Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer will present Wichita State University’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT) with a proclamation declaring January Human Trafficking Awareness Month, at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at WSU’s CAC Theater.
The event, “Juvenile in Justice Policymaker Panel: How Kansas Human Trafficking Legislation Has Changed the Face of Juveniles in Justice,” is the first in a series of events the week of Jan. 27th to raise community awareness of the issues of human trafficking locally and statewide.
The panel will feature several important figures in Kansas policy, including the executive director of CCHT, Karen Countryman-Roswurm, District Attorney Marc Bennett, Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Judge Timothy Henderson.
The important discussion will focus on ending the exploitation cycle of juveniles, a group that constitutes nearly half of those subjugated to domestic sex trafficking, through changes in legislation.
Other events that week include:
“Brown Bag Discussion: Race, Culture and Human Trafficking,” which explores how race and culture have an impact on human trafficking. 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, WSU 208 Hubbard Hall.
Volunteer Fair and a screening of the documentary, “What I Have Been Through is Not Who I Am,” a film about a family’s journey through despair, recovery and prosperity. Visitors can mingle with representatives from different organizations to learn ways of getting involved. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, Newman University’s Conference Center in Dugan Library.
Multidisciplinary Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking. Join Kristy Childs, director of Veronica’s Voice, Risa Rehmert from the Wichita Children’s Home Street Outreach Program, Karen Wilson-Diehl and Ruthann Farley from Wesley SANE/SART, Lt. Jeffery Weible, commander of the Exploited and Missing Child Unit and Brian Dempsey, from the Department for Children and Families Prevention and Protection Services, as they discuss how local organizations are serving human trafficking victims. 5:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31, WSU CAC Theater.
In connection with Human Trafficking Awareness Month, CCHT is holding a donation drive for the Wichita Children’s Home Street Outreach Program, Wesley SANE/SART and the Exploited and Missing Child Unit/Child Advocacy Center. The week’s events are in partnership with WSU’s Ulrich Museum of Art, WSU Multicultural Affairs and student government organizations from Wichita State, Newman and Friend’s University.
The CCHT was founded last year by Countryman-Roswurm to equip multidisciplinary students, professionals and organizations with the knowledge, skills and resources to prevent human trafficking, identify, intervene and evaluate cases of human trafficking and help human trafficking survivors.
For more information, contact the CCHT at 316-978-3456 or online at wichita.edu/humantrafficking.