Women of the Streets
A shady business looms among the streets surrounding Grand Canyon University’s campus. The four-mile stretch from Indian School Road to Northern Avenue is a concentrated area for sex trafficking.
Pastor Carrie Bradley gestures to her van, recalling how a pistol bullet shattered its back window. Each week, she drives around risky Phoenix neighborhoods to equip victims of trafficking with strength and comfort.
Arizona ranks thirteenth in the country for most reports of sex trafficking, with 337 victims involved in cases as of 2021. With a population of over one million people in Phoenix, an indefinite number of trafficking crimes remain unnoticed.
Sergeant Michael Walter, who works for the Phoenix Police Department’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking sector, has observed increased cases in the four-mile stretch.
Bradley’s services are a direct response to this issue, which stems from her Christian faith and desire to support women in need. She defines the program, IdentiFreed, as a parachurch ministry that works alongside Christian churches to provide social services for communities.
Each Tuesday night, Bradley and a few trained volunteers huddle inside her van to minister to victims of sex trafficking throughout the city. They park on impacted streets, like Indian School Road and Northern Avenue. Women on the streets are welcome to step into the van, which is set up with a mini thrift store inside.
To keep those inside the van safe, volunteers are posted outside with bins of clothing for male pimps. While outside bins remain unsorted to distract pimps, clothing inside the van is cleverly organized by size for easy access.
The number of women served depends on where Bradley goes for the night; from several to hundreds of people. Inside the van, women look through clothing, connect with volunteers and are given an opportunity to immediately leave the streets if desired.
Bradley emphasizes the importance of building relationships with those impacted by sex trafficking: it often takes several visits to establish trust with the women.
Video by Emily Buus
Video by Emily Buus
The dicey nature of the streets interferes with the ministry; an outburst of anger from a pimp once jeopardized everyone's safety.
Free resources for those on the streets include clothes and basic hygiene items. Bradley's Phoenix headquarters, IdentiFreed Attic, features a thrift store where women find clothing for everyday life, job interviews and children.
To help women find long-term restoration, Bradley guides them to shelters, counseling and employment opportunities.
Video by Emily Buus. Image from Pexels.
Video by Emily Buus. Image from Pexels.
An outpouring of love and empathy lies at the center of Bradley’s services, helping others because she was freed from trafficking herself.
To discover more about IdentiFreed and resource services for those impacted by trafficking, visit identifreed.org.
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