In a flurry of extravagant hats and floral patterns, an assembly of women spent their lunchtime supporting and learning about the work of Bloom, a local organization built around helping survivors of sexual trafficking and exploitation.

The ‘Bloom in Style’ luncheon. held at the Saucon Valley Country Club June 10, included a silent auction for handbags and accessories, a served lunch and a variety of speakers from the organization.

The event aimed to raise funds for the organization, which goes, in part, to support the multiple homes that Bloom runs for survivors of sex trafficking, allowing them to recover and transition into the next phase of their lives over a two-year period. The luncheon also made a point to support Bloom’s other goal, raising awareness about the issues of sex trafficking and exploitation.

Carol Anderson, CEO of Bloom, said that there is always a need for support from the general public, so events such as the luncheon give people a chance to get involved.

“There is a great opportunity, in Bloom, for people to become advocates and become aware that [sex trafficking] is happening and take [that understanding] back to their sphere of influence,” Anderson said.

While donations and monetary help are integral to the work that Bloom does, changing people’s perceptions of sex trafficking survivors was shown to be as important to their work.

Sheniqua Mitchell, Bloom’s outreach manager, is a former sex trafficking survivor. During her speech, Mitchell donned plastic chains over her whole body with multiple words attached to show the feelings that survivors are saddled with; some of the words read “trauma,” “anxiety” and “fear.” Mitchell wore a headband with the word “shame” emboldened upon it.

As Mitchell walked around the room in these chains, she spoke to the crowd about how their understanding of trafficking survivors needs to shift if they are to make true progress.

“It feels good to say that ‘I’m a part of something,’” Mitchell said, “but I came to provoke you today. I came to provoke you to be boots on the ground. Because there are people who need a hand. They need a person that doesn’t say ‘I’m just gonna show up for you,’ but ‘I’m willing to get in the trenches with you and break the chains.’”

In the back of the luncheon room sat a large wall with each individual brick representing a barrier that a survivor felt was holding them back. These ranged from monetary issues to mental health struggles and further. The wall was built using the voices of over 70 survivors from Lehigh County and Bloom’s own residential programs.

Alyssa Almonti, the residence manager at Bloom, explained that the wall was a part of Bloom’s Barrier Wall Project, and that the wall was pulled apart to show a more vibrant space where the crowd could read survivors’ dreams and positive moments that they achieved despite the wall.

“We built this wall because that is exactly how it feels for us. It’s like standing in front of something that’s too high, too heavy, and too hard to get past,” Almonti said. “[The inside] says things like ‘I dream of being an entrepreneur.’ It’s dreams. We’re not waiting for someone to save us, and neither are the survivors in this area. We’re already rebuilding … we just need help tearing some of these walls down.”

The luncheon ended with the audience bringing home new bags and a new understanding of the need for Bloom in the Lehigh Valley. Mitchell said that the best way to support Bloom’s goals is to open your mind to people.

“This work requires that humility comes to the forefront and you throw away everything you think and position yourself as a forever learner,” Mitchell said. “I think you’ll be surprised by what you find. There are some wonderful people that are in the most hidden places.”