Meet Cyndi, Part of the Solution through Dressember

"No problem is too big to tackle. Together we can make a difference."

Dressember isn’t over, yet, so there’s still time to raise awareness about this creative fight against human trafficking. Interviewing participants is the way I’m doing that this year. See all interviews here.

I am donating 10% of all December Substack income to Dressember.

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

Dressember gives me a way to contribute to combating a problem that enslaves so many people.

Have you participated in the past?

This is my first year wearing dresses everyday. Before now I just supported /donated to my daughter’s advocacy team.

What does "mental health" mean to you?

This is near to my heart. My mother struggled with mental illness for years and I hope I have been able to help break the stigma and silence that often surrounds those affected by it.

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

It is fun to wear dresses that are creative and fun. But it also reminds me every day that I have a choice that others who are enslaved do not have.

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

People often ask me why I like doing creative things and my answer is simple: because it is therapeutic!! By participating in Dressember it helps me to feel like part of a solution.

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

There are too many people affected negatively by modern day slavery and Dressember is directly funding important projects that are bringing freedom to many.

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

It is much bigger and closer to home than most people realize.

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

It raises awareness and funds to help free people.

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

We live in a tiny remote town but our team and our community care about big issues and want to make a difference.

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

No problem is too big to tackle. Together we can make a difference.

Tell us a little bit about creativity, mental health, and/or the way that they intersect in your own life (outside of Dressember stuff) ...

I have been fortunate to make my everyday work in creative fields. Floral, antiques and upcycling and making handmade items. Being creative and having a job help me and the people I work with stay mentally healthy.

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

I believe that knowing the love that God has for me helps me live in a way that pushes me to prioritize the needs of others and this helps me stay mentally healthy.

You can donate directly to Cyndi’s Dressember fundraiser here.

If you love this work, consider a paid subscription. I am donating ten percent of all December Substack income to Dressember. PLUS, for every five new annual subscriptions this month, I’m immediately subscribing to another Substacker to support other creatives writing about art and mental health.