trafficking, and set up future training for all hotel staff. Our hope is to establish potential on-going relationships/outreach projects with hotels resulting in tips and/or the recovery of missing children and/or victims of human trafficking. Damascus Road Project has also led or assisted in hotel outreaches in Las Vegas, NV, Kansas City, MO, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Plymouth, Sheboygan and Wausau WI. It is very encouraging to have new communities wanting to help raise awareness.

Hotel outreach is an easy way for volunteers at any level of experience to get involved and it’s effective. After being educated about human trafficking, many hotels provide tips which aid in collecting evidence for cases and eventual recoveries.