Abolitionist Mama

When faced with the issue of human trafficking and modern-day slavery, San Clemente, California mom, Kimberly McOwen Yim simply refused to do nothing about it. She had all the (legitimate) excuses the rest of us have… young children at home, carpools, dinner, cleaning, meetings, helping with homework, playdates. As she became more aware of the issues,however, and the magnitude of it all, the excuses simply could not excuse her inaction. She had to get involved. She had to do something. Anything.

I remember the night I stumbled on Kim’s blog, aptly called Abolitionist Mama. It was after midnight and I was on yet another quest for information about human trafficking and searching for my place, as a mom, in this fight. Her words, her story made me literally jump out of my seat. She was me. I was her. There were more of us… Abolitionist Mamas! I wasn’t alone in this quest. As silly as it sounds, I really did feel completely alone on this journey. I felt ridiculous for staying up past midnight, AGAIN, on a quest that I simply couldn’t ignore anymore. As soon as I regained my seat, I frantically searched for and found her Facebook Page and messaged her quite possibly the longest facebook message ever written. I poured out my heart, my soul to this stranger that I felt an instant, and deep, connection with. How could it be that she, a complete stranger on the other side of the country, was writing, word for word, what my own journey had been for the past year or so?! 

And yet this same story keeps being repeated as I “meet” and connect with more Abolitionist Mamas. As moms, our hearts are wrenched open at the thought of children being stolen and sold for sex, of mothers selling their daughters and fathers entrenched in bonded labor. There comes a day, a moment… I call it the point of no return… when we simply know enough and have to act. Period. After crossing the point of no return, some have gone on to start amazing organizations, local abolitionist chapters in their own communities, write books, speak and advocate for the voiceless.

“Meeting” Kim from afar breathed life and hope and encouragement into my soul. She was a mom, just like me, who DID find her place, her voice in this battle. I knew I would, too.

Kim’s journey “past the point of no return” has led her to start a local Abolitionist chapter in San Clemente, CA, and most recently to write a book with her soul sister and fellow Abolitionist Mama, Shayne Moore (aka Global Soccer Mom). Refuse To Do Nothing is the book Kim wished had been around 3+ years ago when she started her own abolitionist journey. It’s a book I am going to benefit from GREATLY and am anxious to get my hands on in February.

As I have said in many ways and many places here on Do A Little Good, who better to advocate for the voiceless, for the “least of these” than a fired up mother who finds her power and her voice in the midst of her real life and family?! Watch out world… there are a host of us Abolitionist Mamas rising up, and not only are we refusing to do nothing about the injustice of modern slavery, we won’t stop until justice rings. Oh, and by the way, we are the ones raising up the ones who will speak and act long after we are gone.

Pre-order your copy of Refuse To Do Nothing: Finding Your Power to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery on AMAZON.

Check out Kim’s BLOG and FACEBOOK to learn more about her local and global efforts to abolish slavery.