Len Dresses Up! Emphasizing the Humanity Behind Human Trafficking

"Dressember does a really great job of humanizing the issue of human trafficking and telling victims’ stories in a way that is empowering and not further victimizing them."

If you’ve been following along this month, then you know that I am interviewing Dressember participants about their perspectives on the annual fight against human trafficking and how that intersects with my particular niche focus of the relationship between art and mental health. The past few days I had some roundups of previous answers, but the month isn’t over, so I want to bring you some fresh new interviews. Today we’re hearing from Len Dresses Up!

What does Dressember mean to you? Why are you participating this year?

Dressember is one way that I advocate for a better world. It’s a fun way to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking and I appreciate Dressember’s approach to advocacy, through providing resources and a supportive community to make advocacy work less overwhelming.

Have you participated in the past? If so, what have the best parts and the most challenging parts been?

I have participated with Dressember off and on for three years now!

I love the creativity and fun involved in getting dressed up for 31 days and the awareness to the cause that I’ve been able to cultivate within my community.

The challenging parts have been to keep going in the midst of the other heartbreaking issues happening in the United States and the world at large, especially during this 2023 campaign. It can also be difficult for me to ask for money.

What does "mental health" mean to you? How does it relate to your own life and/or your understanding of the Dressember cause?

Mental health means caring and loving on your mind, and prioritizing it as much as you do your physical health. It means being gentle with yourself on your hard days and celebrating yourself on your good days and everyday in-between! Really just celebrating yourself as much as you can! And continually learning how to care of yourself. 💛

In what ways does Dressember allow you to express yourself creatively while raising awareness and funds?

Through the Dressember campaign, I’ve made friends and found more ways to style the clothing I already have. I’m also able to get creative with posting on social media and Dressember provides great resources for raising awareness and fundraising.

In what other ways do you think creativity and mental health intersect through the Dressember project?

I personally think most things can easily intersect with mental health, and creativity is no exception. When you use your mind in a creative way that action tends to benefit your mental health.

What is the aspect of Dressember's cause that you most want to highlight?

Dressember does a really great job of humanizing the issue of human trafficking and telling victims’ stories in a way that is empowering and not further victimizing them.

What do you wish people knew about human trafficking that you suspect most people don't know?

I want people to continue to see the human aspect of this issue, as well as all social issues that exist. We as humans don’t live in a vacuum and there is always a reason behind why people do what they do, including human trafficking victims and perpetrators. We are all human beings and when we start to dehumanize issues, that is when the world turns dark.

In your own words, how does wearing a dress every day for a month make a difference?

For an easy example, I’m not a person who wears dresses normally, so the action of me wearing a dress for 31 days has people asking me why. And then it gives me an in to share an elevator pitch of why I advocate with Dressember. I am also a firm believer that every act, no matter how small, makes a difference.

What do you want people to know about your specific fundraising team and goal?

I want people to know that for me, raising awareness of the issue of human trafficking is as important as donations. Anyone can be an advocate!

What else do you want to make sure people know about the Dressember cause?

That Dressember is a wonderful cause to be a part of, and you get out of it what you put in. You will be a part of a huge and nurturing community, and it is one of the best feelings to know that you are not alone in advocating and that you are part of something bigger than you!

What's another random thing we might be interested to know about you?

I collect stickers and I am high-key obsessed with sunflowers. 😎

Contribute directly to Helena’s Dressember fundraiser here. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.