This week in Reno, two local non-profits are hosting an event to build awareness about sex trafficking in our community and demonstrate prevention programs that are being taught in many of our local schools.
It’s called “Awaken Your Awareness: Sex Trafficking In Reno”, this Wednesday, December 7 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Atlantis.
It's all about protecting our young girls - and boys - from being lured into in a life of sex trafficking.
Jen Robinson with Awaken and Lindsay Bridges with Young Life, are devoted to it and they take the message to our middle and high schoolers.
"…and teach the kids to recognize signs about sex trafficking in themselves and their friends and build their confidence and self-esteem so they're less likely to be trafficked personally", explains Robinson.
Bridges breaks down some of the conversations they have with the students, "Why would a 22-year-old want to date a 16-year-old? We ask those questions. We ask really hard questions of what happens when you're friends all of a sudden get brand new clothes or a bus pass or new technology like an iPhone."
The predators are charming - and patient - sometimes pretending to be a boyfriend for as long as six months before forcing a girl into prostitution.
For the past four years Robinson and Bridges have been sharing real experiences, written on big story boards, with northern Nevada students, but they, say, it's not about telling the kids what to do.
"We want to give them the tools and actually internalize, why do they make the choices that they make?", says Robinson.
"We want to see a change in Reno, because we want to raise up our next generation to do some really great things for our community," adds Bridges.
And now you can help with that effort and learn more. This week’s workshop is being offered for adults to inter-actively experience how someone might be trafficked. "The event on Wednesday everyone will read through the story boards and then we'll be able to talk for 15 to 20 minutes afterward about our prevention program. If people feel led, they can donate, but the event is free" says Robinson.
You can also learn about volunteering for either Awaken or Young Life.
"Awaken You Awareness: Sex Trafficking In Reno” includes a wine tasting, therefore is open to those 21 yrs. or older.
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Place: Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Grand Ballroom
Awaken: http://awakenreno.org/
Young Life: https://renosparks.younglife.org/Pages/default.aspx
