A local agency wants to teach people about modern slavery.
Family Resources' Braking Traffik has asked all of the Quad Cities and surrounding counties to declare January Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Marisa Mansfield, comprehensive services coodinator, says since July, Braking Traffik has provided services to more than 60 survivors of human trafficking in Iowa and Illinois service areas.
"There are a lot of misconceptions that this doesn't happen locally, that this doesn't happen in the Midwest — that this is a big city problem or this is a third world country problem," she says. "However, that is not the case."
Braking Traffik is working with churches, schools, and other groups to set up interactive stations where people can learn about statistics and warning signs, plus ask questions.
People can also watch a 15 minute film called Any Kid Anywhere. It's about three trafficking survivors from Iowa, including one from the Quad Cities.
A full list of sessions for the rest of the month is provided below.
https://vimeo.com/147555481">Any Kid Anywhere: Sex Trafficking Survivor Stories (v.7) from https://vimeo.com/fourthwallfilms">Kelly Rundle on Vimeo.
Upcoming Braking Traffik sessions
January 16
- Awareness event in Clinton County from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 439 3rd Ave. S. in Clinton
January 18
- Scott County awareness event from 3-7 p.m. at J.B. Young Opportunity Center gymnasium, 1702 N. Main St. in Davenport.
January 19
- Braking Traffik open house and volunteer luncheon from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Building C on main campus, 2800 Eastern Ave. in Davenport.
January 23
- Awareness event in jackson County from 3-7 p.m. at 204 N. Anna St. in Preston
January 24
- Awareness event in Rock Island County from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. in the Moline Police Department community room, 1640 6th Ave. in Moline
January 25
- Clinton anti-trafficking committee sponsored movie showing and panel discussion at 6 p.m. in the main auditorium at Clinton Community College