University of Dayton Lecture: Trafficking & Beyond

Event Poster

Wrap-up – Circus House Fringe Stage and Fundraiser

June 25-26, 2010

Purpose/vision

• Host a fringe stage at The Circus House outside Comfest to raise money and awareness to combat human trafficking in Ohio
• Restore a piece of Comfest to its original vision of community building.
• Give Gracehaven platform to highlight important underground issue at event where trafficking could happen (tens of thousands of people)
• Give God’s people in the neighborhood a way to serve together from all different churches
• Raise money by selling water, iced coffee, freeze pops, artsy headbands, popcorn, and cotton candy (in keeping with the circus theme of the host home and booth design). Bands were also slated to play (many of whom are featured on the Gracehaven CD) and a silent art auction was scheduled for Saturday night.

Process

• Things were off to a good start on Friday until one Comfest volunteer, over the period of several hours, by contacting various city officials, was able to get us shut down, first from selling anything and later to get the bands silenced. We were so disappointed and went to bed, ready to come back in the morning to clean everything up.
• In the morning, phones began to ring and e-mails went out announcing the move of God’s hand in the night on behalf of His praying people. At 1:30 AM, after Comfest’s debriefing meeting, the Comfest leaders invited Fritz Harding to a meeting with them. They were appalled at what had happened to us and apologized profusely to us and told us that what we were doing is exactly what they want Comfest to be about. They invited us to come into the park and sell our water at the main entrance in the best spot of the whole festival! And we could have the bands play on our stage acoustically.
• Victory in Jesus! We were back on with our fundraising but inside the park instead of across the street and our human trafficking awareness and petitions were going inside with us. We mobilized the troops and throughout the whole day we had teams of people, including families with their children, manning our water sales station on both sides of the sidewalk along with petitions and a booth on human trafficking. We had a blast and sold all 3500 bottles of water on a sultry 90+ degree day. We got tons of signatures on our petitions and made many new friends among the Comfest crowd.
• The next week, one of the original founders of Comfest stopped by the circus house to again apologize for us being shut down and began to share with us some ideas for next year. He said what we did at the circus house was what they used to do when the festival began and was eager to have us involved on a greater level.

Outcomes

• Several hundred people signed the Gracehaven petition for new trafficking laws
• Lots of indepth conversations with festivalgoers to teach about human trafficking in Ohio
• $500 raised for Gracehaven

Hopes moving forward

• On the next Sunday morning as one of our prayer team thanked the Lord and reveled in His glory that He manifested to us, He gave her this word:

  These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Rev. 3:7-8

  As she inquired about the door that had been opened before us, she knew that it was the door of joining Him in the things that only God can do – not what man can do with God’s help. We’re excited to see what God has in store!

• Initial thoughts include: Joining the Comfest planning committee to serve, influence, and love and hosting a fundraiser next year at Comfest too, maybe with a broader scope.

Thank you for being such an important part of this with you! While we weren’t able to raise as much money as we hoped, we know God used it for His purposes. Blessings to you from the people of God in Victorian Village.

Together Breaking Chains Golf Outing

Download Golf Flier (.doc)

Take your game to whole new level as we come together to support the fight against Human Trafficking

When: Saturday, August 28, 2010
Where: Bent Tree Golf Club
350 Bent Tree Road
Sunbury, OH 43074
Time: 1:30pm Shotgun Start
Registration: Starts at 12:00pm (Noon)
Cost: $60 per Person
Format: 4 Person Scramble
Includes: 18 Holes of Golf w/Cart, Dinner Banquet, Special Contest Awards, Prizes, Raffle, etc…

Every participant will receive a voucher for a BUY ONE ROUND OF GOLF AND GET ONE ROUND FREE at Bent Tree for a future date.

“PAID” RSVP required by Monday, 16 August, 2010
(Limited to first 144 paid entries / must provide Name + Address, Phone, or E-mail at RSVP)
Contact: Brit-Nicholle
Cell: (614) 937-1052
E-mail: togetherbreakingchains@ymail.com
Payment Methods: Visa by Phone (contact Brit-Nicholle above)
Checks made payable to: Bent Tree Golf Club
Mail checks to: P.O. Box 1894
Westerville, OH 43086-1894

Gracehaven seeks through Christian love to provide shelter and rehabilitation to girls under the age of 18 who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and to raise awareness among young women about the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in order to educate and equip them so that they can avoid becoming victims themselves.

Gracehaven (a non-profit established in 2008) is the only organization in Ohio focusing on domestic minor sex trafficking. They will add 10 beds to the total of 55 in the United States for human trafficking victims when their shelter opens. They have obtained 501(c) 3 tax exempt status with the IRS in December of 2008.

The Wrecking Concert June 30

“Together Breaking Chains” Softball Tournament

Take your game to whole new level as we come together to support the fight against Human Trafficking!
Download a flyer to share with everyone!

When: Saturday, July 24^th, 2010  /  First Pitch 9:00 am

Where: Hoff Park
556 McCorkle Blvd
Westerville, OH 43082

Cost: $160 per Team (limited to 1^st 8 teams in each division)

Divisions: Men’s Rec & Co-Ed (3 Game Guarentee)

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 16^th, 2010 (Due by Coach’s Meeting)

To Register, Contact: Brit-Nicholle Bethel
Cell: (614) 937-1052
E-mail: togetherbreakingchains@ymail.com

Payment Methods: Cash, Money Orders, and Checks

Checks made payable to:
Mail checks to:

Gracehaven
P.O. Box 1894
Westerville, OH 43086-1894

***** 100% proceeds go directly to Gracehaven House *****

Players, encourage your family and friends to get involved in supporting this fight against Human Trafficking here in Ohio. As you aim to strike one out against Human Trafficking ask them to sponsor you. Just get 5 to 10 family or friends to sponsor $5-$10, it’s just that easy. Their support with your participation is what it takes to come together to break the chains of Human Trafficking. Please bring any sponsor support to the Concessions building located next to the diamonds. Thanks to all that choose to support.

House Bill 493 – Take Action!

The Ohio House of Representatives is now considering important legislation to combat human trafficking. Please join us in taking action to support HB493 to criminalize human trafficking and punish criminals who exploit others for profit in Ohio. Ohio is one of only five states without human trafficking laws!

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person to provide labor, services, or commercial sex against their will. It is a form of modern-day slavery, and it affects both foreign nationals and American citizens. The federal government has estimated that 14,500-17,500 foreign nationals are brought into the United States every year for the purpose of exploitation either for sex or for labor. Experts estimate that 100,000 American children are victims of prostitution each year. All of these people are victims of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking in Ohio

A recent study released by the Ohio Attorney General Trafficking in Persons Research Commission estimates that there are more than 750 foreign national human trafficking victims who are brought to Ohio for forced labor or commercial sex. The study also estimates that more than 1, 000 American children between the ages of 12-17 become human trafficking victims for the purpose of commercial sex in Ohio every year.

Ohio is a transit, destination, and source state for human trafficking victims. Two recent cases highlight the fact that human trafficking exists in Ohio. In December 2009, Alan Townsend pled guilty to federal child sex trafficking charges after luring a 14 year old with promises of a modeling career. Townsend transported the minor from Ohio to Florida where he intended to prostitute her for profit. Townsend faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison. Also in December 2009, two Ohio men, Robert Harris and Richard Johnson, pled guilty to sex trafficking by force and other prostitution-related crimes after transporting women and children, including a 16- year-old victim from Ohio, to Maryland for the purpose of prostitution. The two men were sentenced to 15 years in prison a piece.  A third Ohio man in the case, Craig Allen Corey II—a private first class in the Army—recently pled guilty and was sentenced 17 years in prison.

HB493: To Amend Sections of the Revised Code Relative to Trafficking in Persons
Representative Kathleen Chandler introduced HB493 to create a new felony offense of human trafficking—allowing prosecutors to target traffickers with a stronger law, instead of stitching together other crimes in order to punish them.

HB493 also:

•    Increases penalty of compelling prostitution of minors under 16 to a first degree felony
•    Requires that child victims receive appropriate services
•    Requires the posting of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (hotline)
•    Requires training of law enforcement
•    Click here for more provisions in HB493

HB493 has bipartisan co-sponsorship from 22 representatives: Williams, B., Pillich, Newcomb, Lehner, Driehaus, Harris, Letson, Hagan, Lundy, Skindell, Foley, Yuko, Fende, Winburn, Stewart, DeGeeter, Garland, Derickson, Harwood, Brown, Pryor, Mallory.

HB493 is a step in the right direction toward comprehensively addressing human trafficking in Ohio. HB493 will make it clear that modern-day slavery will not be tolerated in Ohio.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Please take a moment to call your Representative’s office and urge them to support and vote YES on HB493. If your representative is on the Criminal Justice Committee, your call is even more critical! Here is an example of what you can say, but please personalize your message:
   

   “Hi, my name is [   ], and I am a constituent living at [ ]. I am calling to urge [   ] to vote YES on anti-human trafficking legislation. HB493 will criminalize trafficking in persons as a 2nd degree felony and define involuntary servitude in order to comprehensively combat human trafficking in Ohio.  Ohio should join the federal government and 44 other states to address this serious human rights violation. Will the Representative support this important legislation?”

2. After you make your call, please follow up with an email - just click here! Be sure to personalize your message for the greatest impact, state your message of what you would like them to do, and thank them for their time.
3. Please take a moment to contact Chairman Timothy J. DeGeeter of the Criminal Justice Committee.  Chairman DeGeeter is able to decide whether HB493 will advance, so please make a quick call to urge him to support HB493.
4. Please urge everyone you know to contact their Representatives and ask them to vote yes on this important human trafficking legislation.

If you should have any questions or have heard back from your senators about these bills, please email Kathleen Davis atkdavis@polarisproject.org.

Links to Reports:
Polaris Project Ohio Report
Ohio Attorney General Trafficking in Persons Research Commission Report
The Rand Report
Columbus Dispatch Article

Jewelry Sale

SUPPORT THE GRACEHAVEN HOUSE – BUY JEWELRY!!!

HELP raise money simply by purchasing SILPADA DESIGNS JEWELRY!

All PROFITS are going to benefit Gracehaven House-a developing safe haven for young women who have been victimized by domestic minor sex trafficking.

Did you know sexual exploitation happens right here in our community every day?

Did you know that the Ohio Attorney General recently released a report stating that there are over 1000 girls currently entrapped in sex trafficking right here in Ohio?

We are committed to help raise $5000!  Help us get there!  If you would like to see a catalog- email pfugitt@columbus.rr.com or call Pam Fugitt at 614.771.9322

Silpada Designs Jewelry is beautifully handcrafted .925 sterling silver, semi-precious stones- with a lifetime guarantee.

Call or email Pam Fugitt to order:

Silpada Designs Representative

pfugitt@columbus.rr.com 614-771-9322

Letter to Your Legislators

Hello everyone!

Here is a letter discussing both S.B. 235 and H.B. 493, which will make
human trafficking a felony under Ohio law. For more information on either
bill, please contact me. This letter is based off the letter drafted by
Sen. Fedor’s aide. I delivered 100 or so of these letters to
representatives and senators in the Ohio legislature a couple weeks ago.
Although the legislature will go into recess in June and stay in recess
until September or even as late as November, we can spend all summer having
Ohio constituents sign these letters! Once they come back from recess, we
can all deliver hefty stacks to their office reminding them that these two
important bills are still waiting for passage and that Ohio voters are
still waiting to see human trafficking become a felony under state law! Be
sure that people who sign these letters A) have an Ohio address, B) write
down that Ohio address, C) and, if they’d like, hand-write a person message
in the space provided above the signature line.

Please pass on this letter to any person or organization who’d be
interested in collecting signed letters. it’s very easy to gather letters
like this at fund-raisers and other events. These persons or organizations
can then return signed letters to me or handle delivery themselves. For
instructions on how to deliver these letters to the Ohio legislature (which
involves the tedious task of figuring out which addresses are in which
district and thus which letters go to which legislators) please email me.
It’s important that these letters get to the right senators and
representatives where they will be most effective.

Thank you everyone!

Tabitha M. Woodruff
co-chair; lobbying committee
Central Ohio Rescue & Restore Coalition

Stop Traffick Fashion Show and Sale

Stop Traffick Fashion is an online boutique that sells products that are either made by people rescued from slavery or directly benefit organizations that help restore exploited people. Emily, the founder, agreed to donate 20% of the proceeds from our event to Gracehaven House.

On May 15, from 3pm to 5pm, a local team is putting our kickoff event at the Union in The Lower Level Meeting Room. There will be  speakers as well as time for shopping for the products from Stop Traffick Fashion.

Female And Brave

Several Columbus local artists have come together to make a wonderful collection of music titled ‘Female and Brave’. You can listen for free and download songs here. Come and listen to the bands live this Saturday, May 15th from 3-10pm at Kafe Kerouac and Taj Mahal on High Street. All proceeds of the download sale and Saturday’s event are being donated to Gracehaven.

Kafe Kerouac
2250 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43201

Taj Mahal (across the Street from Kafe Kerouac)

You can listen for free and download songs here.

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