Serving women who have been sexually exploited by providing residential programming and supportive community in which they are free to dream and thrive.
The sexual exploitation of women is happening in our own backyard…
but now, so are hope and restoration,
thanks to the grace of God!
who we serve
We serve women who are or have been sexually exploited, no matter where they are on their journey. We work with women who have children as well as those who don’t. We come alongside women of all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
our mission
To serve women who have been sexually exploited by providing residential programming and a supportive community in which they are free to dream and thrive.
our mission
A world where every survivor of sexual exploitation has a safe place to find healing and hope.
The story of Zeteo Community
Marlene Sorenson
A survivor’s story
Sula
A survivor’s story
Holly
“In almost every case under investigation or pending before a court, the victims lack stable housing.”
John Vaudreuil, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin scored an “F” among the Shared Hope International “State Report Cards on Child and Youth Sex Trafficking”. Our state’s “Responses to and Identification of Sex Trafficking Victims” scored an alarming 9.5 out of 27.5, as well as only a 3 out of 15 on our “Continuum of Care” resources.
“I remember sitting in my car alone one day on the west side of Madison calling different places asking for help out of my situation [sex trafficking], but no one could help me because I wasn’t a drug addict…Had there been somewhere for me to go, I wholeheartedly believe my life could have changed for the positive much sooner.”
– H.H.
building hope
In addition to housing, Zeteo Community will provide high-quality programming that will be tailored to serve and empower women that have been sexually exploited in their journey towards healing. We will provide strengths-based, trauma-informed, holistic care through a variety of therapies as well as life skills and job training through on-site classes and workshops.
building homes
We want to meet a very practical need for women leaving a life of sexual exploitation: housing. Our goal is to build a group of multi-family homes that can comfortably house women and their children if they have them. The idea is that these homes would be more than a “shelter”, but a safe and peaceful place to start a new life.
building community
Community has always been the lifeblood of what we do. We are all about people and the way God brings us together to share life with each other. We don’t want to just build homes, but we want to build a community to invite women into: a place of acceptance and love that can transform and bring healing to even the deepest wounds.
“Inviting the community into a personal partnership with a generational impact…
The coming days will be full of God’s provision in ways that will bring Him honor and praise!
We’re shifting focus from planning and dreaming to vision casting—and officially kicking off the capital campaign to construct the Zeteo Community homes. We wish to approach this in God’s way. Not one of wooing donors and prospects to give, but rather sharing the vision, and inviting partners to embrace what God is already doing. We’re offering partnership as an opportunity to steward riches in a way that honors the Lord and redeems and rebuilds the dreams of women clinging to the hope of something better.
“Zeteo has discovered the heart of God: “The exploited desperately search, but no water is to be found. But I, the God of Israel, am there to be found. I will open up rivers and splashing fountains for them.” Isaiah 41:17”
“Let it not be said that I was silent when they needed me.”
“I’ve worked with many non-profits over the past 20 years. The passion and resilience that Marlene and Kenton have shown is remarkable and very encouraging. As a father of two teenage daughters, it breaks my heart to know there are girls their age being trafficked without a path to safety and security. I’m 100% confident Zeteo Community will be make a positive impact on local women and their children that are subject to this horrible situation.”
“I’ve traveled extensively and knew human trafficking was a problem in New York and L.A., but I didn’t realize Madison had such an issue. I am grateful for the opportunity to support Zeteo Community, which is doing something about it.”
“We are excited to be welcoming Zeteo Community into our neighborhood. We’ve lived here for more than 30 years and have had many people come to our home and find healing in the peace of the country setting with its trees and gardens, away from the bustle of the city. The thought of this being duplicated up the road brings us joy. God’s touch and healing is so often demontrated tangibly through nature, and we have that in abundance here.”
“It’s tragic that the need for housing for human trafficking victims is needed in Dane County. But sadly the need is great. I’m incredibly grateful for the entire team at Zeteo Community and their steadfast commitment to taking on this challenge. Their vision is clear and compelling and I support it wholeheartedly.”
