Meet Dixie, Pursuing Justice Through the Arts in Dressember

"The only way that we will end human trafficking is by joining hands with EVERYONE to create waves of change."

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?

I’ve been an anti-trafficking advocate for 14 years. This is my 7th year participating in Dressember, because I find the fashion challenge to be a fun way to continue the conversation and reach new people in my mission to end trafficking within my lifetime.

What have the best parts and the most challenging parts been?

The most challenging part for me is the actual fundraising. I know Dressember partners with amazing organizations who do the hard and great things. It’s hard for me to do the ask, I guess.

The best part has been participating in a team last year and this year. Team Bring Freedom!

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 is a part of being a whole and healthy person. I think that holistic healing is an important part of aftercare for trafficking survivors to become thrivers!

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

I have fun matching thrifted dresses (and sometimes creative layering) with my fair trade accessories from Trades of Hope.

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

I think pursuing justice through the arts is the best way to create change. Being creative with dresses and the posts I create bring these hard issues to the forefront in a palatable and impactful way.

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

The only way that we will end human trafficking is by joining hands with EVERYONE to create waves of change.

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

Most human trafficking involves mental bondage through manipulative and controlling relationships.

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

It opens the door to have conversations with people new to the issues.

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

My team Bring Freedom includes a handful of people who are united through the nonprofit I started with my friend Zona last year. This is something we work on all the time, but Dressember makes a fun change of pace.

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’m passionate about justice through the arts. This has gotten kind of sidelined since the death of my husband 2 years ago, because it was something we worked on together. But, it’s time for me to raise my own voice in this work again.

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

Living in Florida has made it easier for me to commit to wearing a dress for a month, but I would continue doing it even if I moved north. It has become a December tradition for me!

You can donate directly to Dixie’s Dressember fundraiser here. Connect with her on Instagram. And visit the Bring Freedom website.

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.