Bars of Hope: Building Skills, Confidence, and Sustainable Impact

Thanks to the generous support of Impact100 Oakland County, Hope Against Trafficking has expanded the reach and impact of its Bars of Hope social enterprise in powerful new ways. This grant has allowed us to deepen survivor economic empowerment, strengthen sustainability, and create meaningful pathways for growth—both for individuals and for the organization as a whole.

Investing in Survivors and Sustainable Work

To date, $51,177.15 has been invested in the Bars of Hope project, exceeding the original grant amount as Hope Against Trafficking committed additional funds to keep momentum strong. Every dollar has supported survivor-centered employment, skills training, and production capacity.

Grant funding was used to:

• Launch a new Social Media Internship, providing structured, trauma-informed digital workforce training.

• Pay survivors earned wages as they built confidence, stability, and professional skills.

• Support production needs, ensuring Bars of Hope products could meet growing demand.

Additional funding beyond the grant was provided by Hope Against Trafficking, reinforcing our commitment to the project’s long-term success.

A New Kind of Opportunity: The Social Media Internship

One of the most exciting milestones this year was the launch of the Bars of Hope Social Media Internship, developed in partnership with RingTrue. Through this program, survivors received hands-on training in:

• Social media strategy and branding

• Photography and video creation

• Content planning and ethical storytelling

This internship opened doors for survivors who were interested in non-production roles, allowing them to explore creative and professional skills aligned with their interests and strengths.

Unexpected Successes—and Meaningful Learning

We were thrilled by the strong survivor interest in the internship, including participation from individuals who had not previously engaged in the social enterprise. Survivors demonstrated creativity, leadership, and growing confidence, and engagement increased when survivor-created content was shared online.

Equally important was learning how to thoughtfully balance public-facing work with trauma-informed care. Challenges around pacing, consent, and digital learning curves helped us refine guidelines and strengthen support systems—ensuring survivor safety, dignity, and autonomy remain central.

Growing Reach, Growing Impact

While no additional funding was received specifically for this project, the impact of increased visibility was clear:

• Soap and lotion sales increased by $6,000, including first-time online sales.

• Speaking engagements and vendor events more than doubled, increasing from 44 to 103 in one year.

This growth reflects the power of survivor-led storytelling and the ripple effect of Impact100 Oakland County’s investment.

Looking Ahead

Bars of Hope continues to operate as a sustainable social enterprise, generating earned revenue while creating dignified employment opportunities. The Social Media Internship strengthens this model by increasing brand visibility, supporting retail and bulk sales, and offering a scalable framework for survivor-led outreach.

As we move forward, sustainability will be supported through earned income, donor support, and future grant funding—building on the strong foundation established through this grant.

With Gratitude

We are deeply grateful to Impact100 Oakland County for believing in this vision. This grant has been an encourager to our staff, leadership, and—most importantly—the survivors whose voices and talents are shaping the future of Bars of Hope.

Together, we are creating opportunity, dignity, and hope—one bar, one story, and one step forward at a time.