when you look at this photo what is the image that comes to mind is it your
image that comes to mind is it your
image that comes to mind is it your niece maybe somebody you babysat before
niece maybe somebody you babysat before
niece maybe somebody you babysat before maybe even your daughter maybe you’re
maybe even your daughter maybe you’re
maybe even your daughter maybe you’re not even thinking about who she reminds
not even thinking about who she reminds
not even thinking about who she reminds you of rather what she’s feeling or what
you of rather what she’s feeling or what
you of rather what she’s feeling or what she’s looking at it’s doubtful you’re
she’s looking at it’s doubtful you’re
she’s looking at it’s doubtful you’re thinking about modern-day slavery it is
thinking about modern-day slavery it is
thinking about modern-day slavery it is probably safe to say that there are many
probably safe to say that there are many
probably safe to say that there are many people around the world including right
people around the world including right
people around the world including right here in North Dakota who have seen
here in North Dakota who have seen
here in North Dakota who have seen modern-day slavery or have heard about
modern-day slavery or have heard about
modern-day slavery or have heard about modern slavery but had chosen to be
modern slavery but had chosen to be
modern slavery but had chosen to be silent I have chosen to go against the
silent I have chosen to go against the
silent I have chosen to go against the grain and be a voice for the voiceless
grain and be a voice for the voiceless
grain and be a voice for the voiceless and I’m hoping you will join me I often
and I’m hoping you will join me I often
and I’m hoping you will join me I often get the question of why I decided to
get the question of why I decided to
get the question of why I decided to join the movement and combat human
join the movement and combat human
join the movement and combat human trafficking and really it goes back to
trafficking and really it goes back to
trafficking and really it goes back to 2006 when I first heard Anna story now
2006 when I first heard Anna story now
2006 when I first heard Anna story now anna has very similar characteristics to
anna has very similar characteristics to
anna has very similar characteristics to the girl that you see in this photo she
the girl that you see in this photo she
the girl that you see in this photo she was eight years old living in El
was eight years old living in El
was eight years old living in El Salvador and like many kids her age
Salvador and like many kids her age
Salvador and like many kids her age enjoyed playing outside one day while
enjoyed playing outside one day while
enjoyed playing outside one day while she was playing she noticed a vehicle
she was playing she noticed a vehicle
she was playing she noticed a vehicle coming up the gravel road she didn’t
coming up the gravel road she didn’t
coming up the gravel road she didn’t recognize the vehicle or the people in
recognize the vehicle or the people in
recognize the vehicle or the people in it but as they approached her and rolled
it but as they approached her and rolled
it but as they approached her and rolled down their window Anna started talking
down their window Anna started talking
down their window Anna started talking to the driver in the meantime the
to the driver in the meantime the
to the driver in the meantime the passenger got out of the vehicle went
passenger got out of the vehicle went
passenger got out of the vehicle went around the vehicle grabbed Anna put a
around the vehicle grabbed Anna put a
around the vehicle grabbed Anna put a bag over her head and threw her in the
bag over her head and threw her in the
bag over her head and threw her in the car the next thing she remembered was
car the next thing she remembered was
car the next thing she remembered was waking up in some room what Anna I
waking up in some room what Anna I
waking up in some room what Anna I didn’t know if she had been taken to a
didn’t know if she had been taken to a
didn’t know if she had been taken to a brothel across the border to another
brothel across the border to another
brothel across the border to another country Anna was scared she was
country Anna was scared she was
country Anna was scared she was terrified she didn’t know what was going
terrified she didn’t know what was going
terrified she didn’t know what was going on and suddenly men started to enter the
on and suddenly men started to enter the
on and suddenly men started to enter the room and rape Anna over and over and
room and rape Anna over and over and
room and rape Anna over and over and over again now for anybody this story
over again now for anybody this story
over again now for anybody this story would be traumatic but think about this
would be traumatic but think about this
would be traumatic but think about this little eight-year-old
little eight-year-old
little eight-year-old girl not understanding what’s going on
girl not understanding what’s going on
girl not understanding what’s going on or what’s happening to her and his cries
or what’s happening to her and his cries
or what’s happening to her and his cries and screams went late into the night and
and screams went late into the night and
and screams went late into the night and finally it was someone outside who was
finally it was someone outside who was
finally it was someone outside who was so annoyed by her cries that decided to
so annoyed by her cries that decided to
so annoyed by her cries that decided to call law enforcement it was Anna’s lucky
call law enforcement it was Anna’s lucky
call law enforcement it was Anna’s lucky day because the law enforcement arrived
day because the law enforcement arrived
day because the law enforcement arrived to rescue her and take her to a local
to rescue her and take her to a local
to rescue her and take her to a local nonprofit in Guatemala that would help
nonprofit in Guatemala that would help
nonprofit in Guatemala that would help her journey to rehabilitate and
her journey to rehabilitate and
her journey to rehabilitate and eventually have a relatively normal life
eventually have a relatively normal life
eventually have a relatively normal life Anna would go on to have a family and
Anna would go on to have a family and
Anna would go on to have a family and children but Anna’s story is unique
children but Anna’s story is unique
children but Anna’s story is unique because she survived to share it and it
because she survived to share it and it
because she survived to share it and it was Anna story
was Anna story
was Anna story that gave me the motivation to do
that gave me the motivation to do
that gave me the motivation to do something to go against the grain and to
something to go against the grain and to
something to go against the grain and to start my own nonprofit 31:8 project 31:8
start my own nonprofit 31:8 project 31:8
start my own nonprofit 31:8 project 31:8 project comes from proverbs 31 8 be a
project comes from proverbs 31 8 be a
project comes from proverbs 31 8 be a voice for those who cannot speak for
voice for those who cannot speak for
voice for those who cannot speak for themselves we exist to equip and
themselves we exist to equip and
themselves we exist to equip and challenge society to proactively address
challenge society to proactively address
challenge society to proactively address issues regarding human trafficking
issues regarding human trafficking
issues regarding human trafficking starting right here in North Dakota one
starting right here in North Dakota one
starting right here in North Dakota one of the best ways we are able to
of the best ways we are able to
of the best ways we are able to accomplish our goals is sue education on
accomplish our goals is sue education on
accomplish our goals is sue education on human trafficking now you’re probably
human trafficking now you’re probably
human trafficking now you’re probably wondering what do I mean about this term
wondering what do I mean about this term
wondering what do I mean about this term human trafficking when we think about
human trafficking when we think about
human trafficking when we think about slavery we think back to a time when it
slavery we think back to a time when it
slavery we think back to a time when it was legal we might even think back to a
was legal we might even think back to a
was legal we might even think back to a time in 1865 when the 13th amendment was
time in 1865 when the 13th amendment was
time in 1865 when the 13th amendment was added to the Constitution that would
added to the Constitution that would
added to the Constitution that would abolish slavery now for many of us we
abolish slavery now for many of us we
abolish slavery now for many of us we believe that’s when slavery ended it was
believe that’s when slavery ended it was
believe that’s when slavery ended it was a bad problem that happened we’re not
a bad problem that happened we’re not
a bad problem that happened we’re not proud of it but we never want to go back
proud of it but we never want to go back
proud of it but we never want to go back to that part of history but in reality
to that part of history but in reality
to that part of history but in reality were wrong because slavery has never
were wrong because slavery has never
were wrong because slavery has never disappeared in fact it’s always played a
disappeared in fact it’s always played a
disappeared in fact it’s always played a huge role throughout history due to the
huge role throughout history due to the
huge role throughout history due to the increase of the world population global
increase of the world population global
increase of the world population global traveling and rapid social economic
traveling and rapid social economic
traveling and rapid social economic changes has made it less difficult to
changes has made it less difficult to
changes has made it less difficult to move people from place to place
move people from place to place
move people from place to place therefore slavery took on a whole new
therefore slavery took on a whole new
therefore slavery took on a whole new meaning known as human trafficking human
meaning known as human trafficking human
meaning known as human trafficking human trafficking involves the use of force
trafficking involves the use of force
trafficking involves the use of force fraud and coercion for the purpose of
fraud and coercion for the purpose of
fraud and coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor it’s
sexual exploitation or forced labor it’s
sexual exploitation or forced labor it’s a state of control of one person over
a state of control of one person over
a state of control of one person over another through violent means lack of
another through violent means lack of
another through violent means lack of payment beyond substance and theft of
payment beyond substance and theft of
payment beyond substance and theft of labor that results in economic gain for
labor that results in economic gain for
labor that results in economic gain for the enslaver human trafficking can be
the enslaver human trafficking can be
the enslaver human trafficking can be broken down into two categories sex
broken down into two categories sex
broken down into two categories sex trafficking and labor trafficking
trafficking and labor trafficking
trafficking and labor trafficking victims are trafficked for a wide
victims are trafficked for a wide
victims are trafficked for a wide variety of purposes but they all share
variety of purposes but they all share
variety of purposes but they all share the loss of our world’s most cherished
the loss of our world’s most cherished
the loss of our world’s most cherished right freedom victims of sex trafficking
right freedom victims of sex trafficking
right freedom victims of sex trafficking can be found working in massage parlors
can be found working in massage parlors
can be found working in massage parlors brothels strip clubs escort services or
brothels strip clubs escort services or
brothels strip clubs escort services or even on the street often their children
even on the street often their children
even on the street often their children teenagers or adults that are promised
teenagers or adults that are promised
teenagers or adults that are promised many things but ultimately forced into
many things but ultimately forced into
many things but ultimately forced into prostitution there’s a common
prostitution there’s a common
prostitution there’s a common misconception that sex trafficking is
misconception that sex trafficking is
misconception that sex trafficking is the only type of trafficking exist and
the only type of trafficking exist and
the only type of trafficking exist and that’s not true there’s also another
that’s not true there’s also another
that’s not true there’s also another type labor trafficking and labor
type labor trafficking and labor
type labor trafficking and labor trafficking victims can be found as
trafficking victims can be found as
trafficking victims can be found as nannies maids working in sweatshops
nannies maids working in sweatshops
nannies maids working in sweatshops janitorial jobs restaurants in the
janitorial jobs restaurants in the
janitorial jobs restaurants in the streets construction sites or on farms
streets construction sites or on farms
streets construction sites or on farms the victims are trapped in a cycle of
the victims are trapped in a cycle of
the victims are trapped in a cycle of debt forcing them into involuntary
debt forcing them into involuntary
debt forcing them into involuntary servitude debt bondage or slavery now
servitude debt bondage or slavery now
servitude debt bondage or slavery now it’s important to remember that anyone
it’s important to remember that anyone
it’s important to remember that anyone can be a victim of human trafficking and
can be a victim of human trafficking and
can be a victim of human trafficking and any one person can be a trafficker
any one person can be a trafficker
any one person can be a trafficker people from all cultures are victims of
people from all cultures are victims of
people from all cultures are victims of human trafficking they can be rich poor
human trafficking they can be rich poor
human trafficking they can be rich poor men or women adults or children foreign
men or women adults or children foreign
men or women adults or children foreign nationals or US citizens victims can
nationals or US citizens victims can
nationals or US citizens victims can include the 15 year old busboy at your
include the 15 year old busboy at your
include the 15 year old busboy at your local diner or the frightened young
local diner or the frightened young
local diner or the frightened young woman you saw at the gas station last
woman you saw at the gas station last
woman you saw at the gas station last week traffickers include a wide range of
week traffickers include a wide range of
week traffickers include a wide range of criminal operators including pimps
criminal operators including pimps
criminal operators including pimps brothel owners fake business owners
brothel owners fake business owners
brothel owners fake business owners factory owners corporations
factory owners corporations
factory owners corporations leaders in agriculture two primary
leaders in agriculture two primary
leaders in agriculture two primary factors that drive human trafficking is
factors that drive human trafficking is
factors that drive human trafficking is high profits and low risk therefore it
high profits and low risk therefore it
high profits and low risk therefore it makes it an easy industry to jump into
makes it an easy industry to jump into
makes it an easy industry to jump into now we understand the basics of human
now we understand the basics of human
now we understand the basics of human trafficking but how big is the scope of
trafficking but how big is the scope of
trafficking but how big is the scope of this problem and to get into this I want
this problem and to get into this I want
this problem and to get into this I want you to think about something I want you
you to think about something I want you
you to think about something I want you to think about what is your value if
to think about what is your value if
to think about what is your value if somebody asks you today what you value
somebody asks you today what you value
somebody asks you today what you value yourself at what would you say if you
yourself at what would you say if you
yourself at what would you say if you knew you were being sold into slavery
knew you were being sold into slavery
knew you were being sold into slavery tomorrow what amount would you put on
tomorrow what amount would you put on
tomorrow what amount would you put on your life I know for myself I can’t put
your life I know for myself I can’t put
your life I know for myself I can’t put an amount on my life and I know when I
an amount on my life and I know when I
an amount on my life and I know when I asked some people they gave me an
asked some people they gave me an
asked some people they gave me an awkward shrug a weird smile or a random
awkward shrug a weird smile or a random
awkward shrug a weird smile or a random number and inside they’re hoping I’m
number and inside they’re hoping I’m
number and inside they’re hoping I’m going to move on and not address the
going to move on and not address the
going to move on and not address the issue but we have to address the issue
issue but we have to address the issue
issue but we have to address the issue the average price of a person sold into
the average price of a person sold into
the average price of a person sold into slavery today is $90 $90 in 1809 the
slavery today is $90 $90 in 1809 the
slavery today is $90 $90 in 1809 the average person sold into slavery was
average person sold into slavery was
average person sold into slavery was $40,000 when adjusted in today’s money
$40,000 when adjusted in today’s money
$40,000 when adjusted in today’s money this tells us that the value of human
this tells us that the value of human
this tells us that the value of human life continues to decrease and we really
life continues to decrease and we really
life continues to decrease and we really need to think about what we want to do
need to think about what we want to do
need to think about what we want to do this is a thirty two billion dollar
this is a thirty two billion dollar
this is a thirty two billion dollar industry this is bigger than Google
industry this is bigger than Google
industry this is bigger than Google Starbucks and Nike human trafficking
Starbucks and Nike human trafficking
Starbucks and Nike human trafficking makes more money in one year than those
makes more money in one year than those
makes more money in one year than those three companies combined and I know all
three companies combined and I know all
three companies combined and I know all of us have at least purchased something
of us have at least purchased something
of us have at least purchased something from one of those companies there are 30
from one of those companies there are 30
from one of those companies there are 30 million people enslaved in the world
million people enslaved in the world
million people enslaved in the world today which is more than at the height
today which is more than at the height
today which is more than at the height of the transatlantic slave trade there
of the transatlantic slave trade there
of the transatlantic slave trade there have been cases of human trafficking in
have been cases of human trafficking in
have been cases of human trafficking in all 50 states including right here in
all 50 states including right here in
all 50 states including right here in North Dakota you’ve probably seen
North Dakota you’ve probably seen
North Dakota you’ve probably seen recently that human trafficking has been
recently that human trafficking has been
recently that human trafficking has been in the news more it has gotten more
in the news more it has gotten more
in the news more it has gotten more coverage so if you think we don’t have a
coverage so if you think we don’t have a
coverage so if you think we don’t have a problem here you’re naive because we do
problem here you’re naive because we do
problem here you’re naive because we do I want to share a story with you about a
I want to share a story with you about a
I want to share a story with you about a missed opportunity
missed opportunity
missed opportunity here in our community there was a lady
here in our community there was a lady
here in our community there was a lady who has a little bit of training
who has a little bit of training
who has a little bit of training regarding human trafficking and she was
regarding human trafficking and she was
regarding human trafficking and she was out eating at a restaurant here in
out eating at a restaurant here in
out eating at a restaurant here in Bismarck and noticed in the quarter
Bismarck and noticed in the quarter
Bismarck and noticed in the quarter there was an older gentleman with a much
there was an older gentleman with a much
there was an older gentleman with a much younger girl this girl had dirty clothes
younger girl this girl had dirty clothes
younger girl this girl had dirty clothes they were ripped she had a look of
they were ripped she had a look of
they were ripped she had a look of emptiness and the lady could feel in her
emptiness and the lady could feel in her
emptiness and the lady could feel in her gut that something wasn’t right so as
gut that something wasn’t right so as
gut that something wasn’t right so as soon as the man got up to use the
soon as the man got up to use the
soon as the man got up to use the restroom
restroom
restroom she went up to the little girl and said
she went up to the little girl and said
she went up to the little girl and said are you okay and the little girl started
are you okay and the little girl started
are you okay and the little girl started shaking her head no the lady panicked
shaking her head no the lady panicked
shaking her head no the lady panicked she didn’t know what to do and ran out
she didn’t know what to do and ran out
she didn’t know what to do and ran out to her car
to her car
to her car when she got to her car she knew that
when she got to her car she knew that
when she got to her car she knew that wasn’t the right approach ran back into
wasn’t the right approach ran back into
wasn’t the right approach ran back into the restaurant and went to talk to the
the restaurant and went to talk to the
the restaurant and went to talk to the manager by the time she was able to talk
manager by the time she was able to talk
manager by the time she was able to talk to the manager that man had left and he
to the manager that man had left and he
to the manager that man had left and he had paid with cash now we don’t know if
had paid with cash now we don’t know if
had paid with cash now we don’t know if that was a human trafficking case or not
that was a human trafficking case or not
that was a human trafficking case or not but what we do know is it was a missed
but what we do know is it was a missed
but what we do know is it was a missed opportunity but we don’t understand the
opportunity but we don’t understand the
opportunity but we don’t understand the steps of what we need to do to help
steps of what we need to do to help
steps of what we need to do to help fight this crime we get stuck in those
fight this crime we get stuck in those
fight this crime we get stuck in those situations but even though this is a
situations but even though this is a
situations but even though this is a dark topic there is hope and there’s
dark topic there is hope and there’s
dark topic there is hope and there’s hope because of you and that hope comes
hope because of you and that hope comes
hope because of you and that hope comes with how do i how do we identify victims
with how do i how do we identify victims
with how do i how do we identify victims of human trafficking and just a few of
of human trafficking and just a few of
of human trafficking and just a few of the ways you can do this is looking for
the ways you can do this is looking for
the ways you can do this is looking for certain signs for instance does the
certain signs for instance does the
certain signs for instance does the person appear disconnected from family
person appear disconnected from family
person appear disconnected from family friends or community if it’s a child are
friends or community if it’s a child are
friends or community if it’s a child are they missing school quite a bit is a
they missing school quite a bit is a
they missing school quite a bit is a person fearful timid or submissive does
person fearful timid or submissive does
person fearful timid or submissive does a person show signs of having been
a person show signs of having been
a person show signs of having been denied medical care do they have random
denied medical care do they have random
denied medical care do they have random bruises at different stages of healing
bruises at different stages of healing
bruises at different stages of healing these are just a few indicators to look
these are just a few indicators to look
these are just a few indicators to look for now if you do suspect that a person
for now if you do suspect that a person
for now if you do suspect that a person is a victim of human trafficking and you
is a victim of human trafficking and you
is a victim of human trafficking and you have the opportunity to get them alone
have the opportunity to get them alone
have the opportunity to get them alone and talk to them here are a few
and talk to them here are a few
and talk to them here are a few questions you can ask them can you leave
questions you can ask them can you leave
questions you can ask them can you leave your job if you want to can you come and
your job if you want to can you come and
your job if you want to can you come and go as your as you
go as your as you
go as your as you please has your family been threatened
please has your family been threatened
please has your family been threatened do you have your passport or other
do you have your passport or other
do you have your passport or other identification documents now it’s
identification documents now it’s
identification documents now it’s important to remember that you can’t
important to remember that you can’t
important to remember that you can’t just go up to a random person that you
just go up to a random person that you
just go up to a random person that you suspect is a victim of human trafficking
suspect is a victim of human trafficking
suspect is a victim of human trafficking and ask these questions especially if
and ask these questions especially if
and ask these questions especially if they’re with their trafficker because
they’re with their trafficker because
they’re with their trafficker because that’s only going to hurt them in the
that’s only going to hurt them in the
that’s only going to hurt them in the long run in fact that evening they will
long run in fact that evening they will
long run in fact that evening they will probably be beaten and it will probably
probably be beaten and it will probably
probably be beaten and it will probably be a worse beaten than what they’re used
be a worse beaten than what they’re used
be a worse beaten than what they’re used to so if you can’t get them alone you
to so if you can’t get them alone you
to so if you can’t get them alone you need to identify what they’re wearing
need to identify what they’re wearing
need to identify what they’re wearing which direction they were headed how
which direction they were headed how
which direction they were headed how many people they were with them and get
many people they were with them and get
many people they were with them and get these details down and the next step of
these details down and the next step of
these details down and the next step of what you can do is you can call the
what you can do is you can call the
what you can do is you can call the human trafficking hotline at
the major difference is she survived to
the major difference is she survived to share her story now it’s up to us to
share her story now it’s up to us to
share her story now it’s up to us to help create a world that is ready to
help create a world that is ready to
help create a world that is ready to take action against his crime now it
take action against his crime now it
take action against his crime now it hasn’t been easy in my 10 years of this
hasn’t been easy in my 10 years of this
hasn’t been easy in my 10 years of this journey I’ve hit many roadblocks I’ve
journey I’ve hit many roadblocks I’ve
journey I’ve hit many roadblocks I’ve been told no this isn’t a problem but
been told no this isn’t a problem but
been told no this isn’t a problem but I’ve chosen to persevere to persevere
I’ve chosen to persevere to persevere
I’ve chosen to persevere to persevere for the Anas in the world no one can do
for the Anas in the world no one can do
for the Anas in the world no one can do everything but everyone can do something
everything but everyone can do something
everything but everyone can do something this is your opportunity to go against
this is your opportunity to go against
this is your opportunity to go against the grain and become a voice for the
the grain and become a voice for the
the grain and become a voice for the voiceless
voiceless
voiceless [Applause]
”
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