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 week we had the privilege to share Anti-Trafficking toolkits to therapist from multiple states, who joined in via Microsoft Teams.
Each received a toolbox that included;
Screening tools for both adults and youths. The screeners can be used in their private practices with no additional fee to the client. Current statistics and vulnerable populations were included along with free online safety videos for children.
Two issues that we researched and presented were AI and its affects on Human Trafficking, and Pornography’s role in Human Trafficking.
Please share with us what you know about AI related to Human Trafficking or Pornography’s role in Human Trafficking. We are always open to learning more.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness month – Wear blue to show your support.
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.
Please read Stacey’s gratitude post and know that we are doing what we can to help in the fight to reduce this violent crime.
“Gratitude: I’m grateful for our partnership at Traffic Stop. Traffic stop wouldn’t exist without Lisa. For our volunteers and community supporters making the fundraising efforts successful! For our husbands and family who offered encouragement and a safe place to land after a hard day. For the challenges we faced and opportunities to stretch/grow. For adversity and discourages -they was humbling and enabled us to witness how broken our culture is when it comes to sexuality, power, and control. For my dog who greeted me everyday with unconditional love and slobbery kisses. For the love of our children and Lisa’s grands and my future grands -the reason we bring this message of prevention and awareness in hopes they never experience this trauma. For all people in this world who have suffered, thank you for showing the way toward healing.”
We are blessed to be able to announce that we will be launching our Pilot Human Trafficking Prevention Program this week. It has been an adventure reaching our goal and we are looking forward to keeping children safe.
We want to give a huge THANK YOU to all the people who support us and believe in Human Trafficking education and prevention.
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
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
Raising Awareness about Human Trafficking 