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Book Rebecca

Contact Info

info@rebeccabender.org

541.450.9846

560 NE F St. #A628
Grants Pass, OR 97526

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Instagram

  • Remembering this incredible weekend when @rescuefreedom poured into all these leaders and it had nothing to do with trafficking. I will never forget awhile back when @jeremyvallerand said to me “Rebecca you’re not a Survivor Leader. You’re a leader. Period.” Surround yourself with people that encourage and uplift and push you toward ALL God has. Thanks for this event RFI team!
  • I’ve encountered so much scrutiny in the ten years I’ve been fighting human trafficking. It is interesting because we, survivors, come into this field not having much (if any) experience in things like public relations, media, team building, stress management, growing emotional intelligence, etc. and yet in the first few years, most of us get thrown on stage to “tell our story.” . As new waves of advocates & activists come on the scene – which is what we want, to spread the message – they quickly forget how much work needs to be done OFF the stage to make a difference. They don’t know all the work that was done before they got there. The laws that were passed, the many sleepless nights responding to crisis, the women you’ve endorsed and mentored quietly to help get into jobs that would better their futures. Because not everything we do HAS to be public. I had a new survivor once ask me to how to get an invite to an FBI training. My response: "you have to do the work." . Will we get it right all of the time? NO. But we keep learning & growing & trying. In ten years in the anti-trafficking field I have learned that I want to be ONE OF THE KIND ONES. I want to encourage & uplift & promote & support. Have I always done that? Of course not. I’ve complained about something or someone or some group that I think did this or that wrong. But I had a mentor tell me “you cant be so arrogant that you expect every new person to be an expert overnight.” He was right. I realized that this won’t further change. It actually only causes bitterness and criticism to take further root in your heart and seep like cancer into other areas of your life. So, whether you are a survivor or an ally, welcome. You will fall down, you will mess up, you will say the wrong thing, but you know what? You’ll be ok. You’ll learn, you’ll grow, and I pray that people will surround you with grace & kindness & patience just like many have done for me. . Shout out to just a few of MANY who I’ve seen respond with kindness all the time. (Tagged) PC: @andrearhowey (why didn’t it show repost- I used the app!)
  • I’m 7th generation Choctaw. We used to visit my great grandparents in Anaheim during the summers, where they owned a gas station and we’d go to Disneyland. Grandma Irene always said she was Black Dutch - no one really knew what that meant, but since Native Americans weren’t allowed to own land, we assumed that was her story and she was sticking to it. . I have learned that the Choctaw People are from South East region- Mississippi, Alabama area, but forced onto reservations in Oklahoma in the 1800s. My great(x6) grandfather Ben was from AR and married my great (x6) grandmother Margaret and eventually had Louvina. That led to my grandfather Donald who had my mom and aunt. He died when they were little so I never got to meet him; never got to learn about my culture or my heritage. Ive studied them lots, but still wish I could have met them. . I still think of the genes I carry and what runs through my veins. I picture a matriarchal society with women leaders and warriors who fought to keep their land. I think of the role numbers and am heartbroken by all that has happened over the last 7 generations. I wish I had had the opportunity to learn more about this part of my heritage. We’re mostly Irish now but I still hold a special place in my heart for the Choctaw Nation. . #nativeamerican #museum #dna #choctaw #firstnations #chahta
  • “What do we live for if not to make life a little less difficult for each other.” What can you do today to be kind, be nice, bite our tongue, speak life and blessing over others? Try it. It ripples out and comes back to you. . . . #bekind #speaklife #tamethetongue #kindness #bestrong #gohigh
  • When We were dating and I first told Matt my story and how I wanted to talk about it to change culture his response was, “If God’s telling you to speak, who am I to tell you no?” . This guy!!!! My valentine. Our rock, our anchor. I always just thought when we were dating that he was nervous. Nope he’s that quiet all the time! Lol I guess opposites attract. He’s the strong and steady in our crazy. But he always affirms, always encourages, always drops wisdom and always pushes us for more. Love you babe! . . . #crazylove #married #valentine #husband #hubby #marriage #couple
  • Really fun day with this amazing lady and phenomenal editor!!! So grateful to be a quick drive away! Spoke at NCU, had lunch, chatted book titles. Memoir coming 2020. ❤️