“Ten years ago, this room wouldn’t be this full,” Lucy Liu told 1,000 advocates and leaders at the 2025 New Friends New Life Stand for Her Luncheon on September 12 at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

The actress and UNICEF Ambassador brought both reality and hope to the annual event, which serves as the Dallas-based nonprofit’s primary fundraiser, supporting its work with trafficked and sexually exploited women, teen girls, and their children.

In an on-stage conversation with NBC 5’s Laura Harris, Liu discussed her global advocacy work while calling for local action and human connection. The program opened with Booker T. Washington High School students performing “Stand by Me” and featured the ProtectHER Awards, recognizing Chad Frymire, Erin Nealy Cox, Eliza McCoy, and Laila Mickelwait for their anti-trafficking work.

Presented by Thomson Reuters, New Friends New Life CEO Bianca Davis joins 2025 ProtectHER Award recipients Eliza McCoy, Erin Nealy Cox, and Chad Frymire with Priya Murphy at the Stand for Her Luncheon. The awards recognize changemakers committed to protecting women and girls through prevention, justice, and advocacy. [Photo: NFNL]

The reality is local

Liu’s reflections on everything from parenting to technology to the power of simple kindness formed the centerpiece of the afternoon, according to New Friends New Life. Here’s a takeaway.

Liu’s most urgent message centered on trafficking’s presence in North Texas. “People think trafficking only happens in war-torn countries—but it happens here, at bus stops and airports. We don’t look at it until it happens to us.”

The scope is staggering, according to New Friends New Life. CEO Bianca Davis underscored the stakes with sobering statistics: 400 teens are trafficked in Dallas each night, traffickers in North Texas profit $99 million annually, and the average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is just 15.

Liu connected trafficking to broader issues of awareness and education, the organization said. “Education helps children become independent. Things fall through the cracks because of ignorance,” she said, emphasizing personal responsibility: “If you see something, say something. If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.”

Drawing from her own experience, Liu acknowledged the challenge parents face in protecting vulnerable teens. “At 16, I thought I knew everything. As parents, we know kids are vulnerable—but we can’t tether them to us. People won’t know unless you tell them.” She spoke candidly about trauma’s lasting effects: “Trauma connects to many things. Independence is taken away. Shame is internal. There’s so much we don’t understand.”

Lucy Liu shares her journey from charity event overwhelm to focused UNICEF advocacy. While traveling with UNICEF she learned that “it wasn’t just about vaccines or education.” Kids were being kidnapped and sold. [Photo: NFNL]

 

The power of community

Despite harsh realities, Liu found reason for hope in the packed ballroom. “You can’t seclude yourself from the community and expect to make an impact. It really takes a village.” Her simple human interactions are powerful, she said. “Shake the hand of the person next to you. If someone says something kind on a bad day, it can switch a light on. That’s humanity.”

But Liu also warned against forces that undermine those connections. “Technology keeps us from talking. We’re scrolling instead of connecting. That separation leads to sadness.”

Her call to action was both practical and accessible entry point for people: “Spread the word—it doesn’t cost a thing. Volunteer. Be part of something.”

From overwhelm to focus

Liu’s own path to advocacy began with a need to focus. “I was going to a lot of charity events early in my career. It became overwhelming, so I decided to focus on one: UNICEF.” That decision led her to witness trafficking’s global scope firsthand. While traveling with UNICEF, she learned that “it wasn’t just about vaccines or education.” Kids were being kidnapped and sold—human rights violations happening worldwide.

Liu drew from her early experiences in Los Angeles to illustrate the importance of direct engagement. “When I first moved to LA, I worked during Thanksgiving in homeless shelters,” she said. “Having a conversation with someone going through that—it’s not an easy road. Perseverance needs to be in place.”

Throughout her remarks, Liu offered perspective on life’s challenges, reminding the audience that “this moment in your life is not the only moment. It’s just one moment.” She also reflected on her background as the child of immigrants: “Both my parents worked. They were immigrants who came to this country to study. I started with painting, sculpture, collage—then acting. Art is expression, whether you do it alone or with others.”

Her film career, she noted with humor, took unexpected turns. “I didn’t get into this business to do action movies—it just happened. I’m not Jackie Chan.”

Looking ahead, she teased her involvement in “The Devil Wears Prada 2”: “I can’t say anything, but I’m excited to be part of it. I have a cameo and can’t take any credit, but it’s going to be fun and fabulous. It’s been 20 years since the first one—and 25 since Charlie’s Angels. Some of you in this room weren’t even born then!”

The power of unity

Liu urged people to tap the power of collective action: “Everything is changing. Every moment becomes a memory. There’s so much more power in unity.”

New Friends New Life said the event’s central message was clear: “Hope is not only possible—it’s already taking root.”

Two exhibits, Artifacts of Human Trafficking and Her, artwork by program graduate, youth mentor, and artist Robbie Hamilton, were also on view.

Luncheon Co-Chairs Lynn Dowdle and Karla Smith were on hand to recognize The Honorable Betsy Price, who was honorary luncheon chair, along with key civic partners, donors, board members, and sponsors. They also encouraged guests to continue advancing the mission beyond the ballroom, according to the organization.

Luncheon Co-Chair Karla Smith, New Friends New Life CEO Bianca Davis, actress and UNICEF Ambassador Lucy Liu, Luncheon Co-Chair Lynn Dowdle, and Honorary Chair The Honorable Betsy Price at the 2025 Stand for Her Luncheon on September 12 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. [Photo: NFNL]

NFNL said attendees included Robin Bagwell, Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown, Mary Bowman Campbell, Cole Edmonson, Commissioner Elba Garcia of District 4, Elizabeth Gambrell, Jimmy Heimpel, Libby Hunt, Nancy Ann Hunt, Janet Jensen, Ashlee Kleinert, Melissa Sherrill Martin, Sharon McCullough, Michael Meadows, Peter Miller, Kelly Mitchell, Jan Osborn, Pat Schenkel, Jessica Turner Waugh, Wayne White, Stephanie Wilcox, and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Gay Donnell Willis, and other business and civic leaders.

CEO Davis reminded the audience of the power of change and of hope, NFNL said. Thanks to the support of its donors and partners, the organization “continues to help women and girls find stability, education, employment, and healing.”

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