Stop Human Trafficking - August 4, 2010
Last evening, New Life sponsored a community awareness and training event focused on Human Trafficking and its impact both globally and locally in our own county and city. Lt. John Vanek of the San Jose Police Department's Human Trafficking Task Force presented, giving those in attendance a detailed overview of the global trafficking picture and how he and his team, working very closely with social service providers involved in the South Bay Coalition to Stop Human Trafficking, approach incidents of trafficking here in the South Bay.
Audience participation was encouraged and many had questions about how victims are treated once found, as well as what happens to the traffickers. Others wanted to know what the community can do now to help. Lt. Vanek emphasized that community awareness is the biggest piece right now and that people who work as nurses, teachers, doctors, school administrators and social workers are especially encouraged to consider human trafficking when encountering individuals who display certain characteristics which he described. Others of the community were also encouraged to be aware of what is happening in their neighborhoods, because trafficking takes place everywhere and can be perpetrated by anyone.
This event was New Life's first community awareness event and the church was not sure how well attended it would be. The Vineland Branch Community Room was packed! Attendees came from churches, community service groups, and those who read about the event in the local paper. New Life's FROST Women's Group provided refreshments for all, and Lt. Vanek and his team sent everyone home with what they call their "human billboard" shirts. Everyone who received a shirt was encouraged to wear it often. In a few weeks, Lt. Vanek's team will survey everyone to see what kinds of reactions the shirts have gotten.
Learn more about the Human Trafficking Task Force at http://www.sjpd.org/StopHT
New Life will be planning its next community awareness event for the coming months.....
Audience participation was encouraged and many had questions about how victims are treated once found, as well as what happens to the traffickers. Others wanted to know what the community can do now to help. Lt. Vanek emphasized that community awareness is the biggest piece right now and that people who work as nurses, teachers, doctors, school administrators and social workers are especially encouraged to consider human trafficking when encountering individuals who display certain characteristics which he described. Others of the community were also encouraged to be aware of what is happening in their neighborhoods, because trafficking takes place everywhere and can be perpetrated by anyone.
This event was New Life's first community awareness event and the church was not sure how well attended it would be. The Vineland Branch Community Room was packed! Attendees came from churches, community service groups, and those who read about the event in the local paper. New Life's FROST Women's Group provided refreshments for all, and Lt. Vanek and his team sent everyone home with what they call their "human billboard" shirts. Everyone who received a shirt was encouraged to wear it often. In a few weeks, Lt. Vanek's team will survey everyone to see what kinds of reactions the shirts have gotten.
Learn more about the Human Trafficking Task Force at http://www.sjpd.org/StopHT
New Life will be planning its next community awareness event for the coming months.....
Labels: Human Trafficking, New Life Covenant Church, San Jose
posted by New Life Covenant Church at
9:21 AM
<< Home