Would you believe me if I told you that the city of Atlanta has the greatest occurrence of human and sex trafficking in the United States?

Tragically, this is a true fact. Human trafficking has become an issue in many big cities, especially harbor cities around the US and worldwide. I know this because I recently took part in an initiative to help change this reality and improve the plight of trafficking victims.

This month, on Saturday November 4th, the Women of Global Change (WGC) Atlanta Chapter teamed up with Wellspring Living to work on a service project that will have a lasting impact on the lives of human trafficking victims. As President of the Atlanta Chapter, I was privileged to lead a group of men, women and youth (aged 12+) in this important mission.

By coming together in SERVICE, we took a stride forward in the fight to end human trafficking. For those of you who don’t know, Women of Global Change is an award-winning, international network of like-minded servant leaders who engage in global business networking to create things bigger than they ever could alone. Our members participate in missions and humanitarian service projects for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and the world.

This was the WGC Atlanta Chapter’s second service project tackling the issue of human trafficking. It sets a powerful precedent of how much we can accomplish when we unite to serve others in need with passion and purpose.

Wellspring Living is a nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive long-term program with housing, training, and other resources not only for victims of human trafficking but also young people aging out of foster care with nowhere to go who could easily become victims. Our project – completed entirely by a devoted team of volunteers – involved renovating five apartments which children aging out of foster care will reside in. A group of over 35 volunteers and committee members cleaned, painted and provided new stoves, refrigerators and bedding as well as planted a butterfly/meditation garden.

Many corporate sponsors stepped up to the plate, including Sherwin Williams, Home Depot, Kroger, Dunkin Donuts, Special Kneads and Treats Bakery, Chick Fil A, Trust Your Journey, Nobody’s Auto Service and Repair, Mary Karimzadeh, Wise Electric, Cotton Calf Kitchen, Brigitta Hoeferle, Five Star Graphics, Target, TNC Finance Company, Split Second Event Photography, Brand Bank, Madvapes, The LONA Gallery, Wayne T. Tadsen, DMD PC, doTerra Oils, Independent Consultant, and Fern Meyer. Thanks to their generosity as well as the support of community members, we raised over $9,000 in material and cash donations.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the sponsors, volunteers and committee members who made the project not only possible, but a remarkable success. In particular, I am especially grateful to and impressed by the youth and young adults who showed up ready to serve and demonstrated great character and commitment.

Stepping Up to Serve

Serving others in the community and beyond is transformational in so many ways. Through service, you can strengthen your character, build valuable new skillsets, expand your network, establish new friendships, improve your self-esteem, feel a deep sense of fulfillment – the benefits are truly endless.

As Thanksgiving approaches, consider all that you have to be thankful for and challenge yourself to get into the spirit of giving back. Ask yourself: What practical steps can I take to serve others this year?

As the year draws to a close, many entrepreneurs are hustling to complete projects, generate sales and finish 2017 strong. Understandably, some business owners feel daunted by the prospect of undertaking a large, time-consuming service project. But don’t let these feelings prevent you from taking action. There is a plethora of meaningful ways you can step up to serve.

You can volunteer to distribute food at a local soup kitchen or spend time with someone who doesn’t get many visitors at a local nursing home. You can run a food drive or collect presents for sick children or struggling families. In addition to volunteering your time, consider serving by donating your products or service. If you have a graphic design business, for example, consider designing the invitation for your favorite charity’s fundraising dinner.

With a little creativity and soul searching, you can find or create an opportunity to serve that will be meaningful to you. If the WGC service project to combat human trafficking touched you, consider volunteering for Wellspring Living or making a donation. Click here to learn how. We will continue to collect donations until November 30th with 100% of the proceeds going toward purchasing additional stoves and refrigerators.

One final thought: Remember that serving others also means being there for friends, family, neighbors and those you interact with on a daily basis. If a friend has been struggling through a difficult illness or divorce, take them out for coffee. If a single parent you know badly needs some “me-time”, offer to babysit one evening. Smile at the woman bagging your groceries and recognize your employees for a job well done.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching I encourage all of my clients to get involved in serving their communities. I have seen the innumerable personal, social and professional benefits of serving others firsthand. Many skills developed through service have been useful as my clients work to “Double Plus” their incomes and build a legacy business.

If you’d like to learn more about Women of Global Change or may be interested in attending an upcoming Chapter meeting, contact me at celeste@thewomenofglobalchange.com.

I’ll sign off with this powerful quote: “The measure of a man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.” ––Pastor John C. Hagee

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with almost 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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