Jen Robinson has called Reno home since she was in sixth grade.
As an adult, she now devotes herself to protecting the women and children in our region who are sex-trafficked. Robinson is the Youth Intervention Director for Awaken, the non-profit she co-founded with Melissa Holland in 2011.
This Saturday, February 29, 2020, she presents a Ted Talk on the matter. We met up with Jen to learn how the mission began.
At Awaken’s resource center, near downtown Reno, Robinson is laughing and talking with a client. She says it’s moments like these, inside the center - and out - that help her understand how to help victims of sex trafficking become survivors;
"They know what they need. It's in those - those intimate conversations that we get invited in - and we get to learn."
It was ten years ago when Robinson first learned of a problem unique to the Silver State.
"We've legalized prostitution, but we haven't provided a way out for the women and girls who are affected.”
And Robinson says the number of those affected by sexual exploitation is significant.
"Nevada was actually 63% higher than the next highest states for illegal rates of trafficking,” explains Jen, “That's because when you legalize it, the illegal also increases, we've created a market and a demand for sex."
A demand being met - right here in our communities - by selling women and young girls.
"The youngest has been 11."
The average age of entry into prostitution is just 13 years old.
Robinson knows it all too well; "I've seen the shift in recruitment. It used to be at the bus stops, it used to be at the malls, it was out in the community - at your schools."
The easiest place to lure our kids now - is on social media.
"These traffickers - they do their homework, and I hate to say it - kids are so desperate for relationship, and healthy relationship - that if they don't get it often times they settle for the unhealthy."
How easy it is for predators to work their way into our children's lives is part of Jen's Ted Talk this weekend.
"And I was hesitant from day one. One of the things I struggle with is using my voice."
The team at TEDxUniversityOf Nevada helped her find it.
As for working to prevent youth from being trafficked - Jen's dedication just continues growing stronger.
"I just really want to pour in and build this program as best as it can be."
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If you want to hear more from Jen Robinson, she is one of 20 inspiring speakers presenting at TEDxUniversityOf Nevada this Saturday the 29th.
The event is at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
To buy tickets to TEDxUniversityOf Nevada –
https://tedxuniversityofnevada.org/events/tedxuniversityofnevada-2020/
To learn more about Awaken in Reno -
