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31 WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
Knowledge without action is of little help to those who are suffering in your city. While not everyone will take up the issue of sex trafficking in America as his or her “cause”, we know that many will want (and need) to respond in practical ways. That’s why we’ve assembled a list of possible action steps for individuals, groups, or entire churches/organizations.
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PROMOTE AWARENESS & AID PREVENTION
1. Host a screening of IN PLAIN SIGHT at your home, school, workplace, or church, and use the 31 Day Group Study Guide.
2. Educate yourself, friends, and family about sex trafficking in the United States by visiting the Polaris Project website for information on how it’s playing out in our nation – http://bit.ly/USsextrafficking.
3. Host an information session and invite a qualified speaker.
4. Post news stories about sex trafficking on social media.
5. Hang posters with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (888-3737-888) at motels, restaurants, and restroom stalls. Download the poster at http://bit.ly/sextraffickinghotline.
6. Form a neighborhood watch group or educate your homeowners association on what indicators neighbors should be looking for and how to report.
7. Speak out to local retailers when they offer products or advertising that glamorize pimping or sexualize children.
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END DEMAND
8. Affirm upstanding men in your community who exemplify moral conduct and honor women and children with their words and actions.
9. Discontinue using porn. If you view pornography, there is a high probability that you will eventually seek to purchase sex. We would encourage you take steps to develop healthy relationships and seek help to recover from this habit / addiction. More info: http://www.xxxchurch.com
10. Stop purchasing sex. If you are buying sex, please know that women or children don’t enjoy being with you. They fake the experience, because they’ll be beaten if they don’t bring back enough money or accumulate enough money to support their drug addiction. Please consider getting support and developing healthy relationships through programs like Celebrate Recovery or Sexaholics Anonymous. To find a group in your area, visit http://www.celebraterecovery.com or http://www.sa.org.
11. Mentor young men. Introduce the “Empowering Young Men to End Sexual Exploitation” curriculum for high school boys at your local schools in order to educate young men about the harms of prostitution and to enlist them as allies in the movement to end violence against women and girls. More info: http://caase.org/prevention
12. Attend local zoning hearings, and speak up when someone wants to bring questionable businesses into your community.
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ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE
13. Learn what laws exist at the city, county, and state levels, and start to understand any deficiencies. Make your voice known to lawmakers, and vote accordingly.
14. Write or call your local judges and county officials to encourage them to educate themselves on the issues of sex trafficking, and send them a copy of the IN PLAIN SIGHT documentary.
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MAKE A PERSONAL IMPACT
15. Recognize the signs that someone may be a victim of sex trafficking – http://bit.ly/signsoftrafficking.
16. Report suspicious activity to 911 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
17. Invest in the lives of your children and teaching them that all human beings are to be loved and valued.
18. Treat women as equal members of society, and avoid turning women into objects (objectifying) through your thoughts, words, and actions.
19. Discontinue using the term “prostitute” or “ho” – understanding that a woman is being prostituted or is prostituting herself. Her identity and value are so much greater than being sold for sex.
20. Discontinue using the term “pimp” or “pimpin” in a positive light – understanding that there is nothing glamorous or honorable about coercing, manipulating, or forcing a woman to have sex for money.
21. Give generously to one of the six non-profits featured in the film that run aftercare homes and fight against sex trafficking – www.inplainsightfilm.com/donate
22. Dedicate your gift giving to include products made by survivors or benefitting organizations that are fighting against sex trafficking in the United States. Examples include:
www.isanctuary.org
www.thistlefarms.org
http://store.nightlightinternational.com
23. Become a foster parent, and provide a loving foster home for a child.
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HELP YOUR CHURCH MAKE AN IMPACT
24. Host a prayer event using an existing prayer guide specifically focused on trafficking. Resources: http://bit.ly/guidetoprayer
25. Host a fundraiser or benefit concert for a non-profit that runs an aftercare home and fights against sex trafficking. Recommended organizations: http://www.hopeforjustice.org
26. Support educational and vocational programs in your area for at-risk girls.
27. Approach your local juvenile justice system about presenting “Traps of a Trafficker” to female minors on a regular basis. More Info: http://bit.ly/trapsofatrafficker
28. Start a Celebrate Recovery or support group for men and women struggling with porn or sex addiction. More info: http://www.celebraterecovery.com
29. Compile a list of counselors in your area that specialize helping men and women with porn or sex addiction, and have it ready to refer to people as needed.
30. Host a “Porn and Pancakes” men’s event – a morning filled with straight talk about porn and the issues surrounding porn, from the people who get it. More Info: http://bit.ly/pornandpancakes
31. Prayerfully consider opening a licensed aftercare home for survivors of sex trafficking.
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