The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Civic clubs hosts trafficking danger, prevention event

On Nov. 8

October 23, 2012

Soroptimist International of Mt. Adams and Rotary of White Salmon-Bingen invite the public to "Stay Smart, Stay Safe: Learn About Human Trafficking," to be held at Skyline Hospital, the lower level meeting room, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8.

The informational evening includes viewing a movie called "Deceptions" and discussing the issue of human trafficking in both Spanish and English.

A meal will be provided by several local restaurants.

"There's no way to get around the fact that this is an unpleasant issue to discuss, but it is an issue that affects our community, particularly our youth, and we feel we need to do something to educate people about it," said Sharon Scott, Soroptimist and an event coordinator.

"Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. Although victims of human trafficking are of all ages, ethnicities and socio-economic circumstances, our focus is on the trafficking of our youth. We want parents and students to be aware of the predatory methods traffickers use to groom, entice and sexually exploit and enslave victims for their own profits," she continued.

Worldwide, human trafficking is a $32 billion industry. It is the fastest growing segment of crime, and our communities are very close to two cities -- Portland and Seattle -- that have the highest reports of human trafficking victimization in the nation.

I-84 offers a quick conduit into Portland, and with social networking it is easier than ever to make contact with and lure our local youth.

Rotary spokesperson Dale Connell added, "Methods of grooming of both boys and girls include social networking and internet contact, 'boyfriend positioning' and recruiting other teens, who encourage the acceptance and opportunity some youth desperately seek. Human trafficking is not prostitution. It is a crime of the victimization of an estimated 100,000 kids in the U.S. The key is prevention because sources inform us that worldwide, only one person is convicted for every 800 trafficking cases. Law enforcement understands this is a problem but prevention at a community level is the only way to prevent this devastating crime."

Members of Soroptimist first became aware of human trafficking three years ago while attending the Northwest Coalition Against Trafficking conference in Portland.

The event is being facilitated by Jim Grenfell, coordinator of AWARE, Inc., of Vancouver, which developed prevention education programs for communities in Washington and Oregon.

The event is open to all community members, especially seventh through 12th graders and their families.

A meal is being supplied through the generous support of local restaurants Beneventi's, La Playita, Solstice, Killer Burger, Everybody's, and Henni's.

Signs at the front entrance of Skyline Hospital will direct attendees to the meeting location.

For more information contact Soroptimist at 541-490-4712.