The Dallas-based nonprofit organization New Friends New Life has been working to restore and empower the lives of trafficked and sexually exploited women and children since 1997. The organization has made it its mission to raise awareness of trafficking and sexual exploitation of women. The organizers have also worked to educate the public on ways they can help.
To help keep the mission alive, organizers hold a luncheon annually to raise critical funding for the organization. This year, the nonprofit is focusing the annual luncheon on helping raise funding to provide case management, counseling, and career readiness services for those who need it.
The 2021 luncheon is scheduled for Oct. 8 and is going to be a hybrid event. Some parts of the program will be held live at Omni Hotel in Dallas, while others will be virtual.
This year’s event will be centered around New Friends New Life’s triumphant journey and the importance of uplifting young girls and women. The event will be headlined by award-winning actress and children’s book author Lupita Nyong’o, known for her roles in Black Panther, Little Monsters, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Organizers say Nyong’o will be participating in the program virtually. She will be speaking on the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women to empower survivors of sex crimes.