The La Jolla Art Association (LJAA) and Soroptimists International of La Jolla are joining forces and using the power of art to help combat human trafficking and enslavement of young girls and women right in San Diego’s backyard. LJAA vice president Judy Judy Judy said she was so impressed with the way the Soroptimists helped the community — particularly women in need — at a recent fundraising event that she asked them to team up with the art association for their annual community outreach program. “The mission of the LJAA is to promote the arts through education and outreach,” she said. “Since we are all nonprofit organizations, I thought this would be a good way to help those in need right here in San Diego.” The local art association and volunteer women’s group will host a special art exhibit and benefit reception entitled “Help Us Free The Girls” to raise funds for the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC), an alliance of U.S. and Latin American government and nonprofit agencies working to prevent and intervene in commercial and sexual exploitation of men, women and children on both sides of the border. More than 60 local artists will donate their time, artistic efforts and 50 percent of their profits to benefit the LJAA and BSCC in an exhibit that will be on display at the LJAA gallery, located at 8100 Paseo del Ocaso, from Dec. 5 to 18. “These are some of the finest award-winning artists in San Diego,” said Judy. “The art will be stimulating, exciting and provocative oil paintings, watercolor, photography, pen and ink drawings and wearable silk.” Guests will have a chance to meet the artists and executive director of BSCC, Marisa Ugarte, during a special wine and hors d’oeuvres reception on Dec. 9 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Half of the proceeds from the artwork sold will benefit the artist, while 25 percent will benefit the LJAA for operational costs of running the nonprofit organization and gallery, and 25 percent of the proceeds will go to the BSCC for initiatives including emergency response services, long-term case management, mental health services, legal advocacy, immigration relief, identifying victims of human trafficking, rescuing minors from sexual exploitation and providing health services to victims of trafficking. To RSVP to the reception, call (858) 459-1196 or email [email protected].