Community Outreach
Breaking Stigma: Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign
Not a Jane Doe: Breaking Stigma — A Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign by Miss Julie’s School of Beauty
At Miss Julie’s School of Beauty, we believe every person has a name, a story, and a purpose that deserves to be known.
No one should ever be reduced to “Jane Doe.”
Our new campaign initiative, “Not a Jane Doe: Breaking Stigma,” is more than an awareness campaign — it’s a movement to restore identity, dignity, and truth to survivors of human trafficking while dispelling the myths that keep our communities silent and uninformed.
Why “Not a Jane Doe”?
In news stories and court records, unidentified or silenced victims of exploitation are often labeled “Jane Doe.”
At Miss Julie’s, we know every survivor is so much more than a label.
They are mothers, daughters, students, artists, dreamers — people who have names, families, and futures. Our campaign challenges the ways society erases survivors through stigma, fear, and misunderstanding.
When we say “Not a Jane Doe,” we mean:
- No survivor is invisible.
- No story should be buried in shame.
- Every voice deserves to be heard, honored, and believed.
Breaking the Stigma
Human trafficking is often misunderstood. Myths about what it looks like — or who it happens to — prevent real awareness and action.
Many imagine trafficking as something that happens far away or only involves kidnapping. In reality, it happens in our own neighborhoods, often through manipulation, coercion, or emotional control — not just physical force.
The Breaking Stigma Campaign brings truth to the surface. Through survivor-led storytelling, public workshops, and community partnerships, we’re working to:
- Dispel misconceptions about trafficking.
- Promote trauma-informed understanding of survivors’ needs.
- Encourage compassion over judgment.
- Empower local businesses, beauty professionals, and community members to recognize signs and respond with care.
Awareness Meets Action
This campaign isn’t just about learning — it’s about doing.
Miss Julie’s is partnering with community organizations, local salons, and survivor advocates across Rochester to host training sessions, art installations, and open conversations that humanize the issue and offer real tools for response.
We believe awareness without action changes nothing.
By bringing truth and education into public spaces — especially through the beauty industry — we create networks of people who see, care, and intervene safely when something isn’t right.
Survivor-Led, Community-Driven
Everything we do at Miss Julie’s is shaped by the lived experience and leadership of survivors.
The “Not a Jane Doe” campaign was designed alongside survivor consultants and advocates who understand firsthand what it means to reclaim identity after being silenced.
Their stories are central to this movement — not as case studies, but as testimonies of strength, wisdom, and healing.
By elevating survivor voices, we shift the narrative from victimization to empowerment.
A Call to the Community
Breaking stigma begins with each of us.
We can all play a part in ending the silence around trafficking by choosing empathy over judgment and truth over assumption.
Here’s how you can get involved:
- Attend a Not a Jane Doe awareness event or community training.
- Invite Miss Julie’s team to present at your organization, school, or salon.
- Share campaign messages on social media to help spread awareness.
- Support survivor-led education and vocational training through donations or partnerships.
When communities learn the truth, they become safer for everyone — and survivors find pathways back to visibility, belonging, and hope.