Let's Join Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking!
Los Angeles is doing an outstanding job to fight human trafficking with many non-profits working to end this cruel exploitation of people. Corporations like Dignity Health is one example of an entity doing their part with their program to train health professionals how to recognize victims and how to talk to them. The LA Human Trafficking Task Force is running decoy ads in places like Backpage. When buyers call in, they get a chat bot who texts them back and forth and at one point, the buyer is informed that what they are doing is illegal and their information has been passed onto the LA Human Trafficking Task Force. While these efforts are working to reduce human trafficking, unless we as the faith community get "up the river" to prevent human trafficking, it will never end.
So how do we get "up the river?" We come together as a coalition and empower our men to be leaders in raising awareness regarding the destructive nature of porn and how it creates demand for sex trafficking victims. We invite a representative from a local foster care organization to come speak at our services to recruit good foster parents, given that over 70% of victims are from the foster care system. We can work with the city to close down the illegal massage parlors. We can host a fair trade table at our church and school fairs to educate people that over 2/3 of all human trafficking in the world is labor trafficking and by being responsible for purchasing imported products that state "fair trade," we reduce demand.We can do a fundraiser for a local non-profit. These are just five examples of how we can prevent human trafficking. The book "How You Can Fight Human Trafficking, Over 100 Ways to Make a Difference" offers many more actions.
How We End It!
Social scientists tell us that once we reach a critical mass of awareness and people taking action, the social issue will be resolved. Until that critical mass of 10% is reached, it is like rolling a rock uphill and there isn't enough traction so groups often fall apart. Once critical mass is reached, there is velocity. If it took 10 years to reach 10%, it only takes 2 to 3 years to reach 20%. In Los Angeles, about 1.5% of faith communities are taking action in the fight against human trafficking. There is another 7% to 8% who are thinking of doing something, so they meet and think about it and it takes time. When they can come to a meeting to find out how to act and only have to simply duplicate what others are doing they quickly move into action. At these coalition meetings, faith communities inspire and encourage each other and report on what they are doing. Then during the second half of the meeting people meet with those groups they are interested in collaborating with. This model will have us quickly reach the 10%. You can find actions for faith communities as well as presentations you can use and resources like flyers by "clicking" on the resource button.
Anchor Churches
About Anchor Churches
The only real advantage the human traffickers have over the faith community is that they are organized and networked together to build their "business," while the faith community tends to have isolated efforts. The purpose of identifying churches who have stand alone ministries that meet on a regular basis, is so that people who want to start something at their church know who to contact locally. The anchor churches understand this issue and can guide new churches with regard to what works and doesn't work to build efforts to fight human trafficking. By networking churches together, we can powerfully build our efforts in the fight against human trafficking. Below are the churches with the most active ministries in the LA area.
Simi Valley/San Fernando Valley
Shepherd Church - Freedom Arise Ministry at Shepherd Church was birthed to answer God’s call to “bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1). We believe in a world without slavery - where every man, woman, and child are living in freedom and dignity. We are committed to prayer, raising awareness, prevention, and growing the movement to end human trafficking in the San Fernando Valley, Nationally and abroad. We partner with local and global organizations that educate on prevention, operaterescues, restore victims, and prosecute abusers. We have quarterly meetings, anyone is welcome to attend. Please contact Althea at Freedomarise@shepherdchurch.com for more information.
San Gabriel Valley
Pomona Valley
Purpose Church. This church hosts many public events and have a ministry for victims of human trafficking that includes a Diversion Program that they host in partnership with the DA's office. To find out more about the events this church is having, please sign up for their Every One Free newsletter at info@everyonefree.org
South Bay
St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic church- F.A.I.T.H. Ministry educates our members, parishioners, students and the broader community on human trafficking causes/consequences and how to protect our children from this modern-day slavery. We manage the ongoing collection of personal items and gift cards and regularly hold fundraisers to assist non-profit organizations in L.A. county that provide services and support for human trafficking victims and survivors. In partnership with St. James Catholic Church, the F.A.I.T.H. Ministry is exploring ways to support foster care families and to prevent foster children from becoming trafficking victims. People of all faiths are welcome to join our fight to end human trafficking. Please contact us at faith.ministry@stlm.org
Task Forces and Community Efforts
L.A. Regional Human Trafficking Task Force
To find out about upcoming meetings for the L.A. Task Forces please go to http://lahumantrafficking.com/events and contact them and ask to be on their email notification list for meetings.
Compton Human Trafficking Task Force
Meets Every Other Month from 1 to 3 P.M. to get on the email notification list for meetings, please contact Aimee Brasher abrasher@starsinc.com
Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force
Second Thursday of the Month - 11:30- 1:00. Please email the LB Human Trafficking Task Force lbhttf@gmail.com to get on their email notification list.
Santa Clarita Human Trafficking Task Force
This task force meets the first Thursday of the month at 2 P.M. Please email pastor Dan Broyles for meeting information during Shelter in Place at pastordan@valenciahills.com
San Gabriel Valley Human Trafficking Task Force
When in person meetings begin, they will be at The Salvation Army Pasadena, 960 E.. Walnut St. Pasadena. Please email bportillo@da.lacounty.gov to get on the email notification list.
Men Standing Against Trafficking
Men Stand for 1.5 hours in the evening holding signs up on the corners where prostitution is the most prevalent. The efforts encourages victims to seek help and wakes up the community that human trafficking is happening where they live.
Long Beach - 3rd Friday of Every Month 7 P.M to 9 P.M. Postponed until end of Shelter in Place Please email msat.lbeach@gmail.com for locations.
Pomona - Please contact Jay at jayw@purposechurch.com for dates and locations.
Antelope Valley Human Trafficking Task Force
Every 4th Wednesday of the month - 10 A.M. Please email Dr. Jason Plunkett to get on the notification list for this task force so you will get the email for the agenda for the meetings. Jason@gozoe.org
Professional Trainings
Journey Out Trainings
Journey Out offers case manager training for professionals. Please contact tay.neville@journeyout.org.
Journey Out also needs volunteers to help with their survivors. Please contact mary.david@journeyout.org Journey Out has taken over the Poster Outreach project for L.A. Please contact Mary David for details. For more information, please go to their site. For more information on their programs, please go to https://journeyout.org/
Treasures
Treasures offers training for outreach to strip clubs and other opportunities. You can reach them to find out when their trainings are at info@iamatreasure.com
Nola Brantley Speaks
Nola Brantley is a survivor of human trafficking who has trained thousands in law enforcement , service care providers. and the general public. Her trainings are geared towards those who want to be leaders in the fight like speakers, church staff etc. She offers 17 different trainings. You can find her trainings at http://www.nolabrantleyspeaks.org/