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Award-Winning

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Experienced Professionals

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Satisfied Clients

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our mission

Providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

our vision

A lifelong sisterhood of hope, healing and freedom.
About 1

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our faith

Bloom is a faith-based non-profit, but services are NOT based on a religious commitment. Regardless of religious beliefs, we provide unconditional acceptance, empathy and grace for all.

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes."

Romans 1:16 NLT

our organization

In early 2021, two non-profit organizations (Truth For Women and Bloom Bangor), both dedicated to empowering women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Lehigh Valley, came together as one (Bloom) to become a stronger force in the fight against sex trafficking in our community.

Together as one, Bloom offers sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. As a faith-based non-profit, Bloom empowers women to heal and create a new future through its emergency response, its two-year residential program, pregnant survivor services and its independent living housing.

Bloom follows the model of the remarkably successful Thistle Farms program in Nashville, Tenn. and is part of the Thistle Farms National Network of sister communities, joining more than 60 other sister agencies across the U.S. Bloom is also a member of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance, which is a network of providers serving survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. 

Truth For Women’s History:

Truth for Women was originally founded in 1999 to cultivate a spiritually healthy community by building a vibrant network of women from every social, economic, and denominational background who would share strengths, resources, and information that would help women understand and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. Volunteer and community leader, Sally Hall, galvanized these dedicated women and resources from many churches in the Lehigh Valley to launch what was originally The Women’s Center.

Incorporated in 2004, Truth for Women offered three distinct services: networking, a women’s center, and a resale boutique. The strong network continued to grow to include support from a large number of collaborative organizations, as well as individuals, who come together to share strengths, resources, and information to fulfill our mission of providing sanctuary and emergency stabilization to survivors of sex trafficking.

This network helped Truth For Women to support The Women’s Center of the Lehigh Valley that opened to provide a resource and safe haven where women would be treated with honor and respect and would offer them help, hope, and healing. This facility, The Heather House (formerly known as the Truth Home), continues to offer a safe haven for women and provides care for sexually exploited women. The upscale resale boutique, My Sister’s Closet, first opened its doors in 2008 to help fund the ministries of Truth for Women and continues to be a source for funding for Bloom and employment opportunities for our survivors.

Bloom Bangor’s History:

Launched in 2016, Bloom was modeled after the successful Thistle Farms Nashville program that was founded in 1997. The programs were designed not just to help a subculture of women, but to help change the culture itself. The organizations stand in solidarity with women who are recovering from sexual abuse, violence and life on the streets, and who have paid dearly for a culture that buys and sells women like commodities.

Bloom Bangor, which is now named the Jasmine House, is a two-year residential housing program with a community-based motto of “love heals” and named after the first woman graduate. Bloom Bangor helps residents to live honest, sober and self-sufficient lives and provides them with educational and vocational opportunities. Bloom fosters self-understanding through personal and spiritual growth counseling; life-skills building and maintenance education; access to medical and dental care; opportunities to work toward economic self-sufficiency through Bloom Creative Studio and other business partners.

Bloom Bangor’s programs advocate living gracefully in community with one another. New residents are given a key and are offered the necessary resources to maintain recovery, heal from childhood wounds, become physically healthy and find employment. Residents, graduates, staff and volunteers share daily tasks, offer hospitality, build upon each other’s strengths, and provide compassionate, disciplined support.   

Our Homes

As part of our mission, Bloom operates five homes in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania to help women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation throughout their journey – helping them to start over, to begin to heal and providing them with the hope to transition to a better life.

The Heather and Jasmine Houses are two-year residential programs for women survivors of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and addiction. These homes provide structure and support to heal, empower and employ women survivors through safe housing, trauma-informed programming, partnerships with treatment providers, vocational and educational training, and ongoing connections with a growing community of supporters that believe it’s never too late to start over. This program operates without 24-hour staff or live-in supervision and all services are offered to the women participants at no cost to them.

The Mountain Laurel House is a two-year program for women survivors of sex trafficking, exploitation and addiction, specifically providing a safe space for pregnant survivors as they heal, deliver and care for their baby.

The Lilac and Lily Houses are fee-based independent living residences for program graduates as they transition to a life of independence.

What Our Clients Say

My Sister’s Closet

Our upscale resale boutique, My Sister’s Closet, located in Bethlehem, Pa., provides employment opportunities for program participants, community volunteer opportunities, and financial support for Bloom.

About 2


Creative Studio

We believe art heals and that everyone deserves a chance to start over.  The Bloom Creative Studio in Bangor, Pa., is a supportive workplace for women leaving lives of addiction and violence. Our Studio has a gift shop, offers a variety of art classes, private parties, and open studio time for DIY crafts, including pottery, mosaic, and glass fusion. The Studio also provides a safe and supportive environment for program participants to reconnect with their children and family. All purchases help blaze a path for physical, mental and economic freedom for women survivors. For more information, click here.

our leadership

About 3

Carol Andersen

CEO
BLOOM

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Alyssa Santana

residence manager

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Caitlin Agneta, LSW

social worker

About 6

Vickie Nisbet

director of development
bloom

About 7

Sheniqua Mitchell, MSW

outreach manager

About 8

Lisa Resar

finance associate

About 9

Rebekah Fritchman

store manager
my sister's closet

About 10

Laura McNeely

Studio manager, bloom creative studio

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Lauren Brennan

CASeworker

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Ashley Caravello

operations & compliance manager

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Connie Deemer

Bookkeeper

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Jade Hoffman

CASEWORKer

Bloom Board Members:

Lorri Tomko, DMD, M.B.A.

BOARD CHAIR
DENTIST,
TOMKO DENTAL ASSOCIATes

Dinoli Rowlands, M.B.A.

BOARD vice chair
vp, regional business banking
relationship manager, PNC

Mark Sessanta

board treasurer
development committee chair
Founder & CEO,
Stark financial Group

Marta Gabriel, M.P.S.

Board secretary
diretor of goverment & community affairs,
crayola of easton

Jessica Armstrong, Esq.

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR
ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL,
ST. LUKE'S UNIVersity HEALTH NETWORK

Billy Dunn

Board member
senior consultant,
the center consulting group

Julia Kocis, M.C.J.

Board Member
director, lehigh county regional intelligence & investigation center

Meloney Sallie-Dosunmu, M.B.A.

Board Member
ceo, precision talent international

Karen Higgins
BOARD MEMBER
MARKETING COMMITTEE CHAIR
RETIRED BUSINESS OWNER

Heather LaBarre,
LCSW, PH.D.

Board Member
dir. of field education,
kutztown university

Tiffany Sondergaard

BOARD MEMBER
ceo,
ts brand elevation

Mark Koch, OTD, OTR/L

board member

capstone coordinator & asst. prof. of occupational therapy, cedar crest college

Theresa McQueen

board member
office and finance manager,
macmobile
bloom 2021 graduate

Ernie Stiegler, M.B.A.

BOARD MEMBER
vp of client engagement, swbr, inc.

Bloom Advisory Council:

Marc Granson, MD

Laurie Hackett

Elizabeth Meade, PH.D.

Tim Mulligan

Denise Spence

Kathleen Waterbury Reilly

Joe Topper, Jr.

Gina Sandnes

Events

Bloom hosts numerous events throughout the year to raise awareness about sex trafficking, as well as to fundraise to support survivors of sex trafficking. See our events page for more details on upcoming events and how you can host your own event. If you are interested in sponsoring an event(s), we offer individual event sponsorships, as well as Annual Sponsorships. Click here to learn more.

job opportunities

Thank you for your interest.  At this time, we do not have any job opportunities available at Bloom.  Please check back periodically, as opportunities are posted frequently.

Internships:

Bloom offers internship opportunities throughout the year. Interns engage with the women in our homes who have a history of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and sexual abuse. Other recurring themes include substance use, violence, criminal histories, and homelessness. Interns have the opportunity to assist with various tasks relating to the care of the participants.

newsletter

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Past newsletters:

Sheniqua Mitchell, MSW

outreach manager