Hear Their Voices, a partnership between various Seventh-day Adventist entities and local organizations, is hosting a community event Sept. 9-10 in Kansas City to offer educational resources for prevention of human sex trafficking and bring healing and support to existing survivors.
The Kansas City metropolitan area has the second highest incidences of domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States. So far in 2017, the Western Missouri U.S. Attorney’s Office has reported prosecuting more cases involving human trafficking than any other U.S. district.*
The two-day initiative begins Sabbath, Sept. 9 with door-to-door distribution of information, prayer for youth safety, a silent auction and a symposi-concert at the Jack Reardon Convention Center, located at 520 Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, that will begin at 7:30 pm.
The symposi-concert will feature speakers Rénee Battle-Brooks, a practicing attorney who regularly consults on human trafficking cases, and Kristy D. Childs, founder of Veronica’s Voice, an organization in Kansas City, Kansas, providing legal assistance, safe housing and life skills training for survivors of prostitution.
On Sept. 10 from 2-5 pm, a community expo will be held at the G. Alexander Bryant Youth Center on the campus of Central States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists located at 3301 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas. This event will allow families to learn about human sex trafficking in a safe and engaging environment. Interactive learning stations will focus on awareness and prevention of trafficking through images and conversations with Kansas City police officers and representatives from Veronica’s Voice and Sunflower House. Face painting, a bouncy inflatable and original children’s music from the Mighty Magic Pants will add to the afternoon’s lively education.
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*Statistic based on 2017 Missouri School Counselor Association Report.
