Let's Join Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking!
In Orange County, the OC Human Trafficking Task Force is employing undercover officers to aggressively prosecute offenders. They also have an outstanding campaign to reduce demand. Vanguard Univeristy is working with The Protect Program to bring Human Trafficking awareness into schools. Dignity Health is one example of instituting a program to train health professionals how to recognize victims and how to talk to them. While these efforts are outstanding, 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 Orange County, about 2% 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 Orange County area.
North Orange County
Saddleback - Anaheim - Saddleback Church Anti-Human Trafficking outreach has been operating since before 2010. Their focus includes emergency aftercare, yearly symposiums, prayer teams, education and awareness. As part of their awareness campaign, they are developing a DVD that will be distributed to their small groups. They also do several events to support Survivors like drives for clothing and necessities as well as a retreat and Christmas party. At both their Anaheim and Lake Forest Campus they meet twice a month and have excellent speakers as a way to continually develop the community. Please contact localhumantrafficking@saddleback.comfor meeting times or visit the Saddleback.com website and look up Local Human Trafficking under “browse ministries”
Christ Pacific Church - Huntington Beach. This ministry has many important events to educate the public regarding what they can do to fight human trafficking. To get on their email list, please contact Dan Olson at dolson@pacifictaxadvisors.com.
South Orange County
Saddleback- Lake Forest- Saddleback Church Anti-Human Trafficking outreach has been operating since before 2010. Their focus includes emergency aftercare, yearly symposiums, prayer teams, education and awareness. As part of their awareness campaign, they are developing a DVD that will be distributed to their small groups. They also do several events to support Survivors like drives for clothing and necessities as well as a retreat and Christmas party. At both their Anaheim and Lake Forest Campus they meet twice a month and have excellent speakers as a way to continually develop the community. Please contact localhumantrafficking@saddleback.com for meeting times or visit the Saddleback.com website and look up Local Human Trafficking under “browse ministries”
Task Forces and Community Efforts
I-5 Freedom Network
San Clemente has their own city coalition made up of faith communities and non-profits. This coalition was successful in getting a resolution passed with the city of San Clemente to create community awareness with great success. This model can be duplicated by any city. For more information you can email them info@ I5FreedomNetwork.org or go to their website: I5FreedomNetwork.org
The LightHouse- Orangewood Foundation
The Lighthouse is a program for survivors of sex trafficking in Orange County. The Lighthouse is looking for volunteers and you can find more information on this at https://orangewoodfoundation.org/volunteer/
Men Standing Against Trafficking (MSAT)
This group is hosted by Saddleback church. Please email LocalHumanTrafficking@Saddleback.com for meeting dates and location.
Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force
August 26th, 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. Due to limited capacity, please RSVP to Brandi Thomas at bthomas@waymakersoc.org for a Zoom login link. The link will be sent out early Wednesday morning before the meeting. In person meeting for The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) General Meeting is held at Waymakers (formerly CSP Community Service Programs) every 4th Wednesday of the month. This meeting is for all task force collaborative partners and community members. It is also open to the public. This meeting provides updates by law enforcement and speakers from non-profits. The Wayfinders Corporate Office is located at 1221 East Dyer Road Suite 120, Santa Ana. For more information please contact Linh Tran at ltran@waymakersoc.org or 714-765-7938. OCHTTF Volunteer Training/Meetings will be every 3rd Tuesday of the month, 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Wayfinders. You need to email Linh Tran to get a parking pass for all meetings so your car won't be towed. The OC HT Task Force also has a faith based action committee that has speakers for churches on various subjects. You can contact the Cheryl Pittluck for more information at cjpittluck@gmail.com. For more information on the task force, please go to https://www.ochumantrafficking.com/
Slingshots
This organization is giving men an opportunity to be an active part of the fight against human trafficking. We accomplish this by empowering men with an actual way to be directly involved. Volunteers are trained and vetted due to the complexity of our program. If you have an interest in becoming a part of this inspiring call to action please contact Isaac for more details at imck.maht@gmail.com.
Professional Trainings
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/
Global Center for Woman and Justice
Care 68 Network A website/resource for churches in Southern California who want to be connected with what is happening in the area of Human Trafficking locally and globally.
C- Connection and Collaboration opportunities and calendars
A- Awareness events, suggestions and assistance
R- Resources
E- Educational opportunities