Bowl show revealed South Florida’s many voices

The controversy of the Super Bowl half-time show gives us the opportunity to celebrate and understand each other, and to vividly and loudly express the causes to which we feel most compelled to create positive change.

As lead partner in the Stop Sex Trafficking campaign for the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade sought to break myths of trafficking and stereotypes of traffickers, recruiters, and buyers of sex; give voice to survivor-leaders and victims; and strengthen hundreds of organizations that serve victims and survivors year-round.

Many in the community questioned whether the imagery of the half-time show hindered this pursuit. At the same time, many celebrated liberation, pride and empowerment as two iconic and powerful women rocked a global stage.

We are in a time that compels us to raise our voices and take action to confront issues, including diversity, immigration, gender equality and human trafficking that provoke our deepest feelings of injustice, combined with our most hopeful aspirations for freedom, liberty and opportunity for all.

Miami-Dade County is a loud, expressive, and passionate community. It is home to those with a voice, and also to those silenced through injustice, abuse and inequality.

The Women’s Fund will continue to undertake awareness campaigns across diverse issues, invest in our community capacity to protect and empower women and girls, and be a platform for all voices to ensure every woman and girl can step upon her stage and own it.

Let’s keep our voices loud, and our eyes and ears wide open as we continue to seek positive change together.