Lucy Liu Calls For Unity And Awareness At New Frie...

By Elizabeth Lenart | Contributor

With a message grounded in unity and hope, actress and UNICEF Ambassador Lucy Liu joined 1,000 advocates, leaders, and supporters on the 2025 New Friends New Life Stand for Her Luncheon on September 12. Held on the Omni Dallas Lodge and emceed by NBC 5’s Laura Harris, the highly effective occasion spotlighted survivor tales, neighborhood motion, and the continued battle to finish intercourse trafficking in North Texas.

All through the afternoon, one message rang clear: hope shouldn’t be solely attainable—it’s already taking root.

This system opened with a stirring rendition of “Stand by Me” by college students from Booker T. Washington Excessive Faculty for the Performing and Visible Arts, setting the tone with a robust message of standing in solidarity with survivors. Emcee Laura Harris then guided the viewers by way of occasion highlights, together with the “Her” artwork sequence on show simply outdoors the ballroom—that includes work by NFNL Girls’s Program graduate, youth mentor, and artist Robbie Hamilton.

Luncheon Co-Chairs Lynn Dowdle and Karla Smith acknowledged The Honorable Betsy Worth, honorary luncheon chair, together with key civic companions, donors, board members, and sponsors. They inspired visitors to proceed advancing the mission past the ballroom.

New Mates New Life CEO Bianca Davis underscored the stakes with sobering statistics:

·        400 teenagers are trafficked in Dallas every evening

·        Traffickers in North Texas revenue $99 million yearly

·        The typical age of entry into trafficking within the U.S. is simply 15

But even within the face of those grim realities, Davis reminded the viewers of the facility of change—and of hope. With the help of donors and companions, NFNL continues to assist girls and women discover stability, schooling, employment, and therapeutic.

Offered by Thomson Reuters, the 2025 ProtectHER Awards honored 4 changemakers for his or her dedication to defending the worth of girls and women, and their work in prevention, justice, and advocacy: Chad Frymire, Erin Nealy Cox, Eliza McCoy, and Laila Mickelwait.

In one of the crucial emotional moments of the day, a robust video presentation instructed the story of Ms. Toni, a survivor whose journey—shared alongside her household—supplied a heartfelt have a look at the lasting influence of each trauma and therapeutic. Their story illustrates how restoration can ripple by way of generations, proving that hope typically begins with a single act of bravery.

The centerpiece of the afternoon was a compelling dialog between NBC 5’s Laura Harris and actress and UNICEF Ambassador Lucy Liu, who introduced perception, function, and urgency to the stage—urging visitors to remain related, take motion, and by no means underestimate the facility of consciousness.

Listed here are key takeaways from her remarks:

·        On early advocacy: “I used to be going to a number of charity occasions early in my profession. It turned overwhelming, so I made a decision to concentrate on one: UNICEF.”

·        On schooling and ignorance: “Schooling helps kids develop into impartial. Issues fall by way of the cracks due to ignorance.”

·        On trafficking world wide: Whereas touring with UNICEF she discovered that “it wasn’t nearly vaccines or schooling.” Youngsters had been being kidnapped and bought. These are human rights violations.

·        On trafficking right here at house: “Folks suppose trafficking solely occurs in war-torn nations — but it surely occurs right here, at bus stops and airports. We don’t have a look at it till it occurs to us.”

·        On parenting and vulnerability: “At 16, I assumed I knew the whole lot. As dad and mom, we all know youngsters are susceptible — however we will’t tether them to us. Folks gained’t know until you inform them.”

·        On trauma’s ripple results: “Trauma connects to many issues. Independence is taken away. Disgrace is inside. There’s a lot we don’t perceive.”

·        On progress and neighborhood: “Ten years in the past, this room wouldn’t be this full. You possibly can’t seclude your self from the neighborhood and anticipate to make an influence. It actually takes a village.”

·        On easy human connection: “Shake the hand of the individual subsequent to you. If somebody says one thing type on a nasty day, it might change a light-weight on. That’s humanity.”

·        On the hazards of disconnection: “Know-how retains us from speaking. We’re scrolling as an alternative of connecting. That separation results in disappointment.”

·        On taking motion: “Unfold the phrase — it doesn’t value a factor. Volunteer. Be a part of one thing. After I first moved to LA, I labored throughout Thanksgiving in homeless shelters. Having a dialog with somebody going by way of that – it’s not a simple street. Perseverance must be in place.”

·        On perspective: “This second in your life shouldn’t be the one second. It’s only one second.”

·        On accountability: “If you happen to see one thing, say one thing. If it doesn’t appear proper, it in all probability isn’t.”

·        On her artwork and upbringing: “Each my dad and mom labored. They had been immigrants who got here to this nation to review. I began with portray, sculpture, collage — then performing. Artwork is expression, whether or not you do it alone or with others.”

·        On her movie profession: “I didn’t get into this enterprise to do motion motion pictures — it simply occurred. I’m not Jackie Chan.”

·        On The Satan Wears Prada 2: “I can’t say something, however I’m excited to be a part of it. I’ve a cameo and might’t take any credit score, but it surely’s going to be enjoyable and fabulous. It’s been 20 years for the reason that first one—and 25 since Charlie’s Angels. A few of you on this room weren’t even born then!”

·        On what issues most: “Every thing is altering. Each second turns into a reminiscence. There’s a lot extra energy in unity.”

Because the occasion wrapped up, visitors explored two highly effective reveals — Artifacts of Human Trafficking and HER, the artwork sequence by NFNL graduate Robbie Hamilton. Many additionally grabbed Liberty Road Backyard produce baggage, leaving reminded that standing for her actually drives change. 

Attendees included Robin Bagwell, Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown, Mary Bowman Campbell, Cole Edmonson, Commissioner Elba Garcia of District 4, Elizabeth Gambrell, Jimmy Heimpel, Libby Hunt, Nancy Ann Hunt, Janet Jensen, Ashlee Kleinert, Melissa Sherrill Martin, Sharon McCullough, Michael Meadows, Peter Miller, Kelly Mitchell, Jan Osborn, Pat Schenkel, Jessica Turner Waugh, Wayne White, Stephanie Wilcox, andDeputy Mayor Professional Tem Homosexual Donnell Willis.

For extra data on how one can help New Mates New Life, go to www.newfriendsnewlife.org or contact Chief Improvement Officer Priya Murphy at 214-217-8652.

About New Mates New Life (NFNL)
New Mates New Life is a nonprofit group devoted to serving to girls and kids who’ve been exploited by intercourse trafficking. NFNL presents restorative companies and works to boost consciousness about this crucial difficulty in our neighborhood. For extra data, go to www.newfriendsnewlife.org.