At One Purse, we believe in the power of second chances—and in the incredible strength of the women who take hold of them. For nearly ten years, Autumn endured life as a victim of trafficking, caught in a cycle of fear, survival, and silence. Her turning point came in the most unexpected way: after being arrested on serious charges, she was sent to jail and court-mandated rehab. Through this experience, she began to confront the trauma and the normalized dysfunction of the life she had lived for so long.
“It might sound strange, but going to jail saved my life. It forced me to stop and finally face everything I’d been running from. I had normalized a bad situation on the streets for so many years—I didn’t even realize how far gone I was until I stepped away. God did for me what I couldn’t do for myself.”
With time, support, and a deepening faith, she began to rebuild. One Purse was honored to be part of that transformation. One Purse supported Autumn with a laptop that enabled her to complete online classes and earn her Associate of Arts degree. She’s now pursuing her Bachelor’s in Business Management and Supervision—a remarkable achievement on its own, but even more powerful considering the road she’s traveled.
I now have my AA, and soon I will have my Bachelor's. These degrees coincide with my burrent position as a Business Development Associate at a nonprofit that gives back to the mission.
Today, Autumn is not only surviving—she is thriving. Her work, her education, and her story all serve one purpose: to build a better life for herself and her children, and to give back to others still on their path to healing.
This is why we do what we do. At One Purse, we stand with survivors as they reclaim their voices, their value, and their vision for the future.