TrafficStop MMIP, Teaching, Thoughts and Ideas

Every Child Matters

We were happy to participate in a local fundraiser where local businesses hosted a classroom that helped with a variety of projects. In our case, we hosted a 2nd-grade class that helped make Thank You cards. And believe me, we have a whole lot of reasons to write Thank You cards! We had fun helping the children make the cards and the hand collage featured above by dipping their little hands in acrylic paint. The students’ efforts earned a donation to Lexington Public Schools.

Orange Shirt Day is October 30th of each year. It is a day to celebrate every child, past, present, and future.

Since Stacey and I are also book lovers, check out Every Child Matters

In closing, we want to remind our readers that some of the most vulnerable people who are targeted and victimized are children in foster care. We did a small deed to help children living in foster care because they matter too!

We delivered goodie bags for 37 children who were reunited for a long weekend here in Central Nebraska by a non-profit Camp Catch-Up. While visiting the siblings during their stay at Camp Comeaca, we encountered kids painting their faces, playing ball, and being busy on their devices. Typical kid activity, what a treasure.

A set of twins, one living in Western Nebraska and the other living in the Northeast part of Nebraska, were selected to lead us through the camp. They told us that the only time they get to see each other is during the camps. Both will be graduating from high school this year and have plans to work and pursue a higher education. They will have two more opportunities to attend Camp Catch-up before transitioning from foster care into adulthood. That transition period is a critical time for many, to help they recieved a small anti-trafficking toolkit in their goodie bags. a few of the items included in the toolkits were grooming tactics and ways to report.

Report Trafficking

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.

Human trafficking is a situation in which an individual is compelled to work or engage in commercial sex through the use of force, fraud or coercion. If the individual is under the age of 18 and engaging in commercial sex they are experiencing trafficking regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion is also taking place.

If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation:

  • Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888: Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking.
  • Text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733. Message and data rates may apply.
  • Chat the National Human Trafficking Hotline via humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
  • Submit a tip online through the anonymous online reporting form below. However, please note that if the situation is urgent or occurred within the last 24 hours we would encourage you to call, text or chat.
  • Interpreters are available via phone call only.
TrafficStop Uncategorized

Wear Red Dress Day – MMIP

A day to remember an Indigenous loved one who has gone missing or been murdered.

The MMIP crisis highlights the disproportionately high rates of violence, missing persons cases, and murders experienced by Native Americans and Alaska Natives compared to the overall population. Factors contributing to this crisis include historical government policies, land seizures, and ongoing violence within Indigenous communities. 

Efforts are underway to address the MMIP crisis, including improved data collection, increased funding for investigations and victim services, and raising awareness about the issue. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is committed to working with Tribal nations to improve the federal response to MMIP and bring justice to victims and their families. 

Last night, the Lincoln Indian Center hosted an MMIP/Wear Red Dress day that offered hope and guidance. Thank you https://www.netav.org and https://ago.nebraska.gov/news/national-awareness-day-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-persons

If Your Loved One Is Missing

Immediately call 911 – There is no waiting period to report. You can email staceyl.cahill@gmail.com for help navigating the reporting.

When you call 911 – Let them know the missing person is native and be prepared to provide them with a detailed description of your loved one including:

Name

Date of Birth

Height/weight

Scars/tattoos

Tribal affiliation

Recent, unfiltered photo

Make sure to let them know when and where your loved one was last seen and what they were wearing.

If the missing person is a minor, report to NCMEC. 24-Hour Call Center: 1-800-843-5678

https://www.missingkids.org/home
TrafficStop Teaching, Thoughts and Ideas

8 Intersections of Human Trafficking

Yesterday we were welcomed by the Lexington, NE. Rotary Club to start a discussion on a variety of ways someone can be recruited and then exploited in the crime of Human Sex Trafficking. There are more than 8 intersections, we are well aware of within Human Trafficking but due to time constraints we had to limit the intersections. Several of the club members had been previously educated on the issue and others had already made the commitment to “Becoming Part Of The Solution”.

You can make a commitment to “Becoming Part Of The Solution” as well by doing the following;

Increase awareness and cultural sensitivity in Health Care and Behavioral Health Care practices, advocate for the implementation of lessons to be delivered to students in all levels of education and religious communities. Help to educate community members of all ages in public spaces.

TrafficStop Being a reader, Teaching

We are proud to announce Travis Wind as Otis Kennedy in the audiobook Traffic Stop: Human Division a novel.

Travis Wind is another of our seasoned voice actors who volunteered to help create the audio version of Traffic Stop: Human Division released 11/2023. When asked why he was interested in being one of the main characters in the book, not to mention the most troubled character he said, “I am willing to lend my talents to this project in advocacy kind of way to reduce sex trafficking”.

After graduating high school in Nebraska, he left for Tinseltown and completed some gigs there. He has offered guidance in the sound room, and he is willing to help with sound engineering another area that he has experience in. We at Traffic Stop are thankful that he found his way back to the Midwest to be with his family Central Nebraska.

Travis in disbelief of what his character Otis Kennedy is capable of;

Otis: (older adult male with gravelly voice) Otis is the antagonist of the story. He is a gruff, prejudiced, entitled, and self-righteous manipulator who is addicted to sex, work, and alcohol. 

Thank you Travis for the long months of late evening recordings. A portion of the book sales goes to funding Anti-Human Trafficking events. If you would like to host an awareness event please contact us at staceyl.cahill@gmail.com

TrafficStop Best work, Teaching

Book Signing Hack

Rocio Casanova Library Children’s Specialist & Jennifer Norton Library Director

Last week we offered a free training on Human Trafficking to 18 individuals who came to meet the “Meet the Author” event at the Lexington Public Library. Not a single book sold but our mission was accomplished for the day; spreading awareness. The audience gave positive feedback and many said that they were going to share what they learned with their friends and families.

So far we have been able to offer trainings and resources to 751 people since Aug 1, 2024. In large part it is due to the people and business in Dawson and Gosper counties in NE who support us.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
TrafficStop Uncategorized

Stop the Dam Traffic – 5K and BBQ 8/31/2024

Human Trafficking Drills can help prepare our children to know how to respond if they are approached online.

https://www.knopnews2.com/2024/09/01/stop-dam-traffic-5k-runwalk-raises-awareness-human-trafficking/

Please contact Traffic Stop if you want more information on the Human Trafficking Drill we have created at 308.325.9078 or 308.325.1657 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Traffic.stop.23

The day started with all volunteers and board members in prayer. The 5K was quick to follow. Please click on the link below to read more about the event.

https://lexch.com/news/local/stop-the-dam-traffic-5k-barbecue-contest-raise-funds-awareness-of-human-trafficking/article_d6145be6-6932-11ef-a21c-a7f3b9fc9748.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawFJhmBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHatCiA2DBIF_58iR_P96cNm5VFhJE0SY-41tl_QlCd-C9ZSp2GMzrYYuqQ_aem_GsGUjBgMGw7oa2ZdqGM4gQ

After an anti-trafficking presentation for our 5K participants at Canyon Lakes Brewery a new crowd joined us for a Pit Master contest.

The Winners “Ron and David Mayer”, “Central Ne Human Trafficking”, and “Gustavo Ruiz & Gerardo Alonzo” we all in high spirits.

Dawn and Shawn Cromer were our professional level BBQs who served with a full heart and willingness to fight against this crime. One of the best parts of the day was having fun while discussing such a heavy topic.

https://www.samqueandcatering.com

The smiles did not end with champions and full tummies; We had raffle winners too! Here are a few of our winners.

We at TRAFFIC STOP INC. 501(c)(3) have full hearts and are grateful for the support. We WILL see you all next year!

TrafficStop Uncategorized

Grant Writing

The next frontier…

Never in a thousand years would I have signed up willingly to write a grant. To be clear, I HATED writing a master’s thesis and am so jealous that budding young therapist are no longer required to do so in order to graduate. What I came to realize this last few days as I am pouring over my passion to STOP TRAFFIC was I had fun researching and creating innovative ideas to influence social change.

In order to travel Nebraska and beyond to educate the masses about human trafficking prevalence and prevention, we need financial support. That is why I have changed my hat and assumed the role of grant writer for the week.

In the research for one grant, I discovered that not only is Lexington the number 5 hot spot in Nebraska,

Nebraska is number 4 most trafficked state in the U.S. of A. https://www.datapandas.org/ranking/human-trafficking-statistics-by-state I don’t know about you, dear reader, but this is absolutely unacceptable! I cannot stand for this and won’t rest until we rank last.

Why in the world is Nebraska (which doesn’t have the population of California or New York) higher per capita? I have some theories. Please share yours. 

These are my thoughts; Nebraska is NICE. We teach our sons and daughters manners. We do not teach our children the glorious art of saying “No.” We encourage our children to disregard their personal boundaries by saying things like this; “Go to hug Aunt Bertha” even if the child obviously doesn’t want to because she has a snaggle tooth and a large growth on her cheek, not to mention her coffee breath would kill Goliath. The Nebraska child is taught to disregard their inner voice and ability to trust who is safe and who is not because we adults don’t want to offend Aunt Bertha. We teach our children not to hurt other’s feelings and to go above and beyond for others because that is the “right way” to be.

We assume we are safe because this is the GOOD LIFE. We assume nothing happens here, especially nothing as horrific as human trafficking.

I identify as a Christian and Jesus is my BFF. In fact, I want to be more like Jesus. Jesus stood for the downtrodden. He had boundaries and said ‘no.’ He was kind and loving to all, but firm when people were hurtful toward others in any sin. He said, ‘Let the children come to me and do not hinder them.’ He believed that children are our future and protected their innocent hearts. Jesus knew the world and some people in it had evil intentions. He knew horrific things happened, just read any book of the Bible to support there was human trafficking 2000 years ago and beyond, dating to the beginning of human- kind time.

When it comes to human sex trafficking and labor trafficking, could Nebraskans be more like Jesus? Please leave your comments below, I look forward to dialog with you. 

– Stacey Cahill

TrafficStop Uncategorized

It all started with a book.

“When people have many adverse child experiences (ACE Score) such as sexual, physical, and emotional abuse combined with abandonment, shame, ridicule, and tragic suffering often we are unequipped to know/sense or see red flags. These traumas make it difficult to know that we can stop or walk away from new traumatic experiences. Because our normal is tragic suffering and dysfunction, we do not know how to keep ourselves safe. Our negative experiences are higher than those who have a lower ACE score, even in adulthood. Therefore, we are flash-flooded with ‘messed-up’ experiences throughout our lifetime (it is as if our security system was not installed). Our PTSD responses compound and grow. We explain this for you to understand why we are jumping and bouncing all around in this novel. It is because of Marley’s trauma and her high ACE score. Finding a way to express this phenomenon happened after years of processing, writing, and editing this novel side by side.”

With Love, 

Stacey Cahill and Lisa Molina