Breakthrough Builders Legacy of Love: Dr. Izabel Olson
[6m41s] Izabel describes the wrongful imprisonment of her father in Brazil, and the impact it had on her and her family
[9m13] The legacy of her mother’s warrior spirit, resilience, and love
[13m40s] Why Izabel puts storytelling at the heart of Salt & Light Coalition’s curriculum and its efforts to build empathy and trust
[17m40s] The importance of non-judgment as a culture value
[19m15s] Izabel describes the healing program that thrivers participate in during their first six months at Salt & Light
[22m26s] The story of Salt & Light’s founding, including an unexpected insight gained when teaching yoga at Cook County Jail
[26m20s] The intentionality of building an all-female Board of Directors, and the necessity of maintaining a diverse staff
[27m56s] The coalition’s heralded successes, including 80% workforce placement after graduation
[30m04s] How Salt & Light adapted and developed a more flexible format during the pandemic
While teaching yoga at Illinois’ Cook County Jail, Dr. Izabel Olson discovered a startling insight: over 70% of female inmates had been victims of trafficking. And when she looked around at the resources available in the Chicago area to trafficking victims, she found that there was a substantial gap in programs that offered rehabilitative services. Shortly afterward, she embarked on founding Salt & Light Coalition to fill the need.
In her talk with Jesse, Dr. Olson describes how she came to understand the conditions that enable trafficking in part through the lens of her own lived experience; how she built Salt & Light on the cultural foundations of empathy and non-judgment; the profound effect that Salt & Light has had on the lives of its graduates; and lessons learned from trying to keep the coalition’s critical support network open and available during the pandemic. Izabel’s story is an inspiring journey of love and understanding and a powerful reminder to build toward our life’s purpose with both an open mind and open heart.
Guest Bio
Dr. Izabel Olson is the founder and CEO of Salt and Light Coalition, a grassroots organization breaking the cycle of human trafficking through mind-body restoration and workforce development. Dr. Olson is dedicated to the empowerment of women, especially survivors of human trafficking as they reframe their traumatic experiences and find success in the workplace and throughout society. Prior to establishing Salt and Light Coalition, Dr. Olson was a researcher at Northwestern University, where she earned her Ph.D. in the Learning Sciences.
Helpful Links
Interview: Preying on the Vulnerable: Half of Trafficked Women and Girls Are Immigrants
Q&A with Voyage Chicago
Dr. Izabel Olson on Twitter
Also check out our conversation with Dr. Gheeta Murali, CEO of Room to Read