In just my short time as Executive Director of Exploit No more, I have seen the heart our community stirring. While much work is left to be done to end the industrialized sexual exploitation of children in our neighborhoods, momentum is building to end this tragedy in and around Milwaukee. Legal advocates are joining together to address gaps in the justice system, the media is bringing much needed attention to the issue, and many of you have reached out to learn how you can take action. (As an example, nearly 200 people attended our Awareness + Advocacy Workshop in October!)
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In my first few weeks as chief relationship and strategy builder for our coalition, my work has been two-fold: First, I’ve set out to listen. Listen to the stories of survivors. Glean from the experiences and best practices of clinicians. Understand the work of political leaders in this arena. This strategy has better equipped me to propel our vision forward and partner with others to address the systemic issues that have kept our community from adequately combating the evil of child rape

Second, I’ve hit the ground running with our vision for a place of healing and safety for juvenile victims. I’ve started work on licensing and have begun scouting properties. It is an exciting time of strategic planning for our leadership team! For more updates on where we’ve been and where we’re headed with the safehouse, please be sure to join us at Elmbrook Church on November 21.

Along the way, I have partnered with organizations, news outlets, and advocates to shed light on the plight of victims in Milwaukee. The more we inform ourselves and our friends about the truths surrounding this issue— no matter how difficult or disturbing the facts may be— the better equipped we will be to address all of the moving parts of this deeply imbedded system of injustice.
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Hope to see you on November 21st.

Grateful to have you with us in this work,
Katie

As awareness about sex trafficking in Milwaukee grows, people are called to action.   Our hearts are stirred.  We are angry.  And we want to see change.  Once you see the dark realities of human slavery in our corner of the world and across the globe, the thought that naturally follows is:

“What can I do?”
“Tell me how I can help.”

On October 12, Exploit No More and International Justice Mission co-hosted an awareness and advocacy training to equip attendees with some “everyday ways” to engage the issue of sexual exploitation in our community.

We were joined by speakers from the Milwaukee District Attorney’s office, the Inner Beauty Center, and the Benedict Center, who spoke to their own experiences in working with victims of sexual exploitation in Milwaukee.  We concluded the training with a panel Q&A, which included our speakers, as well as everyday people who have stepped up to engage in anti-human trafficking efforts across the state (like the talented team behind Give Art Give Hope).

Several take-aways came out of the training:

1. Sex trafficking is a deeply embedded industry that is perpetuated by a community’s lack of resources, poverty, and the demand for sex.  Faults in justice systems also contribute to the problem on a global scale.
2. Milwaukee has one of the highest child sex trafficking victim recovery rates in the nation.  In 2012, we were at the top of the list for law enforcement recovery rates in a one-night sweep known as Operation Cross Country.  Current statistical measures cannot accurately predict the widespread scope of the problem because of the transient nature of the industry and complexities added by the internet.
3. Sex trafficking is found in every county in Wisconsin. Recruitment is not limited to the “streets.”   Many kids meet their traffickers online or through friends, and many victims are trafficked from childhood through adulthood.

Nearly 200 people attended the workshop to learn more about how they could make an impact.  While the subject was heavy, and the statistics grim, it was an exciting and hope-filled time of conversation and brainstorming.  In case you missed it, we’ve included a summary of each of the speaker’s organizations, as well as a few other helpful resources HERE.

We’ll recap with suggestions about how you can get involved with the organizations on our list:

Lend Your Gifts
You don’t have to be an attorney, police officer, or lobbyist to have an impact.  Volunteers create our flyers, review our legal policies, and take photos for our website – and these are just a few examples of how people plug-in to our work to effect change.
There is a place for everyone to leverage their gifts and propel our collective effort to stop this injustice.  Contact the organizations on the list above to lend your interests and skills.

Mobilize + Team Up
Team up and have fun!  Men’s groups, book clubs, and friends have all teamed up to have yard sales, host percentage dining nights, or golf outings to raise awareness and funds for Exploit No More. You can also sign up to donate on each organization’s website, including Exploit No More’s.

Stand up + Sign Up
Change happens when dedicated individuals stand together as a group.  With political leaders and advocates increasingly faced with tough decisions about how to allocate resources, we can support them by letting them know we stand behind their efforts to stop trafficking.

Sign up for our newsletter and social media networks to tell political leaders, advocates, and friends   that you stand with Exploit No More in the fight against injustice.  (Check out IJM’s Freedom Commons, too.)

With each new person added to our lists, we’re able to tell leaders in our community just how many people care about trafficking victims in our city and why they should, too.
For more resources, documentaries, and books, check out Exploit No More’s Pinterest page.   

​You can also find comprehensive toolkits and fact sheets from the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation’s website.

To hear more about our plans to open an aftercare home in the Milwaukee area, 
join us for our Fall Update Meeting:
Thursday, November 21
7pm – Elmbrook Church Chapel
777 S Barker Rd,  Brookfield, WI 53045