By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
On Saturday, March 28, Fortify Alabama will host its second annual gala whose proceeds go to implementing a multi-pronged strategy to end trafficking of all kinds in Alabama the Beautiful. Fortify Alabama has as one of its “job descriptions” the following simple but powerful statement:
We are working to raise awareness, provide education, and deliver direct support to human trafficking victims throughout Alabama.
Fortify Alabama is dedicated to combating human trafficking through education, awareness, and outreach. The organization provides professional training for communities and organizations while also conducting motel and street outreach to build relationships and offer support to those who may be vulnerable to exploitation.
By raising both awareness and support for this work, Fortify Alabama partners with law enforcement and trusted anti-trafficking organizations across the country to strengthen the collective fight against human trafficking.
For the second year in a row, I am honored to help Fortify Alabama get the word out; this includes for the gala as well as training conferences that will be coming up later this spring and summer.
This year’s Fortify Alabama Everglowing Gala will be held at the Jackson Center in Huntsville, on March 28 at 6 p.m., and as tough as the topic is, I can say from experience that they have learned to also provide a truly enjoyable evening for those who attend. Silent auction items are as varied as a certified Fendi bag to alpaca socks. There will be genuinely delicious food, live music from a special guest DJ, a dance floor, a silent auction, clever games with wonderful prizes, and an evening of stories, impact, and vision that will inspire hope.
There are so many “small things that make a big difference” that Fortify Alabama does for those who are trapped in the $150 BILLION trafficking industry, and those things are as diverse as purchasing long stemmed red roses as a gesture of a pure and genuine worth along with much-needed hygiene items that are lovingly packaged, but the “baby” of Fortify Alabama’s founder, Nicole Wilson is the mobile boutique. When the team goes out on a motel outreach, most times they take with them the mobile boutique, which is a converted trailer filled with clothing and other items that help restore identity, dignity, and a sense of worth. The mobile boutique was purchased with the proceeds from last year’s Everglowing Gala. There are also other projects that are able to be completed through thoughtful giving—things like “spa days” or Christmas celebrations to “spoil the girls”…in a good way.
When a woman is caught in the crisis of trafficking, oftentimes she will look to having a pet as her only source of devoted loyalty and affection. A dog or a cat doesn’t care what you do for “a living,” they just walk in their purpose by providing unconditional love. A trafficker knows this, and will often tell a trafficked person that their “fur baby” will be harmed or killed if any attempt to escape is made. So, while a trafficked person may be ready to get out, they know that there is no rescue for their pet, and that is an unthinkable torment. Fortify Alabama has agreements with various excellent animal rescue organizations that will take in the animal so “their person” gets help and restoration.
Of course, Fortify Alabama knows that the most powerful restorer of worth, dignity, purpose, and identity is Jesus Himself, and many times it takes several contacts with those trapped before they feel safe enough to let Him into their lives. Shame, fear, church hurt, and the fear of being judged are large hurdles, but there are wondrous stories of deliverance, providence, protection, and transformation that have come about as Fortify Alabama goes to some of the most vulnerable in our culture. Those stories will be skillfully told at the Everglowing Gala as well as the training conferences later in 2026.
Dreaming ahead, one of the things Nicole would like to see in Fortify Alabama’s future is the creation of a resource/support center. This would be a place where deep healing can take place in a safe community. It would be a place where addictions can be broken, education can be completed, children could be cared for, job training could occur, food could be provided, and one could discover a life well-lived and loved. If you are interested in becoming a part of making that dream come true, Fortify Alabama is seeking sponsorships, volunteers and attendees for the 2nd Annual Everglowing Fundraising Gala on March 28. Tickets are available at https://givebutter.com/everglowing. See you there!
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
