join us to fight against sex trafficking in lake county.
Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force is dedicated to reaching out to all individuals, businesses, and organizations in Lake County, Minnesota, to raise awareness, educate, and engage the entire community in the effort to keep our county free from the use of individuals for the purpose of commercial sex and to advocate for victims who need services provided by the Minnesota Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door Initiative.
In order to accomplish our mission, we pledge to be courageous, honest, humble, grateful, compassionate, and to do our work with dignity.
Our History
Our Task Force, all volunteers, formed in February, 2013 by Sue Hilliard and Marlys Wisch.
We have had a core group of 5-6 over the years. Our plan – focus on Lake County, Minnesota and work with Cook County as much as possible. We set up meetings with County and City law enforcements, school district officials, church leaders, County Commissioners of Lake and Cook Counties, City official of Silver Bay, Beaver Bay and Two Harbors, Political groups, Border Patrol, Homeland Security and more.
What is sex trafficking?
Sex Trafficking is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, including sexual slavery, which is considered a form of modern slavery. A victim is forced, in one of a variety of ways, into a situation of dependency on their trafficker(s) and then used by the trafficker(s) to perform sexual services to customers.
Sex trafficking crimes can involve acquisition, transportation and exploitation, this includes child sex tourism, domestic minor sex trafficking or other kinds of commercial sexual exploitation of children (such as filmmaking using children, child pornography, selling one’s children who are then exploited by others) and prostitution. The trafficker exploits with force, fraud, or coercion. It is a serious health problem that negatively affects the well being of individuals, families and communities.
Up-Coming Events
WHAT WE DO
Educate through community presentations, conferences, training sessions.
Share information/handouts at community events.
Host an annual Candlelight Vigil and community event in January.
Work with local/area non-profits to educate and inform.
Host regular radio show on KTWH 99.5FM called “Voices of Hope.”
Book presentations/releases
with author Dennis Herschbach.
Educational awareness through guest speakers.
Community learning through panels.
Hosting interactive discussions to prevent trafficking in the area.
Resources
North Shore Horizons
24/7 Helpline
Serves individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault in Lake County.
PAVSA
24/7 Helpline
Program to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault. Non-profit sexual violence crisis center in Saint Louis County providing free and confidential services to victim-survivors, their family, and friends ages 13 and up.
Safe Haven
24/7 Helpline
Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center in Duluth, Minnesota provides services to women, children, and all survivors whose lives have been affected by physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse.
United Way Duluth
Mobilizes communities around the world to advance the common good.
Life House, Duluth
Life House provides for needs of youth who have been left to fend for themselves on the streets.
Violence Prevention Center
24/7 Helpline
Grand Marais - Provides support for all who have been subjected to or effected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking.
Breaking Free
24/7 Helpline
St. Paul, MN - Assists survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution to build new lives through safe housing, direct services, effective healing programs, survivor advocacy, worldwide policy change, and hope.
DayOne
24/7 Helpline
Minnesota Day One Crisis Hotline 1.866.223.1111 assists you to get help, get safe, and get support. One call connects you with an advocate trained in supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking who can help you find a shelter and the services you need in your area. Dial 1.866.223.1111 or read Get Help for more information.
MN Day One Crisis Line: 1-866-223 -1111
Text: (612) 399-9995
Men As Peacemakers
Men As Peacemakers (MAP) is building safe communities through programs that address and undermine the root causes of violence against women and children including sexism, male dominance, racism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center
Works with clients and partners to deliver a comprehensive array of services and maintain an extensive referral network to fully meet the needs of the women and families we serve.
MNCASA
Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault works to prevent root causes of sexual violence, provides support for advocates, gives expertise on criminal justice and community response to sexual violence, affects public policy, provides medical forensic resources, develops and shares resources against trafficking and exploitation.
AICHO
24/7 Helpline
American Indian Community Housing Organization - Dabinoo’igan Domestic Violence Shelter provides emergency shelter for victims of physical and sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking who need immediate shelter. Women and children can stay up to 30 days and receive a variety of services.
CASDA
24/7 Helpline
The Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse provides supportive services to individuals hurt by domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse while advocating for a community effort to end violence.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign to inform the public, law enforcement and other industries to recognize indicators of human trafficking, and how to respond.
Call: 1-866-347-2423 to report suspected human trafficking to Federal Law Enforcement.
Call: 1-888-373-7888 to get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe.
Call: 1-888-373-7888
Text: 233733
help us find Sheila
Sheila is an American Indian who was last seen in Duluth on August 15, 2015. If you have any info regarding her whereabouts, we would like to hear from you!
You can make a difference.
HELP US END IT LOCALLY IN LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
"Human trafficking is now a $150 billion industry. Roughly $99 million of that is from commercial sex trade according to an ILO report, while the remaining $51 billion is from forced labor."
This is modern-day slavery. Join the fight.
