September Newsletter

Dear Friends of Reclaiming Hope,

We’re excited to introduce you to Dorris Walker Taylor, speaker for our October 10 Walking in Hope Dinner. When you hear her speak, you’ll fall in love with her kind spirit, optimistic outlook, contagious smile, and beautiful voice.

Dorris has proudly overcome 26 years of addiction, trauma and prostitution. She is a graduate of Thistle Farms and serves as their Senior Ambassador of Community Relations. Thistle Farms, located in Nashville, is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. They do this by providing a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sisterhood of support.

Our annual fundraising dinner is the only opportunity each year that we offer to listen to a survivor tell their story. Why? Because we are more concerned with their healing than anything else. Most of the survivors we walk with are triggered as they relate their stories.

They are trying to define themselves by their futures more than by their pasts.

That’s why we bring in survivors from out of town to share at our dinner. Dorris is an accomplished speaker and advocate, having been featured on The Today Show, the 700 Club, and with Rev. Becca Stevens for the 2017 CNN Hero Awards. “I am committed to paving the way forward and speaking out for women around the world who have yet to find their way home.”

We hope you’ll join us for a special evening: Friday, October 10 at 6 p.m. (The charcuterie board will be available beginning at 5:45.)

Today is the anniversary of 9/11. A horrible day in the history of mankind.  All of our lives were impacted. The date 9/11 means so many things to each of us. For me personally

9/11/2001 was an event that launched me into working more closely with survivors of disasters – trauma survivors (I did this globally for 10 years). And just 12 years ago on 9/11/13 I faced my own disaster – cancer surgery, followed by chemotherapy.

I’ve learned that trauma is a part of life. Everyone faces their own traumas; some more encompassing than others. For me it is part of what led me into our work at Reclaiming Hope – bringing hope and healing to those going through unspeakable trauma. My life passion is to enable the body of Christ to be the hands and feet of Christ to a hurting world.

God is the same yesterday, today and will be tomorrow. He is always accessible and ready to walk with us through life – and that is what my hope is based on. As you reflect on 9/11/2001, and the traumas you face in life, take the time to share with someone how you found hope and healing.

Thank you for supporting us and working with us to give survivors hope.

Steps Forward:
In Colorado it is now mandated for law enforcement to go through Training mandated for law enforcement recruits responding to human trafficking

From Polaris 9/10/25: “Exciting news! The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) has just passed the first hurdle toward becoming a law this year and was voted through the House Judiciary Committee! We’re one step closer to gaining, for the first time, a federal law that will recognize that survivors should not be punished for crimes they were forced to commit and will give survivors a pathway to clear their federal criminal records.

“The next step is passage through the full House of Representatives, so TAKE ACTION by asking your Representatives to support and co-sponsor this important legislation!” Learn more: https://polarisproject.org/tsra/ 

Let’s work together to stop trafficking, especially in our community.

With gratitude and hope,

Sues Hess
Executive Director
Reclaiming Hope