Why Liluye Matters and Why 2026 Is the Year We Move Forward

People often ask me why Liluye matters so much to me. The simple answer is advocacy…supporting survivors, especially women, as they heal from trauma and unlearn patterns that no longer deserve space in their new season of life. And, advocacy is everywhere if you look for it. However, what makes Liluye different is the heart behind how that advocacy is lived out.

I am a survivor of trafficking, though I don’t often lead with that part of my story. Not because I’m ashamed, but because I believe healing begins with listening. I choose to sit with another woman’s truth; not rush her story or fix her pain, but to hold space for what is real.

And in those moments…listening, witnessing, honoring…I am filled with compassion, grace, and a deep resolve to help her move forward. Through healing. Through grief. Through forgiveness. Toward a renewed sense of identity and worth. Toward the understanding that she deserves more. Liluye was born from that calling.

The Wound Beneath the Work
In my twenties, I walked into the entertainment and modeling industry believing I was stepping into opportunity. What I didn’t understand then, what I didn’t have the language for, was how power, money, and control were being used against me.

I was naïve. I was searching for stability, and I didn’t yet know that money could be weaponized.

Money didn’t feel safe. It felt like leverage. Like manipulation. Like silence being purchased and obedience expected.

There were strings attached to everything…opportunities, protection, and provision. And if you come from poverty and if you don’t have a financial safety net, those strings tighten quickly. Saying “no” doesn’t feel like a choice when survival is on the line.

I’ve seen the tunnels. I’ve endured blackmail. I’ve lived under the weight of fear and the pressure to stay quiet. And, I’ve learned firsthand how financial vulnerability makes exploitation easier to hide and harder to escape.

That is why this work is not theoretical for me. It is embodied. It is lived. It is personal.

Why Financial Healing Is Central to Restoration
For many survivors, getting “out” is only the beginning. The deeper work comes later when the adrenaline fades and the reality sets in. When you realize that trauma didn’t just harm your body or your heart, but that it reshaped your relationship with money, safety, and trust.

Financial trauma is real and it often goes unnamed. That’s why Liluye places such strong emphasis on financial healing and leadership. We are not teaching women how to survive. We are walking with them as they learn how to steward, protect, and grow without fear, shame, or manipulation.

We are helping women understand that money does not have to mean control. That stability does not have to come at the cost of dignity. And, that wealth, when built with integrity, can be a tool for freedom rather than harm.

Holding the Mic and Passing It Forward
For over a decade, my advocacy has often looked like holding the microphone for someone else. Not because I had to, but because that is where I am called.

Liluye exists to create space:
For voices to be heard.
For healing to be honored.
For survivors to step fully into who they are becoming, and not who they were forced to be.

This work lives at the intersection of heart and grit. Of compassion and strategy. Of deep listening and decisive action. Especially within behavioral health where long-term healing requires both tenderness and structure.

A Grounded Invitation for 2026
As we step into 2026, I’m not interested in resolutions rooted in pressure or performance. I’m interested in movement…the kind that comes from clarity and conviction.

This is the year to:
• invest in healing that lasts.
• build systems that protect the vulnerable.
• support work that honors dignity.
• make financial and relational choices that align with truth.

Whether you are a survivor, a supporter, a donor, or someone quietly watching from the sidelines, you have a role to play! This work is personal. This work is sacred. And, this work is far from finished.

But it is grounded. It is intentional. And, it is moving forward.

So as this new year begins, my invitation is simple:

Don’t just hope for change.
Be part of the building.

With your support, we’re going to make sure they get it!

To learn more about Monica’s work and our leadership: https://liluye.org/team/

For more information about Liluye or to inquire about becoming a partner, please visit: www.liluye.org/contact. Or, if you are interested in donating to Liluye, please visit: www.liluye.org/donate.