Sometimes I scare myself. I think of crazy ideas to connect people and make an impact on the world but then every once in a while I actually say them out loud. Eeek!
After participating in something called “Dressember” last year, it occurred to me: “It would be awesome to gather a team of people to participate in Dressember with Amelia and I next year!” All they would have to do is wear dresses every day in December, raise money and spread the message. Right? By this November, I was nervous as all-get-out to throw the idea out to the world. What if no one joins us after I put myself out there and actually ask for help? But I was committed, so I explained our mission and invited others to participate with us (read more about Dressember here). After a few days with no response, a number of women and some of their friends joined our team called #YourVoiceMatters. These women are passionate and powerful and I am thrilled to introduce some of them to you in a couple of posts entitled It’s More Than A Dress.
As of today, our team is comprised of 13 adults and two girls. We have raised $975 of our $3000 goal! Check out the creative ways each of these women are using their voices and their gifts to amplify the voices of others. Each woman has her own fundraising page that connects to our overall #YourVoiceMatters team page. Donate through them and you’re donating through our team.
Olivia Youngs: Wife to AJ, Mom to two girls, Writer and Coffee Lover – 
passionate about simplicity North Platte, NE
Why are you participating in Dressember?
My roommate from college participated in Dressember last year, but because I was breastfeeding my oldest daughter at the time, decided not to join in (wearing a dress isn’t the most convenient choice for breastfeeding moms). This year though, as I’m nursing my second baby, I realized that it was too great a cause and too huge a problem for me not to participate. I’ve blogged about it here and am selling handmade items to fundraise here.
What does the phrase “your voice matters” mean to you?
“Your voice matters” is an incredibly empowering phrase. To me, it means that I have the ability to make an impact; that my words mean something, no matter how inadequate they may feel.
Rachael Miller: Author, Artist, and Wife to a green-eyed Tolkien enthusiast. Greeley, CO
Why are you participating in Dressember? 
I was approached by my sister-in-law Olivia Youngs about joining Dressember. She was really passionate about participating this year, and wanted to know if several of her friends and family members wanted to join. At first, I was hesitant about joining the movement. Though I do care about the issue of sex trafficking, I didn’t feel passionate about it like I thought I should. The “challenge” of wearing only dresses for a whole month was intriguing, but I wanted my heart to be in it for the right reasons. I didn’t want Dressember to become just another thing I was doing because my friends were doing it. Also, I lived far away from the other members of the #yourvoicematters team, if I were to do this, I would be practically alone.
Even now, though I still do not feel a burning inside my heart for the cause, I’ve realized that supporting something can function a lot like love. When you love someone, you may not always feel passion for them; love is a choice to remain committed. From the moment I put on my first Dressember dress, I was choosing to offer more than my passion. I was offering my support and my commitment to ending this great evil of our time.
I’ve made origami dress ornaments available for a donation of any amount to the cause.
What does the phrase “your voice matters” mean to you?
It means that whoever you are, whether you have a large circle of influence or a small one, you still leave your mark upon the world. Choosing to speak up or remain silent—both have an impact on the future.
Jenny Maestas: Lactation Consultant (I help moms breastfeed their babies) Lincoln, NE
Why are you participating in Dressember?
I would hear about human trafficking, but really had no frame of reference for it. I didn’t really know any of the statistics or have an idea of how wide spread it was. I wanted to be forced to really look at the issue and learn more, that putting on a dress every day wouldn’t just be a normal routine in my day, but would serve as a reminder to look outside of my everyday and see what was really going on in the world. I work with babies every day in my job, and I want to play a part in creating a safer, more secure world for them in the future, as well as for my own children.
What does the phrase “your voice matters” mean to you?
It’s so easy to listen to all of the horrible news around the world and in our own backyard and think that there’s really nothing you can do to make a difference in it. It’s easy to live in fear. But that’s a lie that I can so easily believe, when in reality, each of our voices collectively has the potential to create real change in our world. We can give a voice to those who are unable to speak for themselves.
Lanae Pierson: High School Biology Teacher Columbus, NE
Why are you participating in Dressember? 
I saw that my friend Jenny Maestas was doing Dressember. I spent a few days thinking about whether I should donate to her campaign or just join her team. Since ending human trafficking is something I believe strongly in, but have never done anything about, I decided to join her team. Though I do want to raise money to help International Justice Mission and A21, my primary reason for joining the Dressember campaign is to build awareness. I’m doing so by taking a daily picture of me in a dress holding a sign that gives a fact about human trafficking. I further expand on each fact in my blog (lifelogoflanae.wordpress.com).
What does the phrase “your voice matters” mean to you?
It means that although the issue of human trafficking is huge, what I have to say about it is important. I, as a single person, can make a difference in this world. This is why I didn’t just donate money to the Dressember campaign; I became a part of it to build awareness. My voice matters (and yours does too)!