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Freeman Consulting Group
Blog
Human Trafficking: The Romeo Pimp
| Posted on November 14, 2020 at 11:07 AM |
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 Human Trafficking“I thought he loved me and then he sold me.” -Romeo Pimp Survivor Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal activity
in the world. The term refers to a bevy of acts that includes both forced labor
and sexual exploitation. Many people think of the movie “Taken” when they think
of young girls being sex trafficked. More than 100,000 children a year are
forced into the sex trade, but this isn’t because of a massive kidnapping
organization. Instead, it is because pimps now have easy access to children
through the internet and cell phones. One of the ways traffickers target girls
and young women is through romantic relationships, both online and in person.
These types of traffickers are often referred to as Romeo Pimps. The Carlson Law Firm May 4, 2020 What is a Romeo Pimp? Gaining a victim’s trust can occur online or in person. In
both online and in person scenarios, the pimp will promise a better future. If
the victim and the pimp have never met the pimp will use these promises to lure
his victims to his town. Professionals undergo training to respond to human trafficking
victims with shelter and security. Additionally, the can help victims get
access to medical treatment, food, clothing, legal services, counseling, and
other aid. If you are a human sex trafficking victim, or if you know of a
situation of human trafficking, we can help you get assistance and navigate the
legal system. Educate Yourself
Recruiters can be students at your child’s school or parents
of other students looking to make some money. They’ll introduce your child to a
pimp and get paid for bringing in a new girl. It is best that you know your
child’s friends, as well as their families. Perhaps the most telling sign of a Romeo Pimp is an older
guy seeking the affections of your child. Pimps don’t usually kidnap, they
manipulate. The most prevalent form of trafficking is a man in his late teens
or 20s selecting a teenage girl to make her fall in love. These men are
constantly thinking of ways to trick young girls into doing what they want them
to do. You should always be wary of whom your child is dating and thoroughly
investigate them. Even if your child is over 18, he or she is not too old or mature to escape sex trafficking. Yes, it sounds cliche, but these pimps are often able to
brainwash their victims because of self-esteem issues, broken homes or
generally troubled childhoods. While all genders are affected by sex
trafficking, low self-esteem, particularly affects adolescent and teenage girls.
This is exactly why Romeo Pimps prey on this age group. Because of this, it is
important that you reaffirm your child’s self-worth every chance you get. The
best way to combat low self-esteem is to give your child a shield of love.
Reminding your child of her worth will do wonders to protect her from attempts
to lure her into the trafficking web. Additionally, reminding your child that
she is loved and that your home is a safe place will protect her from the
threats of a pimp. Girls who are trafficked are often living in constant fear. Get Involved! |
Mental Health During Covid-19
| Posted on November 10, 2020 at 2:53 PM |
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 College Students Life During Covid-19Mental Health
is a growing concern among college students in the age of Covid-19. Pay attention to your young adults as
they try to navigate their independence, adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, attend
classes, try to maintain
a social life, and connect with family and friends. As the holiday’s approaches, many students
will have to make tough decisions about going home to families with high risk
conditions. Talk with your son or daughter about
staying safe physically and emotionally. Here
are some signs of depression to look for in friends:
This is a time to seek help. Please encourage them to prioritize their
health. Here are some suggestions parents can encourage their
children to do: a.
Encouraged students to
seek out spiritual outlets to volunteer and worships. b.
Increase the amount of
rest, sleep, and exercise to maintain good health. c.
Stress the need to
maintain a healthy diet, even slightly by eating healthier foods. d.
Decrease substance use. e.
Encourage them to reach
out to others, schedule connection time virtually or safely in person. f.
Reassurance that they (parents)
are there for them as needed. g.
Encourage them to explore
resources for nonprofits that deals with mental health in young adults. |
Wisdom: You are never alone
| Posted on November 8, 2020 at 9:42 AM |
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  Wisdom and Pain “Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” –
Robert Gary Lee “Ouch! That hurt.” We’ve all uttered those words in our lives.
Maybe you said it right after a fall, feeling the pinch of an injection, or if
someone said something hurtful. Whatever the cause of your pain, it produced discomfort, and you wanted it to stop. Pain is a universal experience. No creature
on the planet is exempt from feeling it. It’s a biological mechanism that maintains balance in our system, and like an
indicator on a dashboard of a car, it lets us know when something isn’t right. However, many of us don’t see the pain this way.
Instead, we see it as an inconvenience. In the past, when religion and
superstition reigned supreme, pain was seen as a punishment, meted out by the
Gods in response to immoral behavior. Today we see it as some kind of defect
that needs to be fixed or cured. We’re naturally drawn to seek pleasure and avoid pain. It’s encoded in our our reptilian brain. We can all
agree that touching a hot stove or brushing against a sharp object is going to hurt, however, there are some forms of pain that are subjective. Pain can
be interpreted differently on an individual level, both due to different pain
thresholds, and what we personally consider to be pleasure or pain. The majority of us have a low tolerance for
pain, and the forces of capitalism are glad to offer us solutions. Our culture
of ‘painkillers’ offers a plethora of choices to numb our pain such as
antidepressants, alcohol, recreational drugs, sugar and social media. We do use our systems with these instruments of pleasure to escape reality. In her book, When Things Fall
Apart, Buddhist monk Pema Chödrön says, “Most of
us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We
run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape — all addictions stem from
this moment when we meet our edge and we just can’t stand it. We feel we have
to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is
that seems to ease the pain.” While quick-fixes work on a temporary basis,
it’s detrimental to our transition into conscious and
evolved beings. When we avoid pain, we are missing the
deeper and enriching experience that’s on offer. The more we resist and push away the pain, the more that we are inviting it to stay. Like a persistent cosmic postman, it won’t
go away until we understand the root cause. Just as light cannot exist without
the dark, the human experience is not complete without moments of sadness. In
fact, I think that life would be rather drab and
predictable if we constantly lived in a utopia,
never encountering bends on our path. |
Fearless: The Power of Her
| Posted on November 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM |
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 Fearless The Power of Her Mind, Body and Spirit I sought
the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from
every fear Psalm 34
We had an awesome Zoom Conference on Saturday, October
31, 2020. We had over 60 participants
eager to hear about Breast Cancer, Domestic Violence, Finance, Nutrition and
Covid-19. We had national presenters
from New York, Florida, Georgia, and several cities in North Carolina. We had the Pitt County Health Department Nursing
Director to stress getting the flu shot and to follow the scientific recommendations about the virus. We
heard from Dr. Newton share information about the relationship between Mother
Earth supply of water, sun, the food we grow, our air we breathe. He discussed
vitamins and minerals and the need to add exercise to our day. The audience was encouraged to do monthly breast exams from a nurse diagnosed at age 34
with breast cancer. She shared a very inspiring story. Domestic Violence was discussed, and resources
were shared to get help. Covid-19 was discussed,
and recommendations were shared based on the CDC and the WHO organizations. The conference ended with a discussion about
finances. After the conference, participants
were treated to a nutritious lunch at a nearby restaurant. |
Get off the couch
| Posted on October 24, 2020 at 8:30 AM |
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 Take a Mental Health Break during
Covid-19 Get off the couch and
get moving! In our limited environment due
to Covid, we are limited to where we can go.
We cannot visit our parents, grandchildren, or friends. We are limited in eating out, going to the
gym or the movies. Our jobs are in jeopardy or just gone. Financially, we are operating on a shoestring
budget. While there are many things out of our control, we can control our
response to life circumstances. We can
do some positive self-talk. Be reassured
that we will get through this. We must take care of our physical and mental
health. Things to do: Eat healthy foods. Get plenty of sleep. Exercise by walking,
running, swimming, hiking, gardening, etc. Meditate Take up a hobby or
find one that you enjoy. Listen to some soothing
music. |
Back to Nature.
| Posted on October 16, 2020 at 7:39 AM |
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 Mindful Breathing Just imagine being in a field of wildflowers, the sun beaming down on your face and you can breathe the glorious fresh air. That's therapy. Get way from the stress of the day. Do some bird watching; follow a butterfly as it dances from flower to flower sucking in the sweet nectar, listen to the sound of a waterfall or water flowing from a rock filled creek. Let your mind wonder to the children playing in a park. Try to remember the childhood games that you played when you were young. That too is therapy. Again, Take in a chest full of air and slowly exhale. Take a slow walk home and smile. Repeat after me, today is going to be a glorious day. Is there a happy song you can sing? Then sing as you return to your day. |
Mental Health Awareness
| Posted on October 11, 2020 at 12:09 PM |
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 Mental Health Day Take care of your mental health. It is important to be kind to yourself. Spend time with supportive people: family and friends. Seek professional help if life becomes challenging. Get outside for walks, cycling and hiking. Eat nutritional and well-balanced meals, get plenty of sleep and volunteer in meaningful activities. Be mindful of the effects of Covid-19. |
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
| Posted on October 9, 2020 at 11:42 AM |
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 Breast
Cancer Awareness Month in October The Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in
countries across the world every October, helps to increase attention and
support for the awareness, early detection and treatment of this disease. The earlier breast
cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment. So it's
important to check your breasts regularly and see your GP if you notice a
change. Common breast cancer
signs and symptoms include:
How Can I Lower My Risk?
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Life during and after Covid-19
| Posted on October 6, 2020 at 8:20 AM |
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Life during Covid-19  Wear your MASK, WASH your hands, SOCIAL DISTANCE. We are in this together. Be kind to others by wearing a mask. Our children are counting on the adults around them. Children need to feel secure, need to have a routine, a degree of certainty that life will get back to normal. Help them manage their feelings. Allow time for them to talk about things concerning their lives. Make the best of this situation by practicing healthy habits. Go for walks, ride your bike, go for picnics or take up a new hobby. A young boy wrote an optimistic poem about life at the end of Covid-19. Lincoln*, 11, from the United Kingdom* "When
it is safe, I’ll hold my arms open wide, and
shout to the world we can all go outside! Don’t
give up hope the end is in sight, if we
all stick together, we’ll all win this fight!” "When it is safe, I’ll hold my arms open wide,… |
The Struggle is to Believe
| Posted on September 26, 2020 at 1:12 PM |
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I Believe There are times when things go wrong in
our lives. We feel that the ground is shifting under our feet. We can't find a limb to hold on too. We feel as if we are drowning. It is at this time we must rely on our inner
strength. We have to do some positive self-talk. We have to keep some nuggets in our pockets to
pull out when the struggle become overwhelming. We must remember that struggles will come
but we can deal with them. We must
believe.   1. If there is no Struggle, there is no
progress. Frederick Douglass 2. We grow because we struggle, we learn and
overcome. R. C. Allen 3. The struggle of life is one of our greatest
blessings. It makes us patient, sensitive, and Godlike. It teaches us that
although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. Helen
Keller 4. The struggle you're in today is developing the
strength you need for tomorrow. Don't give up. Robert Tew 5. Strength comes from struggle. When you learn to
see your struggles as opportunities to become stronger, better, wiser, then
your thinking shifts from 'I can't do this' to 'I must do
this.' Toni Sorenson 6. Don't get discouraged by the success of others.
Make your own path and never give up. MJ Korvan |