Meet Donia Webb, an Elementary School Teacher Who Joins the Fight Against Human Trafficking

"Dressember reaches the most marginalized groups of people, like runaways, LGBTQ+ youth, children in foster care, people of color, and people suffering with mental health disorders."

Dressember interviews continue … today Donia shares with us her thoughts and experience participating in this annual campaign to raise funds and awareness in the fight against human trafficking.

I am donating ten percent of all Substack income in December to Dressember so now is a great time to subscribe! Learn more about my work here.

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

To me, Dressember is about community. It can feel hard to make an impact when it's just one person. Being a part of a community of advocates working toward the common cause of ending trafficking and restoring the lives of survivors feels like my little voice and small impact matter.

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

This is my 8th year as a Dressember advocate! I started advocating in 2016, when I was still in undergrad.

BEST PARTS:

1. Learning more about the impact of Dressember, hearing survivor stories, and learning how to make an impact.

2. Watching my family and friends get involved. My sister participated with me in 2018. A close friend helped me host a dress exchange in 2018. One of my longest friends did Dressember for a Day with me this year! Many family members have supported my fundraising over the years and cheered on the cause.

3. In 2019, I was a youth group leader and my small group participated! One student wore ties, and another collected donations from her school friends to make care packages for survivors. That year, we hosted an event with a local anti-trafficking organization, REST, where we screened a documentary and wrote notes to survivors.

4. Learning more about the fast fashion industry and how I can have a more ethical wardrobe .

MOST CHALLENGING:

1. Stepping out of my comfort zone. I've always been a tomboy and felt more comfortable in pants than in dresses. Wearing a dress every day for a month continues to be uncomfortable for me. I remind myself that simply being able to choose my outfit each morning is a freedom and a privilege that many don't have.

2. Discouragement. Sometimes I have a hard time seeing how my little choice to wear a dress will actually make a difference. I have to remember that I'm a part of a movement that is bigger than me - bigger than a dress!

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

I have lived with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. Social anxiety has been a particularly challenging part of navigating Dressember. I am deeply uncomfortable in unpredictable social settings, so hosting events was really challenging for me.

In my first couple years of Dressember, I often had multiple drafts of posts and agonized over how to respond to every comment. I had a hard time answering questions about Dressember because I was worried I'd say the wrong thing. That's where having the Dressember Toolkit has been really helpful! The pre-written captions, FAQs, and graphics help me feel more confident and comfortable talking to people about the cause.

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

Trying out new looks and layering! 2020 was my 5th year as an advocate so I wore a single black dress and it was so fun adding colors, sweaters, scarves, layers, and accessories!

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

Learning about ways to support survivor empowerment and mental health. Dressember is very transparent about sending their money to programs that help survivors start businesses, make art, and more.

Also, seeing other advocates use social media to practice creativity - I’m amazed by all the Dressember DisneyBounders, Book-related content, and art content (for example, Elm Creative has a #CreateforDressember challenge with prompts for artwork to follow). It is really amazing to see.

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

It is so hard to choose! I love that Dressember has consistently partnered with International Justice Mission to fund awareness, rescue, and restoration. They consistently partner with organizations and share the impact of every dollar.

I'm very passionate about fair trade and ethical sourcing.

I'm also passionate about how Dressember reaches the most marginalized groups of people, like runaways, LGBTQ+ youth, children in foster care, people of color, and people suffering with mental health disorders. Many people I know, myself included, have experienced some of this marginalization and could have been just a couple steps away from exploitation were it not for adults, educators, practitioners, counselors, and advocates stepping in and empowering them, and believing in their future.

I'm an elementary teacher and I understand the importance of prevention and advocacy on behalf of at-risk youth.

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

A big myth about human trafficking is that it only happens in foreign counties or in kidnapping scenarios. I live in the PNW, and Seattle has a very high rate of trafficking. Many people don't know or understand that trafficking so often happens in suburbs, by family members or intimate partners. It is rarely a "stranger grabs you on the street" scenario.

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

We (Dressember Advocates) choose to wear a dress every day to use our voices and our freedom to lift up the voices abd freedom of others.

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

My team: Dresses to Restore Dignity. My friend Sabrina is the leader and she has been doing Dressember alongside me since 2017. Our goal is $7,000.

My goal: I've set out to raise $800 for my 8th year. As an educator, I would like to raise enough money to give essential school supplies to 20 survivors of Child trafficking.

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 a Bookstagram account! I share book content 2-3 times per week. I've read over 30 books this year (though I don't post about all of them). I've really re-kindled my love for reading. I also love to paint!

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

I'm an elementary music teacher. I've loved singing, dancing, and expressing myself since I was little and I love teaching that joy for music to little learners now!

Donate directly to Donia’s Dressember fundraiser here. Connect with her on Instagram.