We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robin Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robin below.

Hi Robin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In my previous job I was responsible for student leadership at a Christian university in Michigan. One of the activities I did each year was lead a missions trip over spring break with about 20 student leaders. We came to Las Vegas and worked with about 15 non-profits over the course of a week. One of those non-profits worked directly with victims of sex trafficking. This was my exposure to this line of work. As a faith filled person, I believe that God started to plant a seed in my heart to serve trafficking victims and survivors. I wrestled with this idea for several years, each trip/year having the desire confirmed, but being too afraid to step into the unknown, to take a risk.

Finally, after about three years of procrastinating, I met with my pastor and shared with him what was on my heart. He said these life changing words to me, “why do you have to know what it will look like or how it will turn out? Why not just get messy. Do something. If it works, do it again. If it doesn’t, change it and go back in.” His words and encouragement gave me the drive and courage to take a risk, to step into the unknown, and to begin to serve women trapped in the sex industry. It truly was messy and beautiful at the same time. Those first steps launched a monthly ministry that is still going on today and also eventually brought me to live in Las Vegas and to work for the organization I work for today.

Robin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The story I just shared tells you how I got into this line of work. I work for Refuge for Women. We are an international, faith-based residential program for women exploited by the sex industry. We offer three phases of recovery – emergency housing, long term programming and transitional living. Our Emergency Housing is 30 – 90 days. Both long term and transitional living are one year. All three phases are offered to the client free of charge.

We specialize in trauma-informed, survivor centered aftercare. Our homes are small, 6 women at a time, so the care is personal, individualized and intentional. We operate from a family point of view, not an institution. We don’t sell a product but we offer our clients hope and healing, life skills, job skills, education, therapy and support.

What I’m most proud of is our success rate. 72% of women who complete our 1 year program do not return to the sex industry. 86% of our clients who go on to live in the transitional living home do not go back to the sex industry. This is an unheard of success rate. I’m proud of the program we offer, the care the women receive, and the results of them truly getting back their lives.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Grit – tenacity. In my line of work, we work daily with hurting, broken people. The work is hard, the work is messy, the women are not always appreciative. We have to love them anyways, we have to show up each day with 100%, we have to fight when they have no fight, teach them to use their voice when they have no voice, help them see hope when all they see is darkness, and never give up.

I think this can translate to doing anything that is hard. You have to have grit, you have to dig deep, you have to be tenacious, you have to not let obstacles stop you, you have to think outside the box, you have to go after it multiple times in multiple ways. Grit. This work is not for the faint of heart, not for those who need accolades, not for those who need a thank you.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

longevity. We have been around since 2009. It has taken showing up every day and serving well over the years to earn the credibility needed in our field. We do our jobs with integrity, the client in mind, and to the best of our abilities. This has positioned us to be a true player in this field and to be trend setters. We haven’t always been thought of as legit, but over the years we have proven results and have earned a seat at the table. Again it goes back to tenacity and grit – Be in it for the long haul.

Contact Info:

• Website: refugeforwomen.org/lasvegas
• Instagram: refugeforwomen_lasvegas
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rfwlasvegas