What is the name of your organization?
AnnieCannons
What is the name of your solution?
AnnieCannons
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
To train, prepare, and connect individuals who have experienced human trafficking to sustainable careers in tech.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Oakland, CA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
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What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Human trafficking is an enormous and pernicious challenge: more than 1,000,000 people per year experience labor and sexual exploitation in the US alone. Due to the lack of long-term career options, many survivors are caught in a loop of accessing services followed by re-exploitation.
What is your solution?
Economic opportunity is the key to breaking the cycle of exploitation among vulnerable communities. To break this cycle, AnnieCannons helps survivors of human trafficking transform into thriving software professionals through a holistic coding training program, then provides them with job readiness, mentorship, and apprenticeship opportunities to launch their career. The program teaches in-demand technical skills, and helps graduates build a sustainable source of income. Survivors gain the economic opportunity they need to maintain a lifetime of freedom in a supportive, trauma-informed work environment.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
AnnieCannons centers the lived experiences of individuals from historically marginalized communities, specifically survivors of human trafficking. Survivors face significant barriers to employment, including gaps in work history, lack of access to education, and trauma-related challenges. 90% of our students identify as women, and 75% of our students identify as women of color. Many students experienced homelessness or have been referred to AnnieCannons from shelters across the country. 87% reported to be underemployed, with over 80% making less than $20,000 annually. All participants to date have experienced trafficking within the United States. Most of our students are between the ages of 18 and 40 and have faced compounded barriers including poverty, housing insecurity, interrupted education, and limited access to mental health care. Our community includes survivors of both sex and labor trafficking, and many have experienced trauma across multiple systems, including the foster care, criminal justice, and immigration systems.
