Patti Mellard, Peace Chair of Rotary District 5710 and a member of the Topeka South Rotary Club, spoke at our club about the fastest growing illicit trade in the world...sex trafficking. Patti provided surprising evidence that Kansas is an originating state for human trafficking. In December 2019, our Rotary district started a human trafficking day center in Topeka for people who are victims of the human trafficking industry. This center provides shelter, food and sleep in an attempt to earn the trust of victims so that they one day will walk away from this industry. Since December, four victims have left the industry.
What can our club do?
- Provide Go Kits for victims
- Profide safe line phones.
- Attend the Human Trafficking Awareness Conference on March 6 in Leawood.
- Learn more about the Human Trafficking Impact Committee.
- Conduct a needs analysis in Emporia utilizing local social services like SOS.
- Increase public awareness.
- Support Love 146 program that provides education in schools about human trafficking.
Our Rotary Club board of directors will be discussing if we want to support this cause in the future. We are going to try to get educated on this issue to make a decision. Learn with us and voice your opinion.