By CONNIE NOLEN / Community Columnist

“When I see a teenage girl, I see a target,” said Tajuan McCarty, Founder of WellHouse Ministries. Her words silence the chatter.

At this rare mother/daughter gathering at the Pelham High School Juniorette monthly meeting, McCarty’s remark hits hard. A survivor of human trafficking, McCarty shares her perspective—quite foreign to this room of close-knit mothers and daughters.

“I scored 98-99 percent on standardized tests,” McCarty said. “I was raped at 12. I kept running away from my family. I was declared incorrigible at age 14; I ran away and met my first pimp at 15.”

The entire crowd is wide-eyed. The teachers in the group are taking notes—everyone else seems too stunned to move.

McCarty shares her story and the stories of some of the rescued women who have been to WellHouse. Her tales of institutions, unsavory streets, beatings, jails and torture are sobering.

McCarty, a beautiful woman, points out her scars and reveals that part of her face is permanently numb due to beatings.

“Understand this,” McCarty says, “prostitution is never a woman’s choice. No one wants to grow up and dance at a strip club or be a prostitute. Women are trafficked.”

A sense that life can change suddenly and the realization that we’re not always in control of our destiny becomes apparent as McCarty continues her story.

“Finally, I was loved unconditionally,” says McCarty. “I found Jesus—or he found me—and then I was free. I was working on two degrees at UAB and one of them was social work. I opened WellHouse with $33. I’ve been blessed with great support. Women may stay at WellHouse as long as they need to stay.”

McCarty’s mission and her voice have been instrumental in shifting perspectives about sex trafficking—revealing the lack of awareness that allows horrific atrocities to continue.

“Be careful where you go. Stay with your friends. Ask questions. Report abuse,” McCarty says.

The strongest of survivors—Tajuan McCarty stands firmly on solid ground—offering her strength to others.

Visit the-wellhouse.org to support her life-saving ministry.