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ELIJAH RISING AIMS TO REVITALIZE HISTORIC HEIGHTS BUILDING TO CREATE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO TRAFFICKING.

402 Teetshorn

HOUSTON, TX — (5 JAN 2021) –  At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elijah Rising, a local Houston anti-trafficking nonprofit, prepared for a decline in donations and sales revenue from its social enterprise. The nonprofit provides housing, therapy, and jobs to women who are recovering from sex trafficking. Forced to pivot during the Houston quarantine, Elijah Rising closed their social enterprise retail store and focused on manufacturing candles for online and retail stores across the country—and it was successful.

In a surprising turn of events, their social enterprise revenue actually grew by 26% outgrowing their current facility’s capacity for manufacturing, shipping, and job training leading ER to look elsewhere for future expansion. Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the organization was gifted a home in the Heights after the donor heard about their offices being destroyed by a driver who drove into the building. At the beginning of 2020, Elijah Rising moved into the donated home and made it their main office. Fortuitously, the building immediately behind their main office became available for sale. 

Elijah Rising purchased this additional building in late 2020 and plans to use the space for manufacturing, shipping, and a showroom for social enterprise products. The building will also include a museum dedicated to bringing awareness to human trafficking, and event space for documentary screenings, seminars, and community events.

“Because of the tremendous support of the community, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand services to women who have survived sex trafficking in this new location. This space will provide a multi-faceted solution to job-skill training, employment, healing, and empowerment for the women we serve.”

Micah Gamboa, Executive Director of Elijah Rising

Elijah Rising hopes the project will be completed sometime in late 2021. Micah Gamboa, the Executive Director of Elijah Rising said, “because of the tremendous support of the community, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand services to women who have survived sex trafficking in this new location. This space will provide a multi-faceted solution to job-skill training, employment, healing, and empowerment for the women we serve.”

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