An entrepreneurial pivot during COVID to help inspire and motivate women has become a lifechanging mission for two sisters and for human trafficking survivors.
It all started with jewelry. Sisters Amanda Kozlowski and Shannon Sloan have been advocates for human trafficking survivors and the organizations that support them for many years -- and then a light bulb moment occurred to combine that passion with jewelry.
“It was just during the COVID lockdown. I am an extreme extrovert, and I was feeling worried about being at home,” Kozlowski said. “This idea popped into my head to start a business with jewelry that had encouraging messages that people could give to each other.”
The business is called Ring True. The jewelry includes encouraging words for women that they can buy for themselves or give as an uplifting gift. Kozlowski donated some of the profits to benefit survivors at Metro Detroit human trafficking organizations.
Then the business started to grow and grew too busy for the working mother of three.
Kozlowski’s sister had been on several humanitarian and mission trips to Nepal and the Philippines when she was younger. She developed a passion to fight against human trafficking.
Sloan came up with a game-changing idea. She thought they should partner with the local organizations and hire survivors to make the jewelry.
Kozlowski started the business in 2020, and then in 2021, her sister joined her. Sloan works behind the scenes to help keep things organized.
Jill is a human trafficking survivor and a former resident at the Hope Against Trafficking safe house in Oakland County. The goal of the safe house is to help survivors realize that they are valuable, have worth, and can be successful outside of the trauma they’ve experienced.
“I met Amanda first, actually, it was my first day there and I met her. And just the smile made me feel so comfortable, you know. I could do and say, whatever, you know, be me, and they accepted me,” Jill said.
Jill said at first she was scared to work with the Ring True program. She said she felt like because she didn’t have experience making jewelry that it would be a “hot mess,” but it ended up being a therapeutic experience. She said when she makes jewelry, she feels better.
Find more information online at ringtrueco.com or by visiting them on Instagram at ringtrue_co.
Anyone who signs up for the Ring of the Month subscription and types LOCAL4 in the notes box at checkout will receive a gift made by survivors in Michigan.
---> Nonprofit helps human trafficking survivors clear their criminal records
If you suspect that any child or adult is a victim, or is at risk of becoming a victim, call 855-444-3911 any time day or night. If the individual is in imminent danger, immediately call 911. Click here to learn more about human trafficking.