OUR THEORY OF CHANGE ON ITS FEET™
Because Justice Matters builds pathways to brighter futures for women and girls in urban communities.
LIFE-CHANGING RESULTS OF
BECAUSE JUSTICE MATTERS EDENMADE DEPARTMENT CUMULATIVE REPORT 2017-2020
ANALYSIS & REPORT BY
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BECAUSE JUSTICE MATTERS (BJM) is an extension of YWAM, a nonprofit organization based in the Tenderloin Neighborhood of San Francisco with a mission to: •
spark a cultural shift for women
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expand women's experience of holistic healing and freedom
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support an integrated life that embraces spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental dimensions
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prepare generations of grassroot leaders who work authentically to produce social change
To advance this mission, BJM’s EDENMADE DEPARTMENT focuses specifically on women in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District who work in the adult entertainment industry and, more broadly, on the systemic injustices that permeate this industry.
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Our Mission: Our work at BJM is rooted in a firm foundation of being led by God. At EdenMade, we feel called to monthly outreach to women in the adult entertainment industry. We show up, build relationships, ask questions, listen to stories, love radically, and continue to offer empowering supports wherever and whenever we can. EdenMade exists to provide relationship-centered, trauma-informed care to every woman in the adult entertainment industry so that she may be empowered as a leader to live fully and freely in her true identity, connected to community and holistic resources, and restored and thriving in society.
Historical Snapshot. In 2017, BJM launched a department to build pathways to brighter futures for women who work in the adult entertainment industry. Two BJM staff members worked together on this. Monthly prayer nights and walks around the neighborhood commenced. People from the community who were passionate about ending the injustices in the adult entertainment industry started showing up, and by year-end, a core team of two BJM staff and three volunteers had formed. The team began forming relationships with organizations, government agencies, and individuals who were also passionate about supporting women or were somehow related to this industry. In 2018, after receiving training from Treasures, a nonprofit in Los Angeles that does strip club outreach, the team decided to focus on outreach to women who work in strip clubs. On Outreach Night, groups of volunteers headed out to the clubs with coffee, pastries, and gift bags that held basic needs items, fun items, a personalized notecard of encouragement, and a resource card with information for local organizations and resources. We spent time chatting with the women, getting to know them, praying with them, and providing support and resources as needed. One strip club manager really caught the vision. She quit her job, went back to school, and joined us as a strategic volunteer. By 2019, our relationships with several women in the clubs were flourishing. We shared stories, encouraged, and continued to be a steadfast source of love for the women. Our relationship with the police department, local FBI, and District Attorney matured and we were able to explore deeper ways to collaborate. In 2020, more volunteers allowed the club outreach effort to expand, and we were poised to develop next steps of engagement outside of the strip clubs. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the strip clubs were closed. We did not yet have ways to engage with the women outside of the strip clubs. During this unexpected pause, we started researching more, creating new systems and structures for outreach, and building in unity and strength as a team. The team assessed what had been built and developed vision for the future.
Alyssa had not engaged in any conversation with us for the past hour while we were in the dressing room talking with the women. This is not unusual, since the women are working and have multiple things to get ready. However, as our team was leaving, Alyssa locked eyes with us and said, “What you do matters. Don't ever forget. Thank you.” www.becausejusticematters.org
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Theory of Change. The results in this report are based on data collected using SEED Impact’s Theory of Change on Its Feet™. This framework guides our visioning, goal-setting, and ongoing assessment of results for each BJM department and the organization as a whole. Our EdenMade team began by clarifying the vision we hold for women in the sex industry, volunteers, local partners, and systems-level actors. We then translated the vision to define measurable, progressive results for each outcome target. Achieving our short and medium-term results greatly increases the likelihood that long-range, life-changing outcomes can be attained. This is the outcome performance model we use:
Upon conducting data analysis for this report, SEED Impact attests that EdenMade’s: •
goals are tied to a larger “theory of change” and vision for long-term social impact
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staff have been diligent in tracking outcomes that make a difference
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outcomes are advancing year-to-year
EdenMade Outcome Targets: 1.
Women in Adult Entertainment Industry
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EdenMade Volunteers
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Nonprofits/Local Agencies
4. Systems-Level Actors
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“SEED Impact has allowed our nonprofit to go to the next level, by putting detail and action into our goals and improving in weaker areas. The Theory of Change on Its Feet tool not only strengthened the department, but also my leadership. We are able to track and achieve our goals because of this tool!” — Lynae Byler, EdenMade Founder
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1. WOMEN IN THE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY THEORY OF CHANGE
Our team consistently shows up to the same clubs each month to provide resources that the women ask for. We ask them what they need, and we learn from them. We are authentic and open about who we are as a faith-based community, but we allow the women to lead in our conversations. If/when they initiate a conversation about faith, we are delighted to engage.
2020 OUTCOME PERFORMANCE • 9 women engaged in conversation and felt supported • 1 additional woman made personal, holistic choices, accessed needed resources, and engaged in spiritual conversations. 12 percent increase in total impact, July 2019 to July 2020
WOMEN IN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IMPACTED BY EDENMADE 2018-2020
CUMULATIVE OUTCOMES: 3 Love-to-See (3%) Making positive life choices, creating pathways of growth and healing for self and others 12 Like-to-See (13%) Made personal holistic choices, accessed resources, and engaged in spiritual conversations 80 Expect-to-See (84%) Women engaged in conversation and felt heard
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2. EDENMADE VOLUNTEERS THEORY OF CHANGE
Our volunteer base makes EdenMade’s work possible. Volunteers are engaged through community-building events and individual coaching sessions. We provide high-quality training on the industry, trauma, and innerhealing prayer. As a team, we live whole-heartedly and call volunteers to show up at a high level in order to serve women the best we can.
2020 OUTCOME PERFORMANCE • 3 volunteers committed monthly for at least one year • 4 became reliable team members • 4 assuming leadership roles and advocating in the community 24 percent increase in total impact, July 2019 to July 2020
VOLUNTEERS IMPACTED BY EDENMADE 2017–2020
“We spent a lot of time walking the streets in the Tenderloin, praying, listening, and worshiping. We saw more men than women, from outside the club. After a couple of months not yet reaching women, Julia, the Women's Ministry Director, shared this advice: ‘The doors will open with love.’ We realized that until we loved the bouncers, the buyers, the club owners, and the pimps, our hearts were not ready to step foot into the clubs.”
CUMULATIVE OUTCOMES: 12 Love-to-See (21%) Assuming leadership roles and advocating in the community 15 Like-to-See (27%) Became reliable team members 29 Expect-to-See (52%) Volunteers committed monthly for at least one year
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3. NONPROFITS/LOCAL AGENCIES THEORY OF CHANGE
EdenMade aims to provide services that women need, while also not overlapping with services already available. When we interact with nonprofits and local agencies, we speak heart-to-heart, aim to be open and spirit-led in conversation, and communicate honor and respect for the work they are doing. We show up to their events and get to know what they and others are doing throughout the city.
2020 OUTCOME PERFORMANCE •
6 organizations explored opportunities to collaborate
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3 partnered to initiate action plans
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2 achieving shared successes and expanding mutual goals and reach
27 percent increase in total impact, July 2019 to July 2020
NONPROFITS/LOCAL AGENCIES IMPACTED BY EDENMADE 2017–2020
We are delighted to report successful relationship-building with St. James Infirmary, La Casa de Las Madres, Freedom House, Love Never Fails, the DA Victim Services Office, and the San Francisco Police Department, among others.
CUMULATIVE OUTCOMES: 4 Love-to-See (8%) Achieving shared successes and expanding mutual goals and reach 12 Like-to-See (23%) Partnered to initiate action plans 36 Expect-to-See (69%) Organizations explored opportunities to collaborate
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4. SYSTEMS-LEVEL ACTORS THEORY OF CHANGE
Everyone at EdenMade volunteers to help with events or projects engaging systems-level actors. We network, cast vision from a nonprofit stakeholder perspective, and share the research and knowledge we have gleaned from people in the industry. We have clarity about what we do, and we know how to share that concisely in conversation.
2020 OUTCOME PERFORMANCE •
3 systems-level actors introduced and made aware of injustices
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2 partnered to initiate action plans
83 percent increase in total impact, July 2019 to July 2020
SYSTEMS-LEVEL ACTORS IMPACTED BY EDENMADE 2017-2020
Our team consistently attends monthly meetings of the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (SFCAHT), of which Because Justice Matters is a Founding Member. During these meetings non-profit and government decisions makers gather, share information, and collaborate to support survivors of human trafficking. EdenMade staff attend City Council meetings as well.
CUMULATIVE OUTCOMES: 0 Love-to-See (0%) Achieving shared successes and expanding mutual reach and goals 5 Like-to-See (55%) Partnered to initiate action plans 6 Expect-to-See (45%) Introduced and made aware of injustices
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Contact SEED Impact for more information on our Theory of Change on Its Feet™ FOLLOW US
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