JCAST Chicago July Blog
Join JCAST on 7/27 and Take Action!
In the last month, local news stations prominently featured stories of teens lured into sex trafficking. For example, in Texas, local authorities identified a confined Chicago teen advertised on Backpage. And, here in Glenview, police broke up a brothel.
Yet, many in our community don't realize the danger of sex trafficking. They would be surprised to learn human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry grossing $1.34 trillion and selling as many as 100,000 children across the world. They believe prostitution is not harmful because it occurs between two "willing" adults. Yet the average age of a sex trafficking victim is 12 to 14 and most are runaway or locked out girls.
The Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking Chicago (JCAST) Chicago invites you and your friends to a special event on the evening of July 27
th
to learn more and be a part of a solution.
We welcome everyone who is interested in this issue. Please circulate this event in your network and invite others who are interested.
To RSVP and for more information contact JCAST Engagement and Development Director, Gayle at [email protected].
See you there!
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Updates and Information
Green Thumbs Wanted!
JCAST Chicago is partnering with Selah Freedom to build and maintain vegetable and flower gardens at the Selah Freedom house serving sex trafficking survivors on the North Shore.
You Can Help by Donating Supplies and volunteering to work with survivors to maintain the garden. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Donna at [email protected]
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Upcoming Events*
JCAST Chicago Events
Sex trafficking in our community - learn more and be part of the solution
When: Thursday, July 27 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Where: Northbrook, RSVP for address
About this event:
Perhaps you saw the story on Chicago's NBC affiliate about the Texas Sex Trafficking ring where the police found a 14-year-old Chicago teen. Or maybe it was the report of the Glenview brothel a few days before. Meet and learn more about this critical topic and how you can get involved and be a part of the solution.
Selah Freedom Events
Selah Freedom Core Values Training
When: Thursday, July 20 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Where: This training will be hosted via Zoom Video Chat and a link will be provided.
About This Event:
Core Value Training is important for all volunteers to attend in order to create a strong united support for the survivors we serve at Selah Freedom. This training will be presented by Laurie Swink, VP of Culture and Co-Founder of Selah Freedom. It is a one time mandatory training for all volunteers.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children 101
When: Saturday, August 5 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut Street (at Michigan Avenue) Chicago
About this event:
This multi-media educational training offered by Selah Freedom is open to the community. Receive in-depth training around the issue of sex trafficking and learn more about how Selah Freedom serves this population. *CEU credits are not available for this training. All Selah Freedom volunteers are required to participate in CSEC 101.
Other Events of Interest:
7th Annual Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Conference
When: Thursday - Friday, August 3-4
Where: IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
565 West Adams Street
About the event:
The Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force hosts a human trafficking conference to inform, educate and strengthen anti-trafficking efforts across the city of Chicago, in Cook County and throughout the surrounding areas. The conference generally features two full days of presentations on the most up-to-date and innovative work from local and national experts on human trafficking.
For more information visit,
http://www.cookcountytaskforce.org/annual-conference.html
*Please note that not all of these events are sponsored or hosted by JCAST Chicago but are listed here as a convenience to those who might be interested.
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TAKE ACTION
Toiletry and Gift Card Donations Needed Year-round to support young women trafficked in Chicago that are helped by the Dreamcatcher Foundation.
Donation Drop off locations:
Encore & More: 1107 Central Ave, Wilmette
Hadassah Thrift Shop, 405 Lake Cook Rd, Deerfield
Hadassah Office, 60 Revere Dr #800, Northbrook
Temple Sholom, 3480 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
If you or your organization would consider organizing a collection drive or a packing program, please contact Donna Fishman at [email protected].
Street Dignity Bag Packing List:
These items are needed in small, travel sizes. One of each item will be packed in a gallon ziploc "street survival" bag. These items may be packed in ziploc or other small tote bag, or donated in bulk. ( You might even Ask your local businesses if they have items to donate and share this list.)
toothbrush and toothpaste (*ask your dentist!)
hand sanitizer
hand lotion
granola or power bar
pack of tissues
Gallon Ziploc Bags
$5 McDonald's Gift Cards
Prevention Bag Packing List:
The Dreamcatcher Foundation regularly visits girls living in at-risk communities, including teen-aged single mothers. These items may be packed in a tote bag and donated in bulk.
shampoo
liquid body soap
dove soap
deodorant
lotion or moisturizer
perfumed body spray
Gift or tote bags
*Bulk items, hotel toiletries and gift cards to McDonalds ($5), Target, Dollar Store, CVS or Walgreens (any amount) are always welcome*
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JCAST Chicago on the Move
JCAST Chicago has been busy giving presentations across the Chicago Metropolitan area, for Jewish and secular groups. Please help JCAST secure speaking "gigs" at Jewish organizations. Contact Donna at [email protected]
with names and contacts at synagogues, chavurot, and other Jewish organizations.
Upcoming JCAST Chicago Presentations
Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County
Northbrook Public Library
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Sex Trafficking in the News:
More and more our news feeds are filled with stories about sex trafficking - some positive and some negative. Here are a few article links that may be of interest.
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Support JCAST Chicago
Click here to donate to JCAST to help subsidize the cost of Dignity Bags or our other projects. Thank you for your support.
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Steering Committee
JCAST Chicago is governed by a Steering Committee of dedicated individuals. If you would be interested in serving on the steering committee or one of our Action Teams, email
[email protected].
Steering Committee Co-Chairs:
Donna Fishman, NCJW
Susan Rifas, JUF, JWF
Steering Committee:
Ronna Ash, Hadassah
Susan Block, Hadassah
Cathy Carmody, NCJW
Donna Gutman, NCJW, ICJW,
CEASE Network
Sara Kalish, Chicago Parks Foundation
Betsy Lazerow, JCFS,
JCARES
Carole Levine, NCJW
Rae Luskin, NCJW
Sherry Petlin, NCJW
Bonnie Ribet, NCJW
Heather Ross, NCJW, Hakafa
Mara Ruff, JUF
Stacy Saef, NCJW
Cheryl Susman, NCJW CNS
Joan Zahnle, NCJW CNS
Deborah Zionts, NCJW,
SHALVA
Gayle Nelson, Engagement and Development Director
Eliana Fleischer, Intern
Haley Braun, Newsletter Copy Editor
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Featured Organization
John Marshall Law School's Pro Bono Program & Clinic
John Marshall Law School's Pro Bono Clinic made the news recently for helping a survivor of human trafficking vacate three prostitution-related convictions. The survivor, who was forced into prostitution by two boyfriends, had been arrested multiple times over a decade for prostitution and related offenses. The John Marshall Law School's Pro Bono Clinic allowed this survivor to start a new life free from the trafficking-related convictions.
The Pro Bono Program & Clinic is the largest of John Marshall's nine Community Legal Clinics, offering law students the opportunity to develop real legal experience in a myriad of legal matters, while embracing the school's mission of providing access to justice. John Marshall encourages its students to participate in pro bono work to foster commitment to community service, both during law school and after graduation. By cultivating a culture of service, John Marshall's Pro Bono Program & Clinic not only provides a valuable resource for clients in need, it also prepares students for a life of purposeful citizenship.
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Here are some things you can do today to take action against Sex Trafficking:
* Sign up for Action Alerts
Visit our website to keep up-todate with the issues most relevant to you.
Sign up for JCAST Chicago, NCJW or Sex Trafficking Action Alerts today!
* Send a Letter
Send a letter calling on local leaders and law enforcement to enforce laws and end demand.
Visit our website
to print out constructions and a sample letter.
* Hang a Flyer
Victims may visit bus stations, grocery stores, currency exchanges, and gas stations. Hang a poster featuring the hotline for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. and help them escape to safety!
Visit our website
for more information and to print flyers.
* Write a Letter to the Editor
Write a letter to the editor when you learn publicly about arrests of perpetrators of sex trafficking. Commending the media, the police departments involved, and local authorities keeps sex trafficking in the news and encourages more enforcement.
Visit our website for a sample letter to the editor.
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Books:
Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery by Siddharth Kara
Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World where Girls are not for Sale by Rachel Lloyd
The Johns: Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy it by Victor Malarek
The Natashas: Inside the Global Sex Trade by Victor Malarek
Women Hold up Half the Sky: Turing Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Sheryl Wudunn and Nicholas Kristof
Podcasts:
IN PLAIN SIGHT Podcast
to End Human Trafficking Each week, the IN PLAIN SIGHT Podcast features a an inspiring speaker who may educate you in your work to end human trafficking around the globe.
Click here
for a link to the website.
Websites:
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