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OPS was founded in 2012: “with the specific mission to provide services to survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE).” Moderator Nykki Canete will lead a discussion with other OPS staff, Martha Linehan, Rekina Perry, SarahAnn Hamilton, and Searetha Simons, on, among other topics, the Art Workshop and how art is used in their programming to facilitate healing and transformation for survivors.
“The Organization for Prostitution Survivor’s mission is to accompany survivors of prostitution in creating and sustaining efforts to heal from, and end, this practice of gender-based violence. OPS is survivor-founded, survivor-led, staffed predominately by survivors, and we elevate survivors in all we do.”
Register in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld--orjMiEtADUitpx2q2ZW5DdK5VIN4r
Nykki Canete
Nykki Canete (MSW, LSWAA) is Director of Programs (NykkiC@seattleops.org). As someone with both theoretical and experiential knowledge of exploitation, trauma, and systemic violence, Nykki has centered her life and career on creating equitable systems and environments by increasing the personal, social, economic, and political power of people with lived experiences. Nykki received her Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Administration and Public Policy and an additional graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington. Prior to moving to Seattle, Nykki was employed as an anti-violence educator at UC Berkeley, and founded a survivor-led education, training, and outreach program that works to dismantle the normalized culture of violence and create institutional change.
Martha M. Linehan in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Martha Linehan (CDP, CIMT) is a poet, art maker, Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP/SUDP), and Integrated Movement Therapist (IMT). She has worked as a counselor in the Seattle area for over 25 years with homeless & foster care youth and with survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). Martha co-founded Word UP SHOT, a photography and writing program for young women in early recovery with her sister Jennie Linehan which was later adapted to specifically serve commercially exploited girls. She started the art program at the OPS with OPS co-founder Peter Qualliotine and replicated the Art Workshop in the King County Jail in 2018. She continues to co-facilitate the Art Workshop as well as a virtual Art Group with her co-workers Rekina Perry and SarahAnn Hamilton. Every day she is deeply grateful to get to do the work she does and to do it with the most incredible and inspiring women.
Rekina Perry
Rekina Perry: Adult Survivor Advocate / Peer Programming Specialist. Rekina is a fierce survivor advocate, artist and poet. She has worked in the field of Social Services for over ten years with youth & families, with adults experiencing homelessness, and with adult survivors of commercial exploitation since joining the OPS team in 2020. Her range of expertise includes peer programming, resources & networking, and all things creative and innovative. She developed and co-facilitates Queens’ Journey, a Healing and Empowerment Group for Black women at OPS. Her brilliance inspires us all. The University of Washington purchased a painting of Rekina’s in 2018 which hangs in the School of Social Work.
Searetha Simons
Searetha Simons started her journey at OPS as a participant attending all of the groups including the Art Workshop. She was soon accepted into OPS’ Employment Internship Program and began to facilitate the Survivor Support Group which she continues to do every Thursday. This led to her being hired as a permanent staff member on the Survivor Services team. Searetha joined the Jail Art Workshop program as a co-facilitator which is one of her greatest achievements because it enabled her to give back to her community in a very meaningful way. By doing all of this work she is able to keep taking care of herself; being present and there for others, for herself and for her community. Giving back is an important part of her ongoing healing process. She served on the Plymouth Housing Board of Directors for seven years and is currently on the Harborview Patient Advisory Board representing marginalized populations.
SarahAnn Hamilton
SarahAnn Hamilton: Today I can say that without any doubt I am SarahAnn, a mother, wife, survivor, artist, founder and owner of TRAPART.ORG, and an advocate. I didn’t always know this. I used to believe I was a girl that came with a price tag. Just a girl from Seattle who got forgotten and left behind. I was a girl who believed the lie that being loved or safe came with a cost. Everything came with a condition. I daydreamed about unconditional love and a better way. I was grieving over the loss of being “just normal.” My childhood was stolen. I traded in my roller skates for hooker heals. Instead of prom dresses I wore fishnets and short skirts. The whole world drove right past me on Aurora Ave. No one ever stopped to see why a child was walking down the street. It did not take long for me to figure out I was not worth looking for. I had to become ok with “THE GAME.”
Then one Saturday I stumbled across OPS. It was an Art Workshop day. I remember walking in and feeling like I was home. High heels that were made into fine art lined the walls. Stories of change and happy endings hung in frames. I had to have had a look on my face that screamed, “OMG I found my people.” Like most survivors, this kind of scared me and I found myself trying to figure out what the catch was. I was guarded and made sure to let everyone know I was tough, but it did not take Martha very long to talk me into picking up a paint brush. There is something about putting color on a blank canvas because something happened. I started showing up for myself. I was becoming a part of a community. I was paying attention. I took chances and people started giving me chances. So, it only made sense that one day I would say “Hello I AM SarahAnn.” I currently serve as a CSE Survivor Advocate at OPS. I co-facilitate the same Art Workshop that saved my life with the same women who put a paint brush in my hand. I believe in community, outreach, and equality. I was that girl who was forgotten, and now I have a voice. I am able to support a survivor in the same way someone did for me.