Sidney Ann Ford has been at the forefront of advocacy for women and children trapped in the Baltimores sex trade for 10 years. As executive director of You Are Never Alone (YANA), Ford was instrumental in helping city officials combat a rash of violence against prostitutes that left five women dead in 2008, earning praise from Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld who call her “an invaluable resource” for his department. Ford recently shared with The Examiner how her personal spirituality informs her daily interactions with sex workers, and how she copes with the pain and suffering of the women she helps.

What is your main mission at YANA; how would you summarize what you do?