LSS Observes Sex Trafficking Prevention Month with Two Brainerd Events
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) will host two events to raise awareness about the signs of sex trafficking and educate Brainerd area residents on what they can do to prevent it.
January Soup-Off
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, January 25
Where: Rooms 1 and 2 of the Land Service Building, 322 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
Join LSS for a panel discussion over lunch featuring representatives from local agencies, Baxter Police and community members. Attendees will learn more about how sex trafficking harms young people in the community, how to spot the signs, and the resources available to combat the issue. Panelists will include Kathy Sauve from LSS Saving Grace, Kate LePage from the Central Minnesota Regional Navigator, and Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted. This event is free to attend and no RSVP is required.
Renting Lacy Facebook Live Book Club
When: 7-7:45 p.m. on Thursday, January 31
Kate LePage from the Central Minnesota Regional Navigator, will host a guided discussion on Linda Smith’s book Renting Lacy via Facebook Live on the LSS Saving Grace Facebook page. The book, available for purchase on Amazon, illustrates the daily struggles of child sex trafficking victims through true stories from survivors.
Tune in to the discussion on Facebook Live on the Saving Grace Facebook page.
January is National Sex Trafficking Prevention Month. LSS announced the launch of our Saving Grace service in 2016 as part of our participation in the Central Minnesota Regional Navigator, which was created by a statewide Safe Harbor initiative to provide youth the support they need to escape sex trafficking.
According to the Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force, the average age when victims become trafficked is 15. An estimated 6,000 youth experience homelessness on any given night in Minnesota, making them prime targets for traffickers who prey on youth in crises.
By learning how to recognize signs of trafficking activities and the resources available, members of the community can equip themselves to take action against sex trafficking and create a safer environment for young people throughout Minnesota.