January is Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month, and the City of Grand Rapids is hoping to raise awareness of the growing epidemic in the community. Tuesday evening, The Grand Rapids Human Trafficking Work Group led by Lenear hosted a free public forum titled “Understanding Sex Trafficking in Grand Rapids Michigan.”
“Victims of sex trafficking are our neighbors, they are underage community members, mostly girls, but sometimes boys,” Lenear said.
“Really what human traffickers look for, is they look for victims who are easily manipulated, who are vulnerable, and who are seeking something that is different than what they have in their current life,"
According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, Michigan ranks second in the nation in human trafficking.
Tessa Hessmiller an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District Michigan said. She says, sex trafficking is nothing like the way it’s depicted in Hollywood.
“They’re not being smuggled anywhere, they’re not being kidnapped, and they’re are not being taken anywhere,” she said.
Rather, predators look for victims who are vulnerable, or easily manipulated with the promise of a better life.
“They just have to convince them to make some money, to come to a party to come to a modeling shoot, and from there they propose this idea of living this high life together is how they pitch it.”
Parents who want more information can find tips and resources on The Kent County Human Trafficking Task Force website.