A Young Professional’s Volunteer Journey
By Stanley
I started volunteering with My Life My Choice almost exactly a year ago. Looking back, it has been a rich experience. My Life My Choice’s mission drew me in, and the people – the many passionate, welcoming, and devoted employees and volunteers there – prompted me to stay. Most of all, I was motivated by the work I was able to do as a volunteer, work that was at once fulfilling and allowed me to contribute to a cause that matters.
I have wanted to get involved in ending the sexual exploitation of children for some time, however, I never had the chance to contribute to this cause. This changed after I moved to Boston following graduation. I found My Life My Choice online and was drawn to this survivor-led organization aiming to both empower survivors and ensure that no child will ever be bought or sold, and soon reached out and indicated my interest in volunteering.
Cailyn, an employee, enthusiastically replied and welcomed me to help set up their annual flagship fundraiser, “Turn on the Light.” As we planned for the event, I was struck by how warmly everyone welcomed me, and how friendly everyone was. When the night of the fundraiser came, I helped with humble tasks, from setting up tables to helping register guests as they came in. Though those are simple tasks, the staff once again struck me by their great, genuine appreciation for all the volunteers.
As COVID lockdowns receded into memory and My Life My Choice began restarting its outreach efforts, I had the opportunity to help spearhead the reboot of the Male Allies Group, an initiative to engage other male allies. The first task was to launch a kickoff event where we would engage other interested male allies and begin a discussion on how we can contribute to the cause. It was a daunting task for a 25-year-old fresh college graduate. However, I had the fortune of being guided by two much more experienced co-chairs, Luke Goldworm and Andy Takats, who were charitable in helping me. The My Life My Choice staff likewise went above and beyond in supporting us, from tackling the many logistical challenges to offering leadership.
Helping reboot the Male Allies Group was sometimes stressful, but the work always felt meaningful. Working in tandem with Luke, Andy, and the staff, we planned out the outreach strategy, the day-of logistics, and ultimately a workshop where the attendees would brainstorm how we might help the cause. The work was similar to what I did in my day job as a strategy consultant. What differed, however, was that I felt I was contributing to a cause that I care about and one that matters. I felt that I was, in a much more profound way, “making a difference.”
As I am writing now, the second Male Allies meeting just concluded, with the third on the way. We have decided to explore ways to reduce recidivism from former sex buyers and try to engage parents to discourage young men from buying sex in the future. As I look towards my second year of supporting My Life My Choice, I look forward to seeing how these initiatives develop and hope I can help execute them well. Separately, as the Young Professionals Initiative kicks off later this year, I am eager to meet and work with others like myself to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Still, looking back, I am grateful that My Life My Choice welcomed me so warmly in joining the fight, and offered me so many meaningful opportunities to help.