Hope's Hearts workshops are an art project created to bring hope and encouragement, while distributing helpful crisis resources into the community to prevent human trafficking. It started in collaboration with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in June 2017 and has grown. Today our workshops have spread into school classrooms, service projects for corporate volunteers, and are part of our Art in the Park outreach during community events. We encourage groups to request a workshop or for individuals to request a Project Box to complete at home and return for public display.
The Hope's Hearts project encourages participants' creativity while raising awareness of human trafficking. Placed all around Sheboygan County, the art raises awareness and fosters hope, thus reducing vulnerability to human trafficking for those who encounter it.
During the workshops, participants create beautiful pieces used to assemble a wind chime. The finished chimes receive a tag with crisis resources before being placed throughout Sheboygan County. The goal is for people to find them, be encouraged by one of the five words placed on the shapes, and reach out to the crisis resources if needed. Together we can encourage and strengthen our community while preventing human trafficking!

The five words of encouragement are:
Hope - courage to keep moving forward
Courage - strength to make the journey
Strength - inner power to withstand whatever comes
Faith - wings and sail of our dreams
Wisdom - guardian of our choices

Windchimes made by the art students of Sheboygan Central High School 2023

In the challenging times of 2020 and the subsequent lockdowns, our ability to conduct workshops faced obstacles. However, our dedicated volunteers devised a creative solution, allowing us to take the Hope's Hearts Project anywhere. We've introduced wooden chimes into the project, extending its reach to local high schools. This innovative approach serves as a powerful catalyst for initiating conversations about Human Trafficking and mobilizing our community to combat it wholeheartedly.

The project provides students and other community members with an opportunity to illuminate the issue of trafficking. By incorporating these beautiful wooden chimes into our artwork and displaying them around our city and county, we aim to shed light on the crisis and offer hope to the most vulnerable. This collaborative effort not only raises awareness but also serves as a beacon of support for those who need it most.

Follow the project on Facebook @hopesheartssheboygan.