The National Human Trafficking Hotline shows 340 cases in Michigan in 2024 with nearly 600 victims.
In Kent County alone, the sheriff’s office identified more than 90 victims.
“One the of big challenges that we experience is that people tend to sensationalize what it might it look like. There's a lot of movies or clips that show someone getting taken from a store or off the street. And while that can happen, it is much more subtle than that.”
Kori Thompson is Wedgwood’s Advancement and Community Development Officer working with their Manasseh Project Trauma Recovery Center – a residential program for victims of sex trafficking or sexual trauma, girls who are 12 to 17 years old.
“It is happening here in West Michigan. I think that's another challenge for people is they think, oh, that may happen somewhere else, in a bigger city or in another county but the reality of it is that it is happening here.”
Wedgwood is hosting a free educational event at Grand Rapids' Wealthy Street Theater on January 22 at 6 PM.
“Some of the most important things are just to understand vulnerabilities behind it, how to spot it and what to do - what is safe to do.”
Guests can register for the free event on the Wedgwood Christian Services website using this form: www.wedgwood.org/story-you-dont-see.
The event is ideal for front-line medical workers, the general public, school or church employees.
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