In Defense of Prostitute Women’s Safety Project celebrated its new office space with an Open House at the Crossroads Women’s Center on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Rachel West, Sharon Lungo and Jane Welford (pictured above from left to right) welcomed guests to the space and shared updates on the September launch event of our Guaranteed Care Income pilot, and on recent successful collaborations to defeat loitering for prostitution bills in California.

Jane talked about the move from the Redstone to the current space and thanked Karl Kramer for all the work he did to secure the place for all of us. Rachel gave updates on collaborations to defeat recent loitering for prostitution bills in California. Sharon, who brought her daughter, talked about the value of caregiving work and about her translation work for the participant interview process. Pilot Coordinator, Chelsea House, (pictured at bottom right) gave a moving update on the Guaranteed Care Income pilot.

The event was attended by about 20 to 25 people, including La Colectiva de Mujeres who are organizing with domestic workers and said they are in solidarity with sex workers. Madeleine Levin, of Social Policy Research Associates, one of evaluators for the Guaranteed Care Income pilot, is pictured above at left with Rachel West.

We had various cheeses and crackers, donated by a local Trader Joe’s, a green salad, a fruit salad and four pizzas donated by worker owned Cheese Board Pizza. Also wine, juice and other drinks were served.

The event was a big success. One attendee said, “… there was an undeniable, joyous energy in the space – fed by the mix of everyone there.”