Brave Global

Brave Global began in 2014 as a grassroots effort at Revive Church in the city of Long Beach in response to the startling statistic that 70-80% of girls rescued from human trafficking in the United States have spent time in the foster care system. Brave Global intentionally reaches out to under-served youth who are at-risk of becoming exploited. The primary focus of Brave programming is with young people ages 11 to 24 in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, including those in foster care, the probationary systems, transitional age youth, runaway and homeless youth. Brave Global prioritizes these groups because the instability of their lives and the lack of a stable, healthy caregivers leaves them incredibly vulnerable to exploitation. Through our events and programming (listed below), youth can be reached in a safe settings that foster conversations around identity, values, mental wellness, healthy relationships, boundary-setting and more. Character building in the way of persistence, active listening, confidence and self-esteem is a bi-product of Brave Global's initiatives. Brave Global is a place where youth can find their value, purpose and worth through guided discussions & activities with a trusted leaders and mentors from their community.

In 2017, Brave Global became its own 501c3 nonprofit organization in order to invite and equip communities across the globe to reach their most at-risk youth through events, Brave Circle small groups, mentoring opportunities, workshops and camps. Our programs help communities build relationships with their vulnerable youth and show them that they are seen, they matter, and they belong. To date, Brave has 22 US chapters and a presence in 5 other countries! We believe that the mobilization of local communities can put a permanent end to the exploitation of vulnerable youth everywhere.

Brave Youth Empowerment Conference launched in Long Beach in 2014 and quickly became a favorite annual point of contact for vulnerable youth with positive and uplifting messages from speakers, artists, dancers, and community leaders who have walked through adversity. Brave empowerment events work to prevent the exploitation of foster and probation youth by illuminating each young person's sense of identity, value, and belonging. Each year, the local Long Beach Brave Chapter hosts up to 700 girls with a life-changing day that equips them with a message of hope, love, value, and purpose. The Brave movement is not just about these annual events, each youth attendee receives a Brave interactive journal to promote each girl's continuation of progress and well-being and connects them with life-giving relationships and mentoring opportunities. These journals are themed around Identity, Healthy Relationships & Boundaries, and Mental Health & Wellness. One-on-one mentoring opportunities and Brave Circle small group book studies have been launched all over LA County as a way for Brave to sustain its relationship with youth & their caregivers long after the empowerment event.

Testimonials

" When girls hear the stories of women who faced struggles in their youth, their walls come down. There's something powerful when we learn that others have triumphed in places where we have felt hopeless. At a Brave conference, eyes come open to the possibilities of a future where dreams become a reality. Every girl needs to know she is not alone, and every girl can be inspired to believe." Noemi Chavez | International Speaker & Brave Global Founder

"The work that BRAVE Global is doing is outstanding. In my 30 years of working with At-Risk Youth, I have never come across an event close to what BRAVE stands for. Many of our youth have never felt love or have had any family support. Attending the BRAVE event brings them hope and happiness; the impact it leaves with our young ladies is everlasting." Lisa Garcia | Los Angeles County Probation Department

"The City of Long Beach has endorsed BRAVE Long Beach since its inception. Research shows that 80% of trafficking victims under the age of 18 are in the Los Angeles County Foster Care System. These are our girls, living in our neighborhoods. We are honored to partner with BRAVE to send a message of hope and resiliency so these girls know they have options for hope, education, and healing." Tracy M. Colunga | MSW Director | Innovation Team City of Long Beach

" One girl that has always been a troubled child started to see her worth. She improved her grades, wanted to participate in school activities, and asked for help after school. Her whole attitude changed. She truly turned her bad attitude into something good. The speakers really touched her heart. She realizes that she can do anything she puts her mind to do." Anonymous Caregiver

"Brave Circles has helped me learn alot about trauma...