June 27, 2025 • 33 mins
Shannon and Amanda Discuss how they created Ring True, a Jewelry Company That Provides Resoures to women who have been trafficked in order to help them gain back their purpose, become more confident and restart their lives.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Light Up to D. A'll focus on what's
happening in our community from the people who make it happen.
Here's your host, iHeartMedia Detroit Market President Colleen Grant.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning and welcome to another episode of Light Up
the D. I'm your host, Colleen Grant. Thank you so
much for joining me today. I am really excited about
our guest today because they're doing not only beautiful work,
but meaningful work. And that is an organization called Ring True.
Ring True is a give back jewelry business rooted in
the heart of Metro Detroit and lovingly co owned by
(00:33):
sisters Amanda Koslowski and Shannon Sloane. With a profound commitment
to social impact. Amanda and Shannon collaborate with human trafficking
survivors in Michigan, offering them dignified work opportunities directly from
the safe houses where they reside. Each piece of jewelry
is thoughtfully designed and handcrafted, infused with a spirit of
(00:53):
encouragement and empowerment, not only for those who wear it,
hopefully you, but also for the resilient surveys who create it.
I Bring True. Every piece of jewelry tells a story
of hope, healing and transformation from Ring True. Please joined
me and welcoming Shannon Sloan and Amana Koslawski. Welcome you guys,
thanks for being here today.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Thank you, Yes, thank you so much for having us.
We're super excited.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, thank you so much. How did this come about?
How did you guys end up even starting this idea
that you would have a jewelry company that helped women
who had been through human trafficking.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, that is a great question. So this is Amanda talking.
I had the business myself. I started in twenty twenty,
and I'm sure like a lot of other people out there,
when the COVID lockdown happened, it was like all this
time at home. I don't know what to do with myself.
I'm an extreme extrovert, so I really like to be
out in a crowd. It just gives me energy and
(01:46):
like lifts my spirit. So when it was everybody was
just being at home, I'm like, oh my gosh, what
am I going to do with myself? I have no idea.
So I'm a woman of faith, So for me, I
was praying about what I was going to do with
that time, and I had this idea just pop into
my had to start a business and have it be
jewelry with encouraging words attached to it that women could
gift to each other to just lift each other up
(02:07):
during that time. And so for me, I had never
had a business before. I had never made jewelry before. Like,
I'm not a very crafty person. If I'm being honest
with you, it's like very off brand for me. But
it was one of those moments where I was at
a crossroads and I could have said yes to something
or said no to it, and I decided to just
go with it, and so and so I did. And
my sister is wonderful and she believed in the idea
(02:30):
and supported it. And you, I don't know if you
want to share your take on when I told you
about just starting the business in general.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, I was just super excited and proud of her.
I'm like, you can, if anyone's going to do this,
it's you, even though you don't know anything about anything to.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Do with any of that. Wrong. Yes, yes, you know
nothing about anything, but I have your back right alert
she did. It's true, it's not true.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
But like when for me, if I'm going to do something,
if I'm going to spend my time on something, I
want it to be meaningful and I want it to
have an impact, and I certainly want it to be
helping other people. So for me, it is not just
about like making a profit. So the idea was encouraging words. Yes,
that women could give to each other, lift each other up.
But also I wanted the profits from the business itself
to be supporting causes that I cared about. So when
(03:19):
I started the business, I started right off the bat,
I'm going to be donating a third of everything that
I make to worthy nonprofits that I care about in
the area. And one of them was Hope Against Trafficking,
which is a safe home in the Pontiac area that
I know is helping women who have been rescued out
of human trafficking get back on their feet. It's a
two year residential program where the ladies can go and
(03:39):
there once, you know, and get back on their That's.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
A long time two years to help somebody have housing. Yeah,
so yeah, I mean they.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Need support, yeah, absolutely, And it's I mean, I've got
my own children, and so the idea that human trafficking
just exists in this world is like if it is terrifying,
and I want to do what I can to help
in but I feel like it's such a heavy problem.
It's such a huge, like worldwide issue, and I'm looking
at myself thinking I'm just one person. What can I
(04:08):
even do to make any kind of impact in this area.
So I said, you know, I'll just take this small
thing that I have and I'm going to give back.
I'm just gonna give back, and that's where I'll start.
And then after a while the business started picking up.
People started like buying the jewelry, and I was surprising
to me, and now we know, I don't know anything
about anything.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
It was working. People loved it, and.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
So I called it my sister one day and I said,
I'm up until two three in the morning making jewelry.
I'm like, this is not this is not what I
want to be doing. I've got these little kids, Like
I'm not a good mom. Like if I'm tired, you know,
working on this business till the middle of the night,
then by day I am like teaching my kids at home.
Because it was like, again I said, the COVID lockdown,
where I'm trying to homeschool my kids. You guys I'm
(04:52):
trash at that, Like I was not good at homeschool at.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
All, not believe any of the things. You're even know
a lot about a lot of things, clearly, Oh yeah,
I know it. I can tell, thank you. So yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
So I called her my sister up and I said,
I either need to be done with this or I
need your help like this, I can't do it anymore.
And she says I'll be there in fifteen minutes, and
I was like okay. And that was the beginning of
what is our business now. Was when the two of
us really started working together. Because I have my strengths,
she has hers, and thankfully for the two of us,
(05:25):
those two things are they're different. Like she's good at
things that I'm very bad at, and I'm good at
things that she is not as good at.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
She's good at talking. I'm good at being a nerd
that keeps track of things.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Oh my gosh, Yes, asked me to make us a
spreadsheet and I can't miss me.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, I miss me with that.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
So that's why it works, yes, yes, like perfect, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Really special and you get to do it together and
you're getting to help people together.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
It's the best. It's that I don't know what I
would do without her. You know, we've got our products
in over eighty five boutiques across the United States now
that carry the jewelry that Ladies and pontiac Are make,
and we wouldn't have any of those without her. Like
she's the one that emails all these people saying, hey,
this is our business and here's our whole this is
how you do wholesale and all this stuff. And I'm like,
she does all that, and I'm so proud of her.
(06:12):
I don't know, I don't know what I do without you.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Proud of you too, I tell you.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So let's talk about that. So, so you were up
till two thirty making jewelry and then you come in
and you say, hey, like we got to kind of restructure,
And how did you come about with this new model
that is helping women have kind of almost employment after
they've had this experience.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, you that was your U. This is a new question.
So yeah, so both of us kind of came up
with the idea. Like she said, she was already working
with Ladies from Hope against trafficking or donating towards them.
I should say I had been on some trips out
of the country to the Philippines and to Nepal, working
with survivors over there, because a lot of people, I
(06:54):
think they think it's like happening in another country when
you think of human trafficking and.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So like that. It's just my experience.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I went to other countries and we worked with survivors there,
but then you know, we realize there's it's happening here too.
In the United States is the biggest consumer of human trafficking.
So when we got home, we decided we wanted to
like work with survivors and make an impact by who
we hire instead of just trying. We knew we had
to hire somebody. We didn't want to just like outsource
it to like the cheapest thing we could find, like
(07:23):
some teenagers down the street. And so we decided to
be intentional about who we hire. So that's how that started.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
So you work with Hope Against Trafficking and Pontiac and
what happens.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, so we are like.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
What are you making? What are what are people making?
And what what happens?
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Yeah, every week, my sister and I get to go
to the safe house. We go on Tuesdays and we
sit with the ladies who are part of their programming,
so they have a lot of different things that they
do during their week. They've got a lot of different
wellness programs, therapy that they go to, doctor's appointments. So
mind and body wellness is a big deal after the
traumas that they've been through. For them to become whole again,
(08:01):
there's a lot of hard work that goes into it
just to get back on their feet, just to get
to that base level like normal, you know. So we
are part of their programming where we get to go
sit at their kitchen table with them.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
There.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
They've got the safe house there that all of the
ladies are and they've each got their own apartments, but
there's kind of a central area and we come slinging
beads and we got all the string and we're like,
we show them how to do it, you know, And
a lot of the ladies can make the bracelets, but
some of them, you know, because of the trauma they've
gone through, their hands are shaky, their fine motor skills
(08:33):
are shot and they can't they can't do that stringing
of the beads, you know, So we'll teach them how
to do the packaging.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Of the products.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
That's something that it doesn't take as fine motor skills
to do that. And we try to make it so
that everybody who wants to be around the table with
us has a spot.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Something that they can be doing.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
And some of the ladies don't want to make anything,
they just want to hang out with us.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, they don't have to do it.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
It's just like if they want to, it's a way
to earn an income because they're not able to really
go out and get a job while they live there
because they are focusing on healing. So it's a way
if they want to earn an income, they can, but
they absolutely do not have to.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Right And it's and it's women's work, you know, Like
we're just sitting there, ladies making stuff together. You know,
and you can probably tell by now. And my sister
and I roast each other all the time. We're constantly
laughing and like we roast them, they roast us, like
we're just it is.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Fun and like we laugh the whole time.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
And you know, and it's like there's beads flying everywhere
you tie the bracelet because there's a lot of them
are strategy bracelets. So it's like if you don't tie
the thing the right way, that it comes on dawn
and the beads go everywhere, and.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
We're all just laughing about it.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
And it's a part of their week where they get
to just be women and we treat them like friends.
You know, we don't sit across the table from them
and ask them, so, how did you get here? You know,
what's your story? How did this happen? It would be
like somebody sitting across from you saying, tell me about
the worst thing that ever happened to you, like you
owed that to them. You know that you wouldn't do that.
(09:53):
You know, we don't do that to them either. That
part of their story is for them to share when
when are ready, and we don't ever ask them to,
but to be honest, sometimes it just will pop up.
We'll be talking about one thing and then before you
know what, they're telling us something that happened to them,
and it's kind of like everyone gets quiet around the
table while somebody shares their story and it's heartbreaking, but
(10:16):
we've learned that we just look at them right in
the eye and say, and look at you now, like
you are a strong woman. We're so proud of you.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
We love being.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Your friend, we love spending time with you here, and
we believe in you. We believe in you, and we're
proud that you're doing the work to get back on
your feet.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
And then that's that. And then we cry in the car.
We wait till we get to the car.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, cry, oh, cry my heart just heart wrenching. Well,
the jewelry that they're making is absolutely beautiful, and just
so it's just if you're like, well, I want to
see it, because you probably do at this point because
it is absolutely gorgeous. Go to Ring trueco dot com,
Ring trueco dot com and you can see all this
(10:56):
beautiful jewelry that is being made and that you can
buy to support the organization who's helping these women who've
been through tremendous sad experience, trendously sad experiences, helping them
get back on their feet. You guys partner with law
enforcement too. Tell us all about that.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yes, we are super excited we partner with the Ghost Team.
I'm not sure if you guys have heard of the
Ghost Team. So they're out there based in Genesee County.
Sheriff Chris Swanson, he's actually running for governor right now,
which is really exciting. He created the GHOST Team in
twenty eighteen, and so it stands for Global Human Oppression
Strike Team and so they are like a group of
(11:34):
undercover agent officers that rescue like trafficking victims and also
stop child predators. And so I've actually been on two
undercover seeing operations with them. I don't know if you
guys know of Chris Hansen, the guy from tiquetcha Predator,
so one of he's from Michigan, so he partners with
(11:55):
Ghosts a lot too, and so he was filming his
show Takedown with Chris Hansen, and so I got to
be there for that. That was insane to watch him
pop out and be like, so you're here to meet
a fifteen year old girl, you're disgusting to tell me more,
and so just he roasts them and it's I mean,
it's heartbreaking, but I'm also like, oh my god. And
then she was there for the other one too, the
(12:15):
second sting operation. It was it's just crazy to see
these people thinking they're coming to meet up with a
fifteen year old or fourteen year old girl or boy
and watch them ruining their lives and getting arrested right rightly.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
So yeah, yeah, yeah it was I mean it was horrible.
I hated every second of it. Yeah, I'm it's important
work that needs to happen. But it's like this guy came,
he had ropes, like he was planning on Yeah really
this girl not just there to purchase a young woman,
but he had intentions for her. And I was I can't,
Like that is so hard for anyonee to think about,
(12:50):
right that that's out there.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
And then how did you guys get hooked up with
the Ghost Team? Like how did that happen?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
So we were doing we do a lot of like
vendor events markets where we sell our jewelry and stuff.
We were in Fenton and there was this like cute
group of moms like shopping in our booth and they
saw we work with trafficking survivors and one of them
was like, my son is a captain on the Ghost Team.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
And I like fangirled out, like I.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Was like wait wait what it was so funny she
like tired in my arms around and so because like
to me, that's like, I'm those are my superheroes, Like
I'm a fan of you, your real life superhero Ghost
Team and so I gave her the card and said,
can you please like pass it along and let them
know what we're doing, and she did and then we
get a call from Sheriff Swanson himself calls us. I
(13:37):
was like, oh my good wow, and so yeah, so
he's really he So he showed up. We were doing
an interview with Rohnda Walker at the safe house one
day and he like coordinated with us to show up
and do a Facebook live and they were fan girwing
over him as well, Ronda and her team, so they
stuck around so they could like get him.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
They didn't know.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
He was going to be there, but they were all
like so excited. So yeah, So and since then he's
just been super supportive. He lets us use the ghost
logo and the ladies. We have a ghost bracelet wow
that when people buy it, there's like a QR code
that will take you to do the ghost training online
and you can become ghost certified. Sheriff Swanson signed the
card that comes with it, and then the survivor that
(14:16):
made it signed the other side of the little card.
It's really cool.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Wow, that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yeah, he's awesome And the ladies love making the Ghost
bracelets too, because they love Sheriff Swanson and the Ghost
Task Force like they they the survivors fangirl over them
too because they just.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
So they always want to make that one. They're so
excited and then they all wear that one. They've got
their ghost geared. It's just we love it. It's a
good it's a cool partnership.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
There's really neol. Well, you guys also have a nonprofit,
Freebird Initiative. Tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Yeah, the Freebird Initiative. We started that after we started
the business. So what we found is that every time
we were doing an event, we had people who have
such big hearts that want to help survivors. They wanted
donate to the work that we're doing, and we wanted
to do that in the right way. So, because we
are a business, you can't really donate to a business, right,
(15:07):
so we wanted to keep everything above board. We know
people want to help the survivors that we're working with,
so we started our nonprofit as a way for people
to give legitimately to the work that we're doing. You know,
our business is all about providing job opportunities for ladies
that are in the safe home while they're getting back
on their feet.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
The nonprofit is.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
About helping ladies in any way other than that, So
we meet ladies all the time. Some of them are
who have gone through the program and have moved out
and they could use some financial help in different areas,
whether it's health stuff like if they've got doctor's appointments.
On one young woman that we work with, she wanted
an alarm system in her apartment because that made her
feel safer, So we purchased that for her.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
And we pay the monthly bill for that through a nonprofit.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
So there's a lot of different little things that can
help survivors while they're while they're getting back on their feet,
even when they're not in the safe house, and we
want to be able to help with that. But we
also recently have been talking about reworking some of our
nonprofit stuff because we'd really like to do a lot
more on the prevention side, stop victims from even happening
at all, especially children. Yes, I mean, obviously I've got
(16:09):
my own children, but it's like the stories that we've
heard and the things that these ladies have gone through,
we don't want to hear any of that ever.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Again.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
We want to do everything we can to stop that,
and you know, we'll be in the markets selling the
jewelry or different events and things, and people ask us
all the time, like what can we do to protect
our families from this? So we really want to focus
a lot of our efforts through the nonprofit on providing
avenues for that with families and really teaching them how
to do it. And so that's something that we're excited
(16:38):
for in the future.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Do you want to share anything about that? Well, because
the number one way that trafficking happens is online, Like
people think you can you're gonna get kidnapped at the mall,
like and thrown in a van. I mean that could happen,
but that is literally like the least likely way. It's
mostly online through grooming. They become like friends or pose
as other children in chat rooms and trick them and
then like threaten them, threaten their family stuff like that.
(17:01):
So if parents like knew what to look out for
to protect their kids and make all the devices in
their home safe and that they would get alerts, you know,
that would prevent a lot of this stuff from happening.
So we are working We're gonna launch something in the
fall and we're still working on the name, but we
think we're gonna call it the Predator Safety Squad. Squad
(17:24):
like the like the like the Squad. So I've got
a friend he's just incredible. He's like a tech wizard
person who he's built an app that's done like so
much good things for people, like helping people who need
food delivered to their homes.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Who are you know, food and security. So he's really
good at that kind of stuff. And I said, hey,
could you build me an app that would help parents
protect their devices, like their children's devices, And he said, well,
there's a ton of apps out there that already that.
He said, I don't really need to build you a
NEP for that. But what's really missing is people knowing
how to use those kinds of things, how to install
them in the first place, which one's to use, which.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Ones do what for you? Overwhelming you don't really know,
like is this one even a scam or something?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
For your information? Exec I mean that's like the only
reason I worry is like, are they just trying to
take more information from me rather than help me? Don't know?
Speaker 4 (18:16):
So call the Predator Safety Squad And so we'll go
to people's houses. We're going to get a group of
volunteers together that can help go into homes and install
these things for families, to teach them how to use it,
and then families will feel protected. So that's our working plan.
We're still we still have a lot of things to
get in place, but we're hoping to launch a program
like that, So not the Geek Squad, but sort of
(18:38):
we'll have our own version of tech, but it'll be
to protect against predators. And we're going to hopefully launch
that in September.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
And if somebody wants to get involved in the Free
Bird Initiative, which is ultimately going to lead to this,
how would they do that.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
So the website is Freebird Initiative dot org, so they
can go on the website or email us at hello
at Freebird Initiative dot org.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Yeah, and if you're good at tech stuff, we want
to know you know, we people. We are gonna try
to get a bunch of volunteers who are serious about
fighting against human trafficking and help us put these things,
these safety guardrails into people's homes.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
For them in that way goes in their home.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Yeah, Well, just showing up to somebody's house, whether it's
physically or via a zoom call saying all right, what
devices do you have? What kind of protection would you
like on these devices? These are the options available to you.
Let us help you install them. So it's yeah, so
it's not like a physical object, I don't think, but
it would be people not helping them go through that
and saying this is where you're going to install it,
(19:37):
this is how it works, this is what to look for,
and then parents feel prepared. I have a thirteen year
old and he is the only one out of all
of his friends that don't have a cell phone, and you, guys,
I hear about it like every day. It's so hard,
Like I didn't have that when I was growing up,
where it was everybody had an everyone had access to children.
Like that wasn't how it was for us, you know.
(19:59):
I'm like right on the cusp of when that became normal.
I'm turning forty this year, so yeah, so I'm looking
at my precious son and I'm like, Okay, I know
what's happening out there because of the work that I do,
and I am not letting anyone have.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Access to you.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
But at the same time, he's missing out on social
engagements like all of his friends, Like they've got their
group chats, they've got their fantasy football teams that he
can't be a part of. And it's all this stuff
that I know really matters to him. So if we
had the right things in place, the right protections in
place for him, then I would feel a lot better
about giving something like that to him, then I then
if not, and I know that if I feel that way,
(20:38):
there's got.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
To be oh tons, millions are hard line to walk,
millions of Yeah, everybody asked that question who has children,
Like when is the right time? Because it's just such
a That's one of the most worrisome things I agree
with you about being a parent today is you know,
when do you let them have access to it? When
you let it's not really about them having access to things,
about who's going to have access to them suddenly?
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Right, And they don't understand that. Don't traffickers target vulnerable people.
They're looking for lonely people that they can manipulate. They're
looking for children because children don't know what they don't know,
you know, So that's what that those are the people
we have to protect, right.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Hey, let's let's talk about your YouTube channel and the
show that you have. Yes, let's hear it.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Bring true sisterly business. Okay, So, like we're dorks. We're
like just big nerds.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Already ourselves.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
So like we all like honestly all we do is
laugh at each other, at ourselves.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
It's how we get through this the heavy work we do.
It's like and then laugh later. And it sounds bogus,
but it's the only way.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Because it's so hard to even think about what's happening, Like,
how can you get through that without the laughter that
you have. I mean, so many people get through hard
times because by laughing, you know, And it's just something
in our human nature helps us get through that way.
So I totally get it.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Yeah, So we started this YouTube channel because we want
to raise awareness for what's happening in the human trafficking
arena because people are curious, but also like just for
the two of us to let people know about our
business that there are ways that you can help survivors.
Like for me, I just feel like I'm a regular
person and I kind of fumbled my way into this right,
Like I have a passion for something and I just
(22:21):
continue to pursue how can I help in this area?
Speaker 3 (22:24):
How can I help here?
Speaker 4 (22:25):
And it's just taking one step at a time towards
being somebody that's helping. And look at where we're at now,
you know it's and I feel like anybody can do that.
It can feel so intimidating to try to make a
difference in an area that you really care about, but
it's really just taking one step at a time. So
I think that part of our YouTube channel is that
we just want to share that with people when people
see that the two of us.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Are doing this, like anybody can do it, you know,
normal out there making a difference.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Yeah, it's encouraging to everybody. You know, everybody can, Like
you said, you can make a difference. If you're listening
to this, you can do it too. Yes, that's great.
What type of jewelry do you guys make do their
survivors make?
Speaker 4 (23:04):
Well, I'm excited because we're we just started something new
with them. So we started with rings, Like they're fidget rings,
They're stretchy, they're roly, they're made with gemstones and crystals,
and it's like really an anxiety relief thing. You're probably
watching me this whole time and like just spitting them
around my fingers. I love these and they're they're super cute,
they're not too big, and they're unique. I've not seen
(23:25):
I've not seen this kind of product, and a lot
of place.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
There's fidget rings, but they're like metal and like yea,
you know these are like really they're still really pretty.
Yeah yeah, and there's a ton of diferent colors and
in my opinion too.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
So I started with that. That's why the business is
called Ring True because that was the first product and
I was just like, oh, I'm making rings.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
This is the thing.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
And then we started making bracelets because we you know,
have a lot of places that carry the rings, and
I was like, well, obviously the next step in the
business is to expand. So we started with bracelets because
that's something that a lot of people wear. And our
next thing that we're going for is necklaces. You know, surprise,
I know, you guys are so shocked to hear that.
So we recently just started so these I don't know
(24:04):
if you can see these golden necklaces that I have,
but this one.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Says Mama on it, so so pretty.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
It got like a cute Mother's Day and necklace that
we're gonna that we're launching specifically for Mother's Day.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
So that's exciting.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
That's great. I love that.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Yeah, so gemstones, crystals, a lot of stringing beads on
stretchy stuff and making it work. So they do a
good job with it and we're really proud of them.
And yeah, I love working.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
With these ladies. They're creative too.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
They come up with ideas and I'll teach them how
to do it one way, and then they'll come back
and say, well, if I was doing it, I would
make it this way, And I'm like, well you should
do it that way.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Then, yeah, go for it. As long as it doesn't
come fart, then I don't care how you do it.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
That's great. If you're just joining us. Our guests today
are Amanda Koslowski and Shannon Sloan. They're owners and sisters
at Ring True. Tell everybody so they can see what
you're talking about. What the website is again.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
Yes, it's Ring trueco dot com, so that's where people
can find us. We've got bracelets and fidget rings.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Let's talk about the fidget rings. Yeah, how did you
come up with that idea?
Speaker 4 (25:09):
I saw a Facebook post one time. This is a
question that not a lot of people ask me. So
I saw Facebook post one time and it was somebody
wearing like a bright orange colored ring because they wanted
to remind themselves of something. It was something with parenting,
like not yelling at their kids or something like that.
And I was like, oh, that's an interesting idea to
like wear a piece of jewelry to remind yourself of something.
(25:30):
And so that's kind of where I feel like the
encouraging word piece to attach it to it. So it's like,
you wear this thing and every time you look at it,
you can remember the word that was attached to that.
So we've got words like enough. So a lot of
women feel like they are not enough. They don't have
what it takes, whatever is required of them. They are
very much lacking in that area. A lot of women
(25:51):
feel that way, and even men to I'm sure feel
that way. So I wrote this little encouraging note just
saying like you are enough. Everything that you have is
exactly what you need, and the world needs you just
as you are. So every time you look at.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Your little ring, you can remember that thought, you know.
So that was the idea behind it.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
You know, there's words like strong and beautiful, clarity, you
know you're on.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
The right path, the kind of thing. Yeah, so that
was where the idea originally came from. And didn't your
friend who's a therapist say like, you should make a
fidget should maybe it could be a fidget ring.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
Well, she's the one that told me there fidget rings
because I designed them the way that I designed them,
and she was like, these are great for that. And
she's like in therapy, like the kids that I work
with use these kinds of things all the time, and
she works with children who have been sexually and physically abused.
So for her to comment on that and say, hey,
these would be great for the kids that I'm working with,
I'm just like, oh my gosh. She's another program that
(26:43):
from the beginning I had been donating to the work
that she does because I'm so proud of her.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
So, so that's practical. But they're so beautiful too, yeah,
you know, And so what you were describing when when
you get the you know, the ring or the bracelet
or the necklace in the package, it has a word
that you know that you put words of affirmation with
that word and that's what you know you were saying,
you can think of when you see this piece of jewelry,
(27:07):
that specific word that does tell you you're a offer,
tells you that you're strong or whatever it might be.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, that's my favorite part when people come to the
table and they look at everything we've got and they
buy something based on the word that's associated with it,
because I am a words of encouragement person, Like, that's
my love language. So when I meet somebody else who care.
I mean, a lot of people will just come and say, oh,
I like black, I want that one. I'm like, yeah, no,
that makes sense. I wear black all the time too.
So but when they come and they say this word
(27:36):
speaks to me, that's what I need. That's what I
needed today. And the survivors as well, like the amount
of times when they're packaging the jewelry and they're reading
the quotes that's on there. It is uplifting to them
and I'm like, oh, hey, we have a sale on
that today and you get it for free.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
So just like I love that. Yes, they are right,
we were talking about being in over eighty boutiques, right, yeah,
and so you do provide wholesale opportunity to sell in
larger quantity to boutiques or anybody out there who wants
to buy and bulk from you and tell us a
(28:11):
little bit more about that in case somebody's listening and
like I own a store or I have a way
to you know, to buy more and sell more. If
they want to be involved, how could they do that?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
We would love that so much. So on our website
ring trueco dot com, there is a tab for wholesale
so they can just like fill it out and then
they get accessed and they can purchase right through that.
So yeah, everything, I mean, most of the things that
we make, they can buy wholesale. Yeah, we ship anywhere.
You can buy a bracelet anywhere. Anywhere you go, you
(28:40):
can find some bracelet that you can buy. But not
anybody is working with survivors providing a dignified way that
these ladies can get back on their feet, start a
savings account, maybe for the first time ever in their lives.
Like there is meaning an impact behind this, but we
know that like bracelets abound, you can get them at
the gas station, you know. But you know, what we're
(29:01):
providing is something that's unique and special, that's really helping somebody.
So we're hopeful that people will care about that cause
knowing that it's going to a good place. We'll send
like a little thing with it too. If someone orders
wholesale that they can put in their store so people
know that it's made by survivors of human tracks more.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Important, Yeah, because people want to support organizations that support people.
So also on your website, you have a way that
people can do a fun subscription to get something every month.
It's called the Survivor Support Club. Tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Yeah, The Survivor Support Club was another inspired idea where
it was like just popped into my head. I'm like,
oh my gosh, we should do a monthly thing, And
so we started that program and the ladies because really,
you know, we've got our boutique sales, we've got our
online sales, but those things can be inconsistent, and we're
working with ladies who we don't want them to have
(29:51):
inconsistency when they're working with us. We want them to
feel like they know what's happening, they know what's coming next.
So the Survivor Support Club really provides a way for
us to offer consistent work to the women that we're
working with where we say this many people every month
want this special club thing that you're making, and it
also allows us the opportunity to know when we can
hire a new lady. So because of that consistent number
(30:13):
that comes in, we kind of know what sort of
work to expect for them. So it's exclusive pieces. It's
not something that you're going to find on our website.
It's will we get fresh, different things that the ladies
can make just for that group of people. So it's
kind of fun to have an exclusive piece that you're
not gonna be able to get anywhere else, like one
of the ones I'm wearing right now and we sent
out on Saint Patrick's Day last year.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
It's like a green ring. You know that you will
never have seen that on our website. So it's only
twenty dollars a month plus shipping, so it's not too expensive.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
No, that's a really reasonable price. Right. Know that you're
helping somebody too.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
And people will save them up too, so you'll get
obviously once a month, so by Christmas time you will
have twelve in your hands and then you can give
them out as Christmas gifts. A lot of older ladies
I talked to are like, oh, yes, I have them
all in my gift closet.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
I'm like, what is a gift closet?
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Apparently that's a thing that people have a closet full
of gifts ready to go that are ready to go.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I'm like, I need a gift classy, So get you
a gift closet.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Well, it's a great idea. It's a meaningful gift. Yeah,
you know, so stock up and then when you have
something come up, you're ready to go.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
And then some people just really don't care about jewelry,
so but they want to help the survivors. So my
sister actually thought of a really cool way that we
can partner with people like that, if you want to.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Anchor it Hope. Yeah, So we're we're partnered with another organization,
a nonprofit called Anchored Hope, and they are amazing. They
go on the streets of Detroit like three times a
week and work with ladies that are being trafficked out
there and they give them like they get to know
them and hopefully the point is to have them trust
them and then eventually ask for help to like get
(31:45):
out of the situation, and then they will help them
and take them to a safe house. And so one
of the things they do is they learn their birthdays
if they'll if they'll tell them, and so they give
out these little birthday bags. And so we have people
that will purchase our like monthly subscription and then have
us send it to Anchored Hopes, so that the ladies,
the like victims are getting a survivor made gift. Somebody
(32:07):
who like walked their life through this, got through it
and is doing gift which they probably haven't a birthday gift.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
It's such a gift of hope for them to look
at it and say, WHOA, somebody who's gone through what
I'm currently going through made this.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Right, yeah, right, and they're on the other side of it.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Yeah. That's a great way to build trust. I'm so
grateful that you guys joined us today. The work that
you're doing is just beautiful. And I want to remind
everybody if you want to help, and I hope you do,
because not only is the jewelry beautiful, but it's something
that's really impactful and meaningful. Please go to ringtrueco dot
com and support the organization. It's Ring True. Our guests
(32:44):
today have been Amanda Kozlowski and Shannon Sloan owners and sisters.
Thank you for joining us today. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
This has been light Up the D a community affairs
program from iHeartMedia Detroit. If your organization would like to
get on the program, email Colleen Grant at iHeartMedia dot com.
Here are all episodes on this station's podcast page.
Welcome to Light Up to D. A'll focus on what's
happening in our community from the people who make it happen.
Here's your host, iHeartMedia Detroit Market President Colleen Grant.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning and welcome to another episode of Light Up
the D. I'm your host, Colleen Grant. Thank you so
much for joining me today. I am really excited about
our guest today because they're doing not only beautiful work,
but meaningful work. And that is an organization called Ring True.
Ring True is a give back jewelry business rooted in
the heart of Metro Detroit and lovingly co owned by
(00:33):
sisters Amanda Koslowski and Shannon Sloane. With a profound commitment
to social impact. Amanda and Shannon collaborate with human trafficking
survivors in Michigan, offering them dignified work opportunities directly from
the safe houses where they reside. Each piece of jewelry
is thoughtfully designed and handcrafted, infused with a spirit of
(00:53):
encouragement and empowerment, not only for those who wear it,
hopefully you, but also for the resilient surveys who create it.
I Bring True. Every piece of jewelry tells a story
of hope, healing and transformation from Ring True. Please joined
me and welcoming Shannon Sloan and Amana Koslawski. Welcome you guys,
thanks for being here today.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Thank you, Yes, thank you so much for having us.
We're super excited.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, thank you so much. How did this come about?
How did you guys end up even starting this idea
that you would have a jewelry company that helped women
who had been through human trafficking.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, that is a great question. So this is Amanda talking.
I had the business myself. I started in twenty twenty,
and I'm sure like a lot of other people out there,
when the COVID lockdown happened, it was like all this
time at home. I don't know what to do with myself.
I'm an extreme extrovert, so I really like to be
out in a crowd. It just gives me energy and
(01:46):
like lifts my spirit. So when it was everybody was
just being at home, I'm like, oh my gosh, what
am I going to do with myself? I have no idea.
So I'm a woman of faith, So for me, I
was praying about what I was going to do with
that time, and I had this idea just pop into
my had to start a business and have it be
jewelry with encouraging words attached to it that women could
gift to each other to just lift each other up
(02:07):
during that time. And so for me, I had never
had a business before. I had never made jewelry before. Like,
I'm not a very crafty person. If I'm being honest
with you, it's like very off brand for me. But
it was one of those moments where I was at
a crossroads and I could have said yes to something
or said no to it, and I decided to just
go with it, and so and so I did. And
my sister is wonderful and she believed in the idea
(02:30):
and supported it. And you, I don't know if you
want to share your take on when I told you
about just starting the business in general.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, I was just super excited and proud of her.
I'm like, you can, if anyone's going to do this,
it's you, even though you don't know anything about anything to.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Do with any of that. Wrong. Yes, yes, you know
nothing about anything, but I have your back right alert
she did. It's true, it's not true.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
But like when for me, if I'm going to do something,
if I'm going to spend my time on something, I
want it to be meaningful and I want it to
have an impact, and I certainly want it to be
helping other people. So for me, it is not just
about like making a profit. So the idea was encouraging words. Yes,
that women could give to each other, lift each other up.
But also I wanted the profits from the business itself
to be supporting causes that I cared about. So when
(03:19):
I started the business, I started right off the bat,
I'm going to be donating a third of everything that
I make to worthy nonprofits that I care about in
the area. And one of them was Hope Against Trafficking,
which is a safe home in the Pontiac area that
I know is helping women who have been rescued out
of human trafficking get back on their feet. It's a
two year residential program where the ladies can go and
(03:39):
there once, you know, and get back on their That's.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
A long time two years to help somebody have housing. Yeah,
so yeah, I mean they.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Need support, yeah, absolutely, And it's I mean, I've got
my own children, and so the idea that human trafficking
just exists in this world is like if it is terrifying,
and I want to do what I can to help
in but I feel like it's such a heavy problem.
It's such a huge, like worldwide issue, and I'm looking
at myself thinking I'm just one person. What can I
(04:08):
even do to make any kind of impact in this area.
So I said, you know, I'll just take this small
thing that I have and I'm going to give back.
I'm just gonna give back, and that's where I'll start.
And then after a while the business started picking up.
People started like buying the jewelry, and I was surprising
to me, and now we know, I don't know anything
about anything.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
It was working. People loved it, and.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
So I called it my sister one day and I said,
I'm up until two three in the morning making jewelry.
I'm like, this is not this is not what I
want to be doing. I've got these little kids, Like
I'm not a good mom. Like if I'm tired, you know,
working on this business till the middle of the night,
then by day I am like teaching my kids at home.
Because it was like, again I said, the COVID lockdown,
where I'm trying to homeschool my kids. You guys I'm
(04:52):
trash at that, Like I was not good at homeschool at.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
All, not believe any of the things. You're even know
a lot about a lot of things, clearly, Oh yeah,
I know it. I can tell, thank you. So yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
So I called her my sister up and I said,
I either need to be done with this or I
need your help like this, I can't do it anymore.
And she says I'll be there in fifteen minutes, and
I was like okay. And that was the beginning of
what is our business now. Was when the two of
us really started working together. Because I have my strengths,
she has hers, and thankfully for the two of us,
(05:25):
those two things are they're different. Like she's good at
things that I'm very bad at, and I'm good at
things that she is not as good at.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
She's good at talking. I'm good at being a nerd
that keeps track of things.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Oh my gosh, Yes, asked me to make us a
spreadsheet and I can't miss me.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, I miss me with that.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
So that's why it works, yes, yes, like perfect, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Really special and you get to do it together and
you're getting to help people together.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
It's the best. It's that I don't know what I
would do without her. You know, we've got our products
in over eighty five boutiques across the United States now
that carry the jewelry that Ladies and pontiac Are make,
and we wouldn't have any of those without her. Like
she's the one that emails all these people saying, hey,
this is our business and here's our whole this is
how you do wholesale and all this stuff. And I'm like,
she does all that, and I'm so proud of her.
(06:12):
I don't know, I don't know what I do without you.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Proud of you too, I tell you.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So let's talk about that. So, so you were up
till two thirty making jewelry and then you come in
and you say, hey, like we got to kind of restructure,
And how did you come about with this new model
that is helping women have kind of almost employment after
they've had this experience.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, you that was your U. This is a new question.
So yeah, so both of us kind of came up
with the idea. Like she said, she was already working
with Ladies from Hope against trafficking or donating towards them.
I should say I had been on some trips out
of the country to the Philippines and to Nepal, working
with survivors over there, because a lot of people, I
(06:54):
think they think it's like happening in another country when
you think of human trafficking and.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So like that. It's just my experience.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I went to other countries and we worked with survivors there,
but then you know, we realize there's it's happening here too.
In the United States is the biggest consumer of human trafficking.
So when we got home, we decided we wanted to
like work with survivors and make an impact by who
we hire instead of just trying. We knew we had
to hire somebody. We didn't want to just like outsource
it to like the cheapest thing we could find, like
(07:23):
some teenagers down the street. And so we decided to
be intentional about who we hire. So that's how that started.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
So you work with Hope Against Trafficking and Pontiac and
what happens.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, so we are like.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
What are you making? What are what are people making?
And what what happens?
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Yeah, every week, my sister and I get to go
to the safe house. We go on Tuesdays and we
sit with the ladies who are part of their programming,
so they have a lot of different things that they
do during their week. They've got a lot of different
wellness programs, therapy that they go to, doctor's appointments. So
mind and body wellness is a big deal after the
traumas that they've been through. For them to become whole again,
(08:01):
there's a lot of hard work that goes into it
just to get back on their feet, just to get
to that base level like normal, you know. So we
are part of their programming where we get to go
sit at their kitchen table with them.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
There.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
They've got the safe house there that all of the
ladies are and they've each got their own apartments, but
there's kind of a central area and we come slinging
beads and we got all the string and we're like,
we show them how to do it, you know, And
a lot of the ladies can make the bracelets, but
some of them, you know, because of the trauma they've
gone through, their hands are shaky, their fine motor skills
(08:33):
are shot and they can't they can't do that stringing
of the beads, you know, So we'll teach them how
to do the packaging.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Of the products.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
That's something that it doesn't take as fine motor skills
to do that. And we try to make it so
that everybody who wants to be around the table with
us has a spot.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Something that they can be doing.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
And some of the ladies don't want to make anything,
they just want to hang out with us.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, they don't have to do it.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
It's just like if they want to, it's a way
to earn an income because they're not able to really
go out and get a job while they live there
because they are focusing on healing. So it's a way
if they want to earn an income, they can, but
they absolutely do not have to.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Right And it's and it's women's work, you know, Like
we're just sitting there, ladies making stuff together. You know,
and you can probably tell by now. And my sister
and I roast each other all the time. We're constantly
laughing and like we roast them, they roast us, like
we're just it is.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Fun and like we laugh the whole time.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
And you know, and it's like there's beads flying everywhere
you tie the bracelet because there's a lot of them
are strategy bracelets. So it's like if you don't tie
the thing the right way, that it comes on dawn
and the beads go everywhere, and.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
We're all just laughing about it.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
And it's a part of their week where they get
to just be women and we treat them like friends.
You know, we don't sit across the table from them
and ask them, so, how did you get here? You know,
what's your story? How did this happen? It would be
like somebody sitting across from you saying, tell me about
the worst thing that ever happened to you, like you
owed that to them. You know that you wouldn't do that.
(09:53):
You know, we don't do that to them either. That
part of their story is for them to share when
when are ready, and we don't ever ask them to,
but to be honest, sometimes it just will pop up.
We'll be talking about one thing and then before you
know what, they're telling us something that happened to them,
and it's kind of like everyone gets quiet around the
table while somebody shares their story and it's heartbreaking, but
(10:16):
we've learned that we just look at them right in
the eye and say, and look at you now, like
you are a strong woman. We're so proud of you.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
We love being.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Your friend, we love spending time with you here, and
we believe in you. We believe in you, and we're
proud that you're doing the work to get back on
your feet.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
And then that's that. And then we cry in the car.
We wait till we get to the car.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, cry, oh, cry my heart just heart wrenching. Well,
the jewelry that they're making is absolutely beautiful, and just
so it's just if you're like, well, I want to
see it, because you probably do at this point because
it is absolutely gorgeous. Go to Ring trueco dot com,
Ring trueco dot com and you can see all this
(10:56):
beautiful jewelry that is being made and that you can
buy to support the organization who's helping these women who've
been through tremendous sad experience, trendously sad experiences, helping them
get back on their feet. You guys partner with law
enforcement too. Tell us all about that.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yes, we are super excited we partner with the Ghost Team.
I'm not sure if you guys have heard of the
Ghost Team. So they're out there based in Genesee County.
Sheriff Chris Swanson, he's actually running for governor right now,
which is really exciting. He created the GHOST Team in
twenty eighteen, and so it stands for Global Human Oppression
Strike Team and so they are like a group of
(11:34):
undercover agent officers that rescue like trafficking victims and also
stop child predators. And so I've actually been on two
undercover seeing operations with them. I don't know if you
guys know of Chris Hansen, the guy from tiquetcha Predator,
so one of he's from Michigan, so he partners with
(11:55):
Ghosts a lot too, and so he was filming his
show Takedown with Chris Hansen, and so I got to
be there for that. That was insane to watch him
pop out and be like, so you're here to meet
a fifteen year old girl, you're disgusting to tell me more,
and so just he roasts them and it's I mean,
it's heartbreaking, but I'm also like, oh my god. And
then she was there for the other one too, the
(12:15):
second sting operation. It was it's just crazy to see
these people thinking they're coming to meet up with a
fifteen year old or fourteen year old girl or boy
and watch them ruining their lives and getting arrested right rightly.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
So yeah, yeah, yeah it was I mean it was horrible.
I hated every second of it. Yeah, I'm it's important
work that needs to happen. But it's like this guy came,
he had ropes, like he was planning on Yeah really
this girl not just there to purchase a young woman,
but he had intentions for her. And I was I can't,
Like that is so hard for anyonee to think about,
(12:50):
right that that's out there.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
And then how did you guys get hooked up with
the Ghost Team? Like how did that happen?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
So we were doing we do a lot of like
vendor events markets where we sell our jewelry and stuff.
We were in Fenton and there was this like cute
group of moms like shopping in our booth and they
saw we work with trafficking survivors and one of them
was like, my son is a captain on the Ghost Team.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
And I like fangirled out, like I.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Was like wait wait what it was so funny she
like tired in my arms around and so because like
to me, that's like, I'm those are my superheroes, Like
I'm a fan of you, your real life superhero Ghost
Team and so I gave her the card and said,
can you please like pass it along and let them
know what we're doing, and she did and then we
get a call from Sheriff Swanson himself calls us. I
(13:37):
was like, oh my good wow, and so yeah, so
he's really he So he showed up. We were doing
an interview with Rohnda Walker at the safe house one
day and he like coordinated with us to show up
and do a Facebook live and they were fan girwing
over him as well, Ronda and her team, so they
stuck around so they could like get him.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
They didn't know.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
He was going to be there, but they were all
like so excited. So yeah, So and since then he's
just been super supportive. He lets us use the ghost
logo and the ladies. We have a ghost bracelet wow
that when people buy it, there's like a QR code
that will take you to do the ghost training online
and you can become ghost certified. Sheriff Swanson signed the
card that comes with it, and then the survivor that
(14:16):
made it signed the other side of the little card.
It's really cool.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Wow, that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yeah, he's awesome And the ladies love making the Ghost
bracelets too, because they love Sheriff Swanson and the Ghost
Task Force like they they the survivors fangirl over them
too because they just.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
So they always want to make that one. They're so
excited and then they all wear that one. They've got
their ghost geared. It's just we love it. It's a
good it's a cool partnership.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
There's really neol. Well, you guys also have a nonprofit,
Freebird Initiative. Tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Yeah, the Freebird Initiative. We started that after we started
the business. So what we found is that every time
we were doing an event, we had people who have
such big hearts that want to help survivors. They wanted
donate to the work that we're doing, and we wanted
to do that in the right way. So, because we
are a business, you can't really donate to a business, right,
(15:07):
so we wanted to keep everything above board. We know
people want to help the survivors that we're working with,
so we started our nonprofit as a way for people
to give legitimately to the work that we're doing. You know,
our business is all about providing job opportunities for ladies
that are in the safe home while they're getting back
on their feet.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
The nonprofit is.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
About helping ladies in any way other than that, So
we meet ladies all the time. Some of them are
who have gone through the program and have moved out
and they could use some financial help in different areas,
whether it's health stuff like if they've got doctor's appointments.
On one young woman that we work with, she wanted
an alarm system in her apartment because that made her
feel safer, So we purchased that for her.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
And we pay the monthly bill for that through a nonprofit.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
So there's a lot of different little things that can
help survivors while they're while they're getting back on their feet,
even when they're not in the safe house, and we
want to be able to help with that. But we
also recently have been talking about reworking some of our
nonprofit stuff because we'd really like to do a lot
more on the prevention side, stop victims from even happening
at all, especially children. Yes, I mean, obviously I've got
(16:09):
my own children, but it's like the stories that we've
heard and the things that these ladies have gone through,
we don't want to hear any of that ever.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Again.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
We want to do everything we can to stop that,
and you know, we'll be in the markets selling the
jewelry or different events and things, and people ask us
all the time, like what can we do to protect
our families from this? So we really want to focus
a lot of our efforts through the nonprofit on providing
avenues for that with families and really teaching them how
to do it. And so that's something that we're excited
(16:38):
for in the future.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Do you want to share anything about that? Well, because
the number one way that trafficking happens is online, Like
people think you can you're gonna get kidnapped at the mall,
like and thrown in a van. I mean that could happen,
but that is literally like the least likely way. It's
mostly online through grooming. They become like friends or pose
as other children in chat rooms and trick them and
then like threaten them, threaten their family stuff like that.
(17:01):
So if parents like knew what to look out for
to protect their kids and make all the devices in
their home safe and that they would get alerts, you know,
that would prevent a lot of this stuff from happening.
So we are working We're gonna launch something in the
fall and we're still working on the name, but we
think we're gonna call it the Predator Safety Squad. Squad
(17:24):
like the like the like the Squad. So I've got
a friend he's just incredible. He's like a tech wizard
person who he's built an app that's done like so
much good things for people, like helping people who need
food delivered to their homes.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Who are you know, food and security. So he's really
good at that kind of stuff. And I said, hey,
could you build me an app that would help parents
protect their devices, like their children's devices, And he said, well,
there's a ton of apps out there that already that.
He said, I don't really need to build you a
NEP for that. But what's really missing is people knowing
how to use those kinds of things, how to install
them in the first place, which one's to use, which.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Ones do what for you? Overwhelming you don't really know,
like is this one even a scam or something?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
For your information? Exec I mean that's like the only
reason I worry is like, are they just trying to
take more information from me rather than help me? Don't know?
Speaker 4 (18:16):
So call the Predator Safety Squad And so we'll go
to people's houses. We're going to get a group of
volunteers together that can help go into homes and install
these things for families, to teach them how to use it,
and then families will feel protected. So that's our working plan.
We're still we still have a lot of things to
get in place, but we're hoping to launch a program
like that, So not the Geek Squad, but sort of
(18:38):
we'll have our own version of tech, but it'll be
to protect against predators. And we're going to hopefully launch
that in September.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
And if somebody wants to get involved in the Free
Bird Initiative, which is ultimately going to lead to this,
how would they do that.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
So the website is Freebird Initiative dot org, so they
can go on the website or email us at hello
at Freebird Initiative dot org.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Yeah, and if you're good at tech stuff, we want
to know you know, we people. We are gonna try
to get a bunch of volunteers who are serious about
fighting against human trafficking and help us put these things,
these safety guardrails into people's homes.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
For them in that way goes in their home.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Yeah, Well, just showing up to somebody's house, whether it's
physically or via a zoom call saying all right, what
devices do you have? What kind of protection would you
like on these devices? These are the options available to you.
Let us help you install them. So it's yeah, so
it's not like a physical object, I don't think, but
it would be people not helping them go through that
and saying this is where you're going to install it,
(19:37):
this is how it works, this is what to look for,
and then parents feel prepared. I have a thirteen year
old and he is the only one out of all
of his friends that don't have a cell phone, and you, guys,
I hear about it like every day. It's so hard,
Like I didn't have that when I was growing up,
where it was everybody had an everyone had access to children.
Like that wasn't how it was for us, you know.
(19:59):
I'm like right on the cusp of when that became normal.
I'm turning forty this year, so yeah, so I'm looking
at my precious son and I'm like, Okay, I know
what's happening out there because of the work that I do,
and I am not letting anyone have.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Access to you.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
But at the same time, he's missing out on social
engagements like all of his friends, Like they've got their
group chats, they've got their fantasy football teams that he
can't be a part of. And it's all this stuff
that I know really matters to him. So if we
had the right things in place, the right protections in
place for him, then I would feel a lot better
about giving something like that to him, then I then
if not, and I know that if I feel that way,
(20:38):
there's got.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
To be oh tons, millions are hard line to walk,
millions of Yeah, everybody asked that question who has children,
Like when is the right time? Because it's just such
a That's one of the most worrisome things I agree
with you about being a parent today is you know,
when do you let them have access to it? When
you let it's not really about them having access to things,
about who's going to have access to them suddenly?
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Right, And they don't understand that. Don't traffickers target vulnerable people.
They're looking for lonely people that they can manipulate. They're
looking for children because children don't know what they don't know,
you know, So that's what that those are the people
we have to protect, right.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Hey, let's let's talk about your YouTube channel and the
show that you have. Yes, let's hear it.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Bring true sisterly business. Okay, So, like we're dorks. We're
like just big nerds.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Already ourselves.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
So like we all like honestly all we do is
laugh at each other, at ourselves.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
It's how we get through this the heavy work we do.
It's like and then laugh later. And it sounds bogus,
but it's the only way.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Because it's so hard to even think about what's happening, Like,
how can you get through that without the laughter that
you have. I mean, so many people get through hard
times because by laughing, you know, And it's just something
in our human nature helps us get through that way.
So I totally get it.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Yeah, So we started this YouTube channel because we want
to raise awareness for what's happening in the human trafficking
arena because people are curious, but also like just for
the two of us to let people know about our
business that there are ways that you can help survivors.
Like for me, I just feel like I'm a regular
person and I kind of fumbled my way into this right,
Like I have a passion for something and I just
(22:21):
continue to pursue how can I help in this area?
Speaker 3 (22:24):
How can I help here?
Speaker 4 (22:25):
And it's just taking one step at a time towards
being somebody that's helping. And look at where we're at now,
you know it's and I feel like anybody can do that.
It can feel so intimidating to try to make a
difference in an area that you really care about, but
it's really just taking one step at a time. So
I think that part of our YouTube channel is that
we just want to share that with people when people
see that the two of us.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Are doing this, like anybody can do it, you know,
normal out there making a difference.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Yeah, it's encouraging to everybody. You know, everybody can, Like
you said, you can make a difference. If you're listening
to this, you can do it too. Yes, that's great.
What type of jewelry do you guys make do their
survivors make?
Speaker 4 (23:04):
Well, I'm excited because we're we just started something new
with them. So we started with rings, Like they're fidget rings,
They're stretchy, they're roly, they're made with gemstones and crystals,
and it's like really an anxiety relief thing. You're probably
watching me this whole time and like just spitting them
around my fingers. I love these and they're they're super cute,
they're not too big, and they're unique. I've not seen
(23:25):
I've not seen this kind of product, and a lot
of place.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
There's fidget rings, but they're like metal and like yea,
you know these are like really they're still really pretty.
Yeah yeah, and there's a ton of diferent colors and
in my opinion too.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
So I started with that. That's why the business is
called Ring True because that was the first product and
I was just like, oh, I'm making rings.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
This is the thing.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
And then we started making bracelets because we you know,
have a lot of places that carry the rings, and
I was like, well, obviously the next step in the
business is to expand. So we started with bracelets because
that's something that a lot of people wear. And our
next thing that we're going for is necklaces. You know, surprise,
I know, you guys are so shocked to hear that.
So we recently just started so these I don't know
(24:04):
if you can see these golden necklaces that I have,
but this one.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Says Mama on it, so so pretty.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
It got like a cute Mother's Day and necklace that
we're gonna that we're launching specifically for Mother's Day.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
So that's exciting.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
That's great. I love that.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Yeah, so gemstones, crystals, a lot of stringing beads on
stretchy stuff and making it work. So they do a
good job with it and we're really proud of them.
And yeah, I love working.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
With these ladies. They're creative too.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
They come up with ideas and I'll teach them how
to do it one way, and then they'll come back
and say, well, if I was doing it, I would
make it this way, And I'm like, well you should
do it that way.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Then, yeah, go for it. As long as it doesn't
come fart, then I don't care how you do it.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
That's great. If you're just joining us. Our guests today
are Amanda Koslowski and Shannon Sloan. They're owners and sisters
at Ring True. Tell everybody so they can see what
you're talking about. What the website is again.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
Yes, it's Ring trueco dot com, so that's where people
can find us. We've got bracelets and fidget rings.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Let's talk about the fidget rings. Yeah, how did you
come up with that idea?
Speaker 4 (25:09):
I saw a Facebook post one time. This is a
question that not a lot of people ask me. So
I saw Facebook post one time and it was somebody
wearing like a bright orange colored ring because they wanted
to remind themselves of something. It was something with parenting,
like not yelling at their kids or something like that.
And I was like, oh, that's an interesting idea to
like wear a piece of jewelry to remind yourself of something.
(25:30):
And so that's kind of where I feel like the
encouraging word piece to attach it to it. So it's like,
you wear this thing and every time you look at it,
you can remember the word that was attached to that.
So we've got words like enough. So a lot of
women feel like they are not enough. They don't have
what it takes, whatever is required of them. They are
very much lacking in that area. A lot of women
(25:51):
feel that way, and even men to I'm sure feel
that way. So I wrote this little encouraging note just
saying like you are enough. Everything that you have is
exactly what you need, and the world needs you just
as you are. So every time you look at.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Your little ring, you can remember that thought, you know.
So that was the idea behind it.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
You know, there's words like strong and beautiful, clarity, you
know you're on.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
The right path, the kind of thing. Yeah, so that
was where the idea originally came from. And didn't your
friend who's a therapist say like, you should make a
fidget should maybe it could be a fidget ring.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
Well, she's the one that told me there fidget rings
because I designed them the way that I designed them,
and she was like, these are great for that. And
she's like in therapy, like the kids that I work
with use these kinds of things all the time, and
she works with children who have been sexually and physically abused.
So for her to comment on that and say, hey,
these would be great for the kids that I'm working with,
I'm just like, oh my gosh. She's another program that
(26:43):
from the beginning I had been donating to the work
that she does because I'm so proud of her.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
So, so that's practical. But they're so beautiful too, yeah,
you know, And so what you were describing when when
you get the you know, the ring or the bracelet
or the necklace in the package, it has a word
that you know that you put words of affirmation with
that word and that's what you know you were saying,
you can think of when you see this piece of jewelry,
(27:07):
that specific word that does tell you you're a offer,
tells you that you're strong or whatever it might be.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, that's my favorite part when people come to the
table and they look at everything we've got and they
buy something based on the word that's associated with it,
because I am a words of encouragement person, Like, that's
my love language. So when I meet somebody else who care.
I mean, a lot of people will just come and say, oh,
I like black, I want that one. I'm like, yeah, no,
that makes sense. I wear black all the time too.
So but when they come and they say this word
(27:36):
speaks to me, that's what I need. That's what I
needed today. And the survivors as well, like the amount
of times when they're packaging the jewelry and they're reading
the quotes that's on there. It is uplifting to them
and I'm like, oh, hey, we have a sale on
that today and you get it for free.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
So just like I love that. Yes, they are right,
we were talking about being in over eighty boutiques, right, yeah,
and so you do provide wholesale opportunity to sell in
larger quantity to boutiques or anybody out there who wants
to buy and bulk from you and tell us a
(28:11):
little bit more about that in case somebody's listening and
like I own a store or I have a way
to you know, to buy more and sell more. If
they want to be involved, how could they do that?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
We would love that so much. So on our website
ring trueco dot com, there is a tab for wholesale
so they can just like fill it out and then
they get accessed and they can purchase right through that.
So yeah, everything, I mean, most of the things that
we make, they can buy wholesale. Yeah, we ship anywhere.
You can buy a bracelet anywhere. Anywhere you go, you
(28:40):
can find some bracelet that you can buy. But not
anybody is working with survivors providing a dignified way that
these ladies can get back on their feet, start a
savings account, maybe for the first time ever in their lives.
Like there is meaning an impact behind this, but we
know that like bracelets abound, you can get them at
the gas station, you know. But you know, what we're
(29:01):
providing is something that's unique and special, that's really helping somebody.
So we're hopeful that people will care about that cause
knowing that it's going to a good place. We'll send
like a little thing with it too. If someone orders
wholesale that they can put in their store so people
know that it's made by survivors of human tracks more.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Important, Yeah, because people want to support organizations that support people.
So also on your website, you have a way that
people can do a fun subscription to get something every month.
It's called the Survivor Support Club. Tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Yeah, The Survivor Support Club was another inspired idea where
it was like just popped into my head. I'm like,
oh my gosh, we should do a monthly thing, And
so we started that program and the ladies because really,
you know, we've got our boutique sales, we've got our
online sales, but those things can be inconsistent, and we're
working with ladies who we don't want them to have
(29:51):
inconsistency when they're working with us. We want them to
feel like they know what's happening, they know what's coming next.
So the Survivor Support Club really provides a way for
us to offer consistent work to the women that we're
working with where we say this many people every month
want this special club thing that you're making, and it
also allows us the opportunity to know when we can
hire a new lady. So because of that consistent number
(30:13):
that comes in, we kind of know what sort of
work to expect for them. So it's exclusive pieces. It's
not something that you're going to find on our website.
It's will we get fresh, different things that the ladies
can make just for that group of people. So it's
kind of fun to have an exclusive piece that you're
not gonna be able to get anywhere else, like one
of the ones I'm wearing right now and we sent
out on Saint Patrick's Day last year.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
It's like a green ring. You know that you will
never have seen that on our website. So it's only
twenty dollars a month plus shipping, so it's not too expensive.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
No, that's a really reasonable price. Right. Know that you're
helping somebody too.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
And people will save them up too, so you'll get
obviously once a month, so by Christmas time you will
have twelve in your hands and then you can give
them out as Christmas gifts. A lot of older ladies
I talked to are like, oh, yes, I have them
all in my gift closet.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
I'm like, what is a gift closet?
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Apparently that's a thing that people have a closet full
of gifts ready to go that are ready to go.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I'm like, I need a gift classy, So get you
a gift closet.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Well, it's a great idea. It's a meaningful gift. Yeah,
you know, so stock up and then when you have
something come up, you're ready to go.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
And then some people just really don't care about jewelry,
so but they want to help the survivors. So my
sister actually thought of a really cool way that we
can partner with people like that, if you want to.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Anchor it Hope. Yeah, So we're we're partnered with another organization,
a nonprofit called Anchored Hope, and they are amazing. They
go on the streets of Detroit like three times a
week and work with ladies that are being trafficked out
there and they give them like they get to know
them and hopefully the point is to have them trust
them and then eventually ask for help to like get
(31:45):
out of the situation, and then they will help them
and take them to a safe house. And so one
of the things they do is they learn their birthdays
if they'll if they'll tell them, and so they give
out these little birthday bags. And so we have people
that will purchase our like monthly subscription and then have
us send it to Anchored Hopes, so that the ladies,
the like victims are getting a survivor made gift. Somebody
(32:07):
who like walked their life through this, got through it
and is doing gift which they probably haven't a birthday gift.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
It's such a gift of hope for them to look
at it and say, WHOA, somebody who's gone through what
I'm currently going through made this.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Right, yeah, right, and they're on the other side of it.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Yeah. That's a great way to build trust. I'm so
grateful that you guys joined us today. The work that
you're doing is just beautiful. And I want to remind
everybody if you want to help, and I hope you do,
because not only is the jewelry beautiful, but it's something
that's really impactful and meaningful. Please go to ringtrueco dot
com and support the organization. It's Ring True. Our guests
(32:44):
today have been Amanda Kozlowski and Shannon Sloan owners and sisters.
Thank you for joining us today. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
This has been light Up the D a community affairs
program from iHeartMedia Detroit. If your organization would like to
get on the program, email Colleen Grant at iHeartMedia dot com.
Here are all episodes on this station's podcast page.
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