Photo Credit: CFISDNews
Cy-Fair HS junior takes nonprofit organization international
By Mackenzie Atkins, Cy-Fair High School Student, CFISD Journalism Network collaboration
Cy-Fair High School junior Chloe Lee founded the Empty Streets nonprofit organization designed to bring human trafficking awareness to the community.
The Empty Streets Organization is the world’s largest youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors and educating young individuals to prevent future trafficking cases. Due to the city of Houston currently ranking No. 1 in the U.S. for human trafficking, Lee desired to bring more attention to the issue.
“I see people helping homeless people, helping kids diagnosed with cancer and mental health patients,” Lee said. “I didn’t see much help targeting the human trafficking issue that we have in our community, so I thought it would be a great idea to start this organization.”
Lee has expanded the organization’s reach to multiple chapters throughout CFISD. Empty Streets has chapters at Bridgeland, Cypress Falls, Cypress Park and Cypress Woods high schools. In addition to multiple chapters throughout CFISD, Empty Streets also has active chapters in California, Georgia, New York and Michigan, and a new chapter is currently being established in Lee’s home country of South Korea.
The organization provides direct aid to survivors including dental care, meal packs and hygiene kits. They also hold fundraisers to donate to shelters and law enforcement.
“In total we have donated more than 2,000 meal packs and 39 hygiene packs to survivors,” Lee said.
For more information, visit the Empty Streets website.
Source: CFISD
