North Star Initiative (NSI) is doubling down on its mission. The local nonprofit is adding to its resources and increasing its reach in the fight against human trafficking.

Recently, NSI absorbed Freedom and Restoration for Everyone Enslaved (F.R.E.E.), a Berks County-based nonprofit with similar goals, methods and beliefs, into its operations. It's a move that will allow NSI to impact more survivors and achieve an even greater good.

"I've had a desire for collaboration," said Melinda Clark, NSI's executive director. "There's too much work that needs to be done, and you can't do it alone. We want to bring together skilled and passionate people. There's so much chance of burnout from doing this restoration work. We are stronger together and more effective."

"This shows that it's possible for organizations to collaborate to make a difference in the movement," added Clark. "This is not necessarily common in the nonprofit world. The movement is changing, and it's a privilege to be on the front lines."

After about a year of negotiations and red tape, NSI officially absorbed F.R.E.E. on July 1. In the summer of 2023, officials of F.R.E.E. approached NSI about a possible merger, and around the beginning of this year a formal agreement was reached.

"In terms of operations, it's a merger. The legal term is acquisition," said Clark. "I'm excited because this means we're going to be serving more survivors more quickly. It makes the whole organization stronger. This work is complex and complicated. Any resources we have at our disposal are meant for the good of the movement. We want to make the entire movement more effective."

NSI retained all 11 of F.R.E.E.'s former employees, a move that increased NSI's staff to 30 members. In addition to its continuation of F.R.E.E.'s services in Berks County, NSI has now established a physical presence in Reading, partly through the continued operation of F.R.E.E.'s Refuge Home, a residential facility for human trafficking survivors focused on trauma healing, similar to NSI's The Harbor in Lititz.

NSI now has the capability to house and care for a total of 14 human trafficking survivors at any one time, up to eight at The Harbor in Lititz and up to six at the Refuge Home in Reading.

"This is the next step for F.R.E.E.," said Andrea McHenry, F.R.E.E.'s former executive director and NSI's new director of outreach and advocacy. "North Star has experience that will allow the Refuge Home to be the best it can be from the beginning, and I could not be more excited."

"Over the next 90 days we will be very focused on training staff and analyzing policies so both teams can be effective," said Clark. "We're not going to rush things, and if we need to take our time, we will. One of the next key pieces will be to invite the community to see what we've accomplished so far. We want better outcomes for survivors. It's what everyone wants. That's the whole point."

NSI is one of at least four Lancaster County organizations currently battling human trafficking. Last year, NSI conducted more than 75 presentations to raise awareness about human trafficking in the community, and since its founding in 2010, the Lititz nonprofit has provided care for more than 80 survivors.

"I'd say this is unexpected, but desirable and not unimaginable," said Clark of the F.R.E.E. merger. "The areas that nonprofits struggle in are executive leadership, developing boards and securing volunteers. We have so many resources and such a competent staff that organizations are trying to replicate it."

For additional information on North Star Initiative, go to http://www.northstarinitiative.org.