The Realties of Human Trafficking
Source/Author: Brenna D, Eighth Grader
May 11, 2017
Parents and students (grade 8 and above), come learn about the realities of human trafficking in the Janet Root Theatre at Shorecrest Preparatory School on Monday, May 15, 7:00 – 8:30pm.
A speaker from Selah Freedom, Toni Thompson, will be at Shorecrest to share with parents and students the realities that are hidden in plain sight, in our own neighborhoods, in our own towns. Selah Freedom exists to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to the exploited. They are a national organization providing education and training throughout the country, as well as teen prevention, outreach, and safe housing in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. By educating and empowering our community we can learn to recognize and confront Human Trafficking.
Toni Thompson is an occupational therapist with over 41 years of experience in the Peace Corps in Ecuador, Venezuela, and various settings in the US, including Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa. She has been involved with Selah Freedom since 2013 as a member of the speakers bureau, a volunteer in their Residential Program and on the Advisory Board. A candidate for a Doctorate in occupational therapy at Nova Southeastern University, she is developing programs for the women who are actively working hard in sex trafficking recovery.
In addition to volunteering at Selah Freedom, Ms. Thompson teaches TherapyEd board review courses for occupational therapy students throughout the country and is an adjunct professor at Nova in Tampa. When Toni learned about the sex trafficking problem right in our own backyard, she spent several months out about resources available for survivors. This brought her to Selah Freedom. Feeling that she fit in with the mission and energy of Selah Freedom, she began to volunteer in various areas. This experience motivated her to seek a doctorate, and she has dedicated all her university projects and research to human trafficking.
Some facts to share:
All 50 states in the U.S. and 167 countries have reported incidents of human trafficking. There are an estimated 20.9 million victims held in modern slavery globally. Florida is in the top three states in the nation for sex trafficking. There are nearly 2 million children worldwide exploited in the global sex trade; each year, as many as 100,000-300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked for commercial sex in the United States. The average age of a trafficking victim in the United States is 11-14 years old. Within 48 hours of leaving home, 80% of runaways are approached by a trafficker.
Human trafficking is an estimated $150 billion global industry annually. Human trafficking ranks among the fastest-growing illegal crime industries in the world. In the U.S. alone, it is an estimated $35 billion industry ranking just below drug trafficking.
A speaker from Selah Freedom, Toni Thompson, will be at Shorecrest to share with parents and students the realities that are hidden in plain sight, in our own neighborhoods, in our own towns. Selah Freedom exists to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to the exploited. They are a national organization providing education and training throughout the country, as well as teen prevention, outreach, and safe housing in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. By educating and empowering our community we can learn to recognize and confront Human Trafficking.
Toni Thompson is an occupational therapist with over 41 years of experience in the Peace Corps in Ecuador, Venezuela, and various settings in the US, including Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa. She has been involved with Selah Freedom since 2013 as a member of the speakers bureau, a volunteer in their Residential Program and on the Advisory Board. A candidate for a Doctorate in occupational therapy at Nova Southeastern University, she is developing programs for the women who are actively working hard in sex trafficking recovery.
In addition to volunteering at Selah Freedom, Ms. Thompson teaches TherapyEd board review courses for occupational therapy students throughout the country and is an adjunct professor at Nova in Tampa. When Toni learned about the sex trafficking problem right in our own backyard, she spent several months out about resources available for survivors. This brought her to Selah Freedom. Feeling that she fit in with the mission and energy of Selah Freedom, she began to volunteer in various areas. This experience motivated her to seek a doctorate, and she has dedicated all her university projects and research to human trafficking.
Some facts to share:
All 50 states in the U.S. and 167 countries have reported incidents of human trafficking. There are an estimated 20.9 million victims held in modern slavery globally. Florida is in the top three states in the nation for sex trafficking. There are nearly 2 million children worldwide exploited in the global sex trade; each year, as many as 100,000-300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked for commercial sex in the United States. The average age of a trafficking victim in the United States is 11-14 years old. Within 48 hours of leaving home, 80% of runaways are approached by a trafficker.
Human trafficking is an estimated $150 billion global industry annually. Human trafficking ranks among the fastest-growing illegal crime industries in the world. In the U.S. alone, it is an estimated $35 billion industry ranking just below drug trafficking.
