Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Event

Being in the top ten can mean acceptance and something good; being highest ranked. But it also can be a devastating number. North Carolina is consistently in the top ten states of Human Trafficking. Those statistics can be higher as most human trafficking is under reported. Human Trafficking is a very lucrative business with a 153 Billon Dollar industry; 42.5 million are trapped in modern day slavery and the data is showing 300,000 added yearly in the United States alone. Although Human Trafficking has always been around it is the fasted growing crime in the world; it has now surpassed drug trafficking. The FBI, SBI, local Police Departments, Sheriff Departments, NCIS, Homeland Security and others are working together to try to get a handle on this growing crime. It knows no economic boundaries, victims who are vulnerable and easily manipulated get trapped in the prostitution; 12 to 14 years of age children are currently the most targeted

I was honored to be invited by Senator Ted Alexander, North Carolina Senate 44^th District, to attend the Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Event on April 5 that was held at the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. Over 100 interested folks came together to listen to speakers such as Christine Long, Executive Director of the NC Human Trafficking Commission, Charnessa Ridley, Deputy Director of the NC Council of Women and Youth, and testimonies from  Jasmine Myers, Shelby Thompson, and Latiana Appleberry of the Survivor Leader Network; amazing stories of despair and now hope. Keynote speaker was Raleigh Sadler, author of Author of Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking and founder of Let My People Go. Lance Lemmonds, Director of Operations at NC Institute of Human Trafficking spoke, along with Major Marc Nichols, Retired State Highway Patrol and Commission on NC Human Trafficking Commission. Darren Crotts, Program Manager from the NC Rural Center Faith in Communities spoke of the importance of awareness, in which this event was all about. Senator Alexander reiterated the importance of awareness with messages on educating yourself, your team and family, promoting awareness of the problem, keeping our eyes open for the signs and report, and support anti-trafficking, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. Did you know that Charlotte ranks number one now in the State of NC? The Senator encourages all of us to share this blog and links; especially Compassion to Act and call 704-288-7230 if you, or someone you know may be in need of help.

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