YORK, Pa. — Human trafficking. Domestic violence. Homelessness.
Three things that one victim advocate says often go hand-in-hand.
Survivor and thriver Jennifer Foxworthy shares her own struggle to escape and how she is now helping others turn their lives around.
"It's not just one stigma or stereotype that people think," Foxworthy said.
She is dedicated to empowering victims of both domestic violence and human trafficking.
"How does someone get there, and how do we get them to the next level?"
Foxworthy founded Unstoppable You Ministries to give men and women the tools they need to take back their lives.
"Coming alongside, showing compassion, looking them in the eye and saying, 'You are cared for,'" Foxworthy said.
"People want that sense of belonging."
It's something she learned the hard way.
A retired navy aircrewman, Foxworthy experienced more than five years of service-member-on-service-member domestic violence. She suffered in silence, afraid to confide in anyone--until one day, she had had enough.
"I got sick and tired of keeping it a secret and wearing the smile and friends and family had no clue of what I was experiencing," Foxworthy shared. "Dying slowly inside emotionally and mentally while in the service. I knew that this is not love. And this cannot be something that I'm willing to stay in any longer."
Now a survivor and thriver, an author and a motivational speaker, Foxworthy has found her confidence. She shares her story and helps empower others to do the same.
"They just feel so down on themselves, and they need someone to believe in them and just pour in them and say 'I believe in you' and encourage them," Foxworthy said.
Through her nonprofit, Foxworthy is traveling the country, hosting events that draw attention to these important issues so that we can no longer just look the other way.
"I call it Self-Care Saturday," she said. "An opportunity to just get plugged in, poured into, empowered and connected to resources in that room."
Survivors share their stories and encourage others to keep pushing forward while focusing on health and wellness. All of it is to make sure attendees know they're not alone.
"Once they get that sense of belonging, their self-esteem is boosted, and once their self-esteem is boosted, now, they are creative," Foxworthy said. "They have theIR they have values, they're operating with morals, and they're high fliers."
Over the past 10 years, Foxworthy and her team have hosted 27 Unstoppable You Conferences and provided 57 makeovers to men and women across the country--all with one goal in mind.
"If we can take off one less worry for a person, that's our purpose," the founder said. "So they can then focus on the next task, or the next goal."
The 28th Unstoppable You Conference is happening Saturday, Nov. 4 at the York Jewish Community Center, located at 2000 Hollywood Dr. in York. Foxworthy says it's an opportunity to inspire, empower and connect. Doors open at 9 a.m. and registration is now open.