From the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center
Wakulla community members are invited to participate in an interactive discussion with local experts on how to disrupt human trafficking and create a strong and healthy community.
The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center is partnering with the Department of Health – Wakulla and Wakulla County Coalition for Youth for a Human Trafficking Community Conversation on Wednesday, June 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the TCC Wakulla Center, located at 2932 Crawfordville Highway.
STAC focuses on supporting human trafficking survivors and educating community members in Wakulla and six neighboring counties.
“Human trafficking isn’t an issue that only happens in large cities,” said STAC Executive Director Robin Hassler Thompson. “It’s a daily reality in our rural areas, too. Fewer services and support systems are available to victims, and traffickers may be familiar faces. These thoughtful conversations and shared experiences connect people and empower attendees to make a difference at the local level.”
Participants will also learn how to spot human trafficking in Wakulla County, discover new ways of thinking about this human rights issue and discuss how to implement positive changes. Special guests include Human Trafficking Subject Matter Expert Jamie Rosseland and STAC Community Services Advocate Graciela Marquina.
The Community Conversation will also include STAC’s portable mural “From Surviving to Thriving” from Nipa Thakkar Eason. The Tallahassee artist says the mural represents the resilience and strength of human trafficking survivors in the Big Bend and beyond. It will be displayed at the TCC Wakulla Center through the end of June.
This event is open to anyone who is interested in learning how they can make a difference to help prevent human trafficking in Wakulla County and surrounding areas. RSVP by Monday, June 10, at https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/events/community-conversation-wakulla-county/. There is no cost to attend the event, and lunch will be provided.
If you suspect trafficking or need help outside the area:
Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 1-888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org.
Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center was founded in 2015 to assist human trafficking survivors and empower communities with the tools to recognize, report, and prevent trafficking. As a member of the National Human Trafficking Hotline, STAC assists sex and labor trafficking survivors of all ages and educates the community. For more information, visit surviveandthriveadvocacy.org or call 850-597-2080.
