In this episode of the Ordinary Courage Podcast I have the absolute honor of hearing Maddison's story, told through her Mama, Jennifer Ann Holleman. This is a story about loss, Human Trafficking and a mothers fight for justice, for inner healing and to tell the story of Maddison to anyone who will listen.
This episode is brutally painful and hard to hear. But we need to hear these stories because this atrocity is far from over.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."
I'm here to tell you- THIS. MATTERS.
From Jennifer:
In 2015, my world changed forever. Maddison was killed in a horrific car accident in Edmonton, Alberta. The man driving was intoxicated, the man driving was a “John”. Although Maddison was killed by a drunk driver, I see the ultimate cause of her death to be Human Trafficking.
Since her death, there have been two year long investigations. No justice has ever been served for what happened to my daughter. I have taken it upon myself to become an advocate for Human Trafficking. In my Community, my Province, my Country. I have spoke at many conferences, to schools and at AGM’s for various organizations, as well as to the Standing Committee for Justice and Human Rights. I have just recently spoken to Paul Brandt and the Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force and am looking forward to working with them in the near future. In the Fall of 2020, I was nominated for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, initiated in South Korea. To even be considered for this award was incredibly humbling.
Losing Maddison has been the most difficult time in my life. It was a big decision to make the choice to tell her story, as it keeps this loss so fresh. I have always maintained that if sharing what happened to her, helps just one young women, then her death was not in vain. And I can say without a doubt, that so many more have been touched.
I will continue on this journey as long as long as Human Trafficking is a crises in this Country and for as long as I am physically able. Education and awareness are the key factors in keeping our youth safe. What happened to Maddison, should never happen to any young woman. Ever.
Follow Jennifer:
https://www.instagram.com/jennielou42/
1-833-900-1010
For immediate assistance, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010. You can reach the confidential Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in more than 200 languages.
https://www.canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca/nationalhotline/
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