Cited Sources
This page includes the research we’ve used across our website, plus additional data on sex trafficking and exploitation. When combined with lived experience and the training of an ICF-certified life coach, this knowledge forms the foundation of Rebuild & Rise—Connect 2 Change’s survivor-designed curriculum for rebuilding meaningful, independent futures.
Sex Trafficking & Survivor Outcomes
Polaris Project – National Survivor Study (2023)
In Harm’s Way: How Systems Fail Human Trafficking Survivors
Comprehensive analysis of survivor barriers, financial abuse, criminal system involvement, and employment challenges.
https://polarisproject.org/national-survivor-study/
Cash Economy & Sex Trafficking in Sacramento (2022)
Economic assessment of Sacramento’s underground cash-based industries and related vulnerabilities.
https://www.rti.org/impact/estimating-sex-trafficking-sacramento-county-california
Lauren Hersh – “Prostitution Is Not Just Another Job” (2016)
Insights into coercion, trauma, and the lived economic realities of sexual exploitation.
Copy of original
Strengths-Based and Trauma-Informed Frameworks
University of Kansas – School of Social Welfare
Principles of the Strengths Perspective
https://socwel.ku.edu/principles-strengths-perspective
Rooted in Strengths (2020)Resource on strengths-based empowerment and survivor-led healing.
https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/entities/publication/163ce049-6dc7-4212-98b4-b6e644d2954d
Economic Mobility, Aid Cycles, and Public Systems
CalWORKs Annual Summary (2023)
State-level data on poverty, long-term reliance on aid, employment barriers, and return-to-aid cycles.
https://cdss.ca.gov/research-and-data/calworks
Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), 2016–2024
Includes global reports, women’s entrepreneurship reports, sustainability reports, and emerging economy data.
https://www.gemconsortium.org/reports
USC Research Brief – Women-Owned Businesses in California (2025)
Analysis of statewide economic contributions of women-owned firms.
https://priceschool.usc.edu/research/ (Report downloaded)
KCRA / USC News Coverage – Women-Owned Business Trends
Media highlights summarizing California’s growth in women-led businesses.
https://www.kcra.com (News segment varies; report downloaded)
Program Development and Entrepreneurial Design Resources
Value Proposition Design (Strategyzer)
Framework for shaping customer-centered value propositions.
https://www.strategyzer.com/books/value-proposition-design
Testing Business Ideas (Strategyzer)
Methodology for testing, validating, and reducing risk in new business ideas.
https://www.strategyzer.com/library/testing-business-ideas-book
Business Model Canvas (Strategyzer)
A visual framework used globally for planning, designing, and refining business models.
Official Strategyzer resources:
https://www.strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas
Additional explainer:
https://www.strategyzer.com/blog/posts/the-business-model-canvas-explained
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