Prostitution has been nicknamed the "world's oldest profession" for some time now. While I always knew that that was going on in the United States, up until a recent event on March 28, I was unaware that prostitution wasn't always by choice. Of course I was aware that prostitution may be looked at as a means of survival, but I had no idea of the modern-day slavery equivalent of it due to sex trafficking. Call me naive, but I'd always thought of this is as a third-world concern.
After speaking at the Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation's annual fundraiser event, I was asked to speak again to raise money for sex trafficking victims. On March 28, at Seventh Avenue Baptist Church located at 1740 7th Avenue in Oakland, I did just that with members of Respecting Our Young African Americans & Latinos (ROYALs).
After speaking at the Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation's annual fundraiser event, I was asked to speak again to raise money for sex trafficking victims. On March 28, at Seventh Avenue Baptist Church located at 1740 7th Avenue in Oakland, I did just that with members of Respecting Our Young African Americans & Latinos (ROYALs).
Attendees were encouraged to donate clothes and shoes to raise money for sex trafficking victims. While that type of donation may initially sound odd, these victims need places to stay, clothes to wear, food to eat and are looking for career training opportunities to transition out of their current environment. A portion of the money raised from textile recycling would be used to help both children and adult victims.
As a parent, I'm even more sensitive to issues such as this. I brought my son along to support the cause. But while I was there to not only make sure my son is aware and active in the community alongside me, I wondered what happened to the parents of these child trafficking victims. Do they know what their child(ren) are doing? Were they also victims of sex trafficking? Sex trafficking can happen to anyone so I think if all communities work together that we can help the victims get through this horrible situation. While I didn't speak to any victims directly, I was honored to work with ROYALs to help the cause.
If you know anyone who is involved in or you are a victim of sex trafficking, please contact 888-373-7888 for help.
As a parent, I'm even more sensitive to issues such as this. I brought my son along to support the cause. But while I was there to not only make sure my son is aware and active in the community alongside me, I wondered what happened to the parents of these child trafficking victims. Do they know what their child(ren) are doing? Were they also victims of sex trafficking? Sex trafficking can happen to anyone so I think if all communities work together that we can help the victims get through this horrible situation. While I didn't speak to any victims directly, I was honored to work with ROYALs to help the cause.
If you know anyone who is involved in or you are a victim of sex trafficking, please contact 888-373-7888 for help.
RSS Feed
