ESTABLISHED IN 1997
Thistle Farms Residential Program
Becca wanted to provide women survivors the time and space for transformative, sustainable healing from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. The program includes two years of housing, healthcare, counseling, job training, and meaningful employment in a trauma-informed care setting.
It started with 5 women and 1 house, and has grown to 5 houses and 28 beds. In addition, Thistle Farms partners with the Tennessee Prison for Women to allow women to begin their healing journey within prison walls.
Five years after program completion, 75% of its graduates are living healthy, independent lives.
ESTABLISHED IN 1999
Escuela Anne Stevens
Becca began leading an annual trip to the small rural community of San Eduardo, Ecuador to run a medical clinic. One year later, she helped found a school to serve the village throughout the year. To honor Becca, the community named it Escuela Anne Stevens, after her mother, the former Executive Director of St. Luke’s Community House in Nashville. Beginning with only one grade originally, the school now teaches grades K-8 and serves 125 students and their families.
The CCJ supports the school by paying salary, retirement contribution, and health care benefits for the six full time teachers, as well as sponsoring ongoing trips to this day to help with capital improvement projects.
ESTABLISHED IN 2001
Thistle Farms Social Enterprises
In 2001, Becca founded the social enterprise side of Thistle Farms. The goal was to create an entrepreneurial income stream for the residential program, and to provide gateway jobs for program participants and graduates.
The enterprise began by pouring candles in a church basement, and today is a $14 Million operation, with a full body and home product line, a café, and a storefront.
It is the only program of its kind that offers survivors the opportunity for economic freedom, in addition to physical and mental recovery.
Established in 2004
Center For Contemplative Justice
Becca helped found the Center for Contemplative Justice as a forum for contemplative practices and thoughtful activism. CCJ helps foster social justice initiatives, serving as an incubator for people holding a vision, allowing them to birth, nurture and grow the idea.
Three programs have launched through CCJ, with 4 more still in development. Programs range from food banks, a medical initiative, a documentary, and a theatrical musical, and a mindfulness awareness practice for children.
Established in 2010
National Network
A coordinated movement of survivors, customers, advocates, and communities who collaborate on innovative ways to deliver justice and challenge systems that commodify and abuse women.
This survivor-led network includes 92 sister organizations based on Thistle Farms’ model, creating a referral system to house and heal up to 751 women survivors across the country.
The education department offers seminars and resources to help groups considering founding a program like Thistle Farms learn more about the model and how to launch a social enterprise.
Established in 2013
Sibimbe
To provide jobs and opportunities to women in San Eduardo, Becca began a sewing co-operative in collaboration with the community that pairs anestorial sewing skills with vocational training. Sibimbe provides economic freedom for women in an area where most of the jobs are heavy manual labor, with limited options for economic independence for women.
The cooperative is comprised of five women, determined to create a better future for themselves and their families. The women can now be self-sustaining and expand to the U.S. markets that otherwise would be inaccessible. The women can now provide education for their children, and then grandchildren. The introduction of education and resource into a poverty-stricken community has a ripple effect that flows infinitely through generations.
Established in 2014
Thistle Farms Global Shared Trade
Thistle Farms Shared Trade is a network of artisan groups who transform futures through social justice enterprises. Our model is based on dignified employment for women, transparent supply chain, community development, and passing 60% of profits back to the artisan group for maximum economic impact.
Today the network has more than 44 partners in 27 countries, supporting the employment of over 1,500+ women worldwide. The program has launched 3 enterprises, and partnered with nearly 10 to accelerate growth. Artisan Partners also provide development programs ranging from healthcare, vocational training, education, childcare, food security, residential homes, agriculture development, or legal advocacy.
Established in 2014
Moringa Madres
Based in Juan Cosala, Mexico, Moringa Madres (spanish for “mother”) employs survivors who grow, harvest and sell the nutrient-rich Moringa leaf to gain economic freedom for their families.
The enterprise began when friends of Becca’s, Weezie & Jim Burgess, moved to the mountains of Mexico. Conversations quickly moved to how best to assist the local community. An initial food distribution program became Moringa Madres, with the help of five women from the program. Becca helped raise funds and develop core principles alongside Weezie Burgess, Gisela and the survivors.
The moringa leaf has powerful healing properties topically or ingested, and is in many of the Thistle Farms products in addition to being available as a tea.
Established in 2014
Larkspur Conservation
Larkspur Conservation is a nonprofit dedicated to the stewardship of the natural environment through earth-friendly, natural burial practices. Becca serves as a co-founder and Board Chair.
Its nature preserves are protected by a conservation overlay which allows for natural burial to occur on a portion of the land while fostering and restoring the local ecosystem.
This historic practice of natural burial eliminates the use of embalming chemicals, plastics, metals, and concrete. With each burial, an investment is made to our natural home, creating a living memorial to be enjoyed by everyone, forever.
Established in 2017
Love Welcomes
Love Welcomes is a creative social enterprise that helps displaced women begin to stitch their lives back together. Launched by Becca and Abi Hewitt in 2017, it was created in response to the refugee crisis in Greece.
Today it works in multiple locations supporting refugees in camps and those who have been resettled. Our team of displaced women upcycle materials into beautiful, handmade home products that we sell all over the world. We think big and change one life at a time.
The program has garnered support and collaborations from international artist Bansky and UK designer Margo Selby.
Established in 2020
Ratong Center
The Ratong Center is the first safe house and justice enterprise center for women survivors of gender violence in Botswana.
In addition to housing, Ratong provides sewing and baking programs, and educational workshops. Through a special grant, we are partnering with Ratong to build a healing space in the heart of Gaborone.
Established in 2022
Love Rises
The Love Rises knitting cooperative was formed to support women refugees from Ukraine by knitting socks and blankets to create income and community, during a time of uncertainty and war.
Each knitted item holds a story of connection - of single threads of yarn carefully hand-woven into new products - and women connecting with other refugees and the world.
Established in 2024
The Remnant Project
The Remnant Project is a textile history created by women survivors around the globe, capturing their journey of resilience.
Each story is woven into a powerful quilt that acknowledges the violence women often face and pays tribute to the strength it takes to heal. Accompanied by prose, poetry, and photographs, we honor the experiences of survivors of human trafficking, prostitution, and sexual violence while shining a light on their enduring hope and courage.
By binding these testimonies to fabric, we memorialize how women reclaim stories and weave together a new narrative of healing and community.
The remnant quilt invites us to wrap ourselves in the story to draw the courage we need to help change the story for the next generation.