This post was written by LDA Class of 2020-21 Team Team 5 Star Vision members Diamond Gregory, Blackhawk Community Credit Union; Brandon Rusch, City of Janesville; Kevin Saxe, RH Batterman; Lyndsey Stocker, Herzing University; and Jeramie Mielke, Town of Beloit Fire Department.
Are you aware of the severity of human trafficking in Rock County?
In 2020, Rock County Law enforcement agencies dedicated 616 hours to fighting sex trafficking in Rock-County.
What is human trafficking?
“Human Trafficking, commonly referred to as ‘modern day slavery,’ is a global phenomenon that involves obtaining or maintaining the labor or services of another through the use of force, fraud, or coercion in violation of an individual’s human rights.”
International Association of Chiefs of Police
“Human Trafficking is currently the second largest source of income for criminal groups after drugs and arms smuggling.”
United Nations Office of Drugs in Crime
Many victims of human trafficking are children
Did you know that more than ½ of the victims of human trafficking in the US are children? That the average age of initial human trafficking entry into the commercial sex industry in the US is 12 years old?
There have been cases of Human Trafficking reported in all 72 Wisconsin counties and all 12 Wisconsin Tribes. Humans being trafficked for sex are a commodity because they do not need to be replenished when sold, like guns and drugs. They can be reused over and over again.
The Leadership Development Academy of Rock-County has allowed us the opportunity to collaborate with the Rock County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force to bring awareness to this very local issue.
Who are we?
We are 5 Star Vision, a group of leaders participating in Leadership Development Academy of Rock-County and we have volunteered to assist the task force in raising funds to produce a video that will be used to bring awareness to the severity of human trafficking in the area.
Our group consists of Diamond Gregory, Blackhawk Community Credit Union; Brandon Rusch, City of Janesville; Kevin Saxe, RH Batterman; Lyndsey Stocker, Herzing University; and Jeramie Mielke, Town of Beloit Fire Department.
We are hoping to raise $10,000 for the video and other marketing expenses. We have partnered with Drywater Productions, a Janesville-based video production and motion graphics company who produced the video.
We need help from our community to stay vigilant and help stop this threat. Knowing the signs of what to look for can help end this.