Houston is well known as a major hub for sex trafficking. Depending on the year, it is consistently ranked in the top 10 cities across the United States for Sex Trafficking.
Human trafficking presents itself in many ways, sometimes right in plain sight. There are greater than 100,000 online escort ads posted daily in the US, over 300,000 victims in Texas and over 79,000 of those victims who are children. The average age of a victim entering into sexual exploitation is 13. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually exploited before they turn 18. The online solicitation of minors rose 93% in 2020. Sex and human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry and it is impacting our greatest asset; our children. We need to be the voice for those not heard.
The Katy 20, a group that advocates for, educates, and brings awareness to the community about Human Trafficking, is partnering with Grace Fellowship Church to provide an in-depth discussion on human trafficking in the Houston and Katy area. The objective is to educate and make people aware of what is happening in our own back yards, right in plain sight.
The Katy 20 and Grace Fellowship Church have created a strong speakers panel to discuss trafficking.
Elijah Rising will be discussing Human Trafficking 101, to clearly identify what trafficking looks like in Houston and the Greater Houston area.
Joe Madison with Demand Disruption will be tackling the supply and demand in a hypersexualized society and how our porn addiction plays a part in contributing to sex trafficking.
Jai Daggett from Street Grace will be preparing the audience on how to arm our children against becoming victims of this epidemic that has already surpassed the arms trade and is quickly catching up to the drug trade.
Jennifer Hohman with Fight For Us and HAAT (Houston Area Against Trafficking) will be providing important data on what has already been done to conquer trafficking in Houston and what still needs to be done.
We are honored to also hear from Julia Walsh, a survivor who will share her story as a person who has been trafficked and rose above “the life.”
We will open and close in song with Angie Goeke who provides house concerts to raise money and awareness for human trafficking survivors.
After the speakers, we will offer breakout sessions for audience members to be able to speak directly to the not for profit groups who are joining forces in creating a formidable army to defeat this enemy that has caused so much heartbreak within our families and children.
Breakout sessions include: Children At Risk, United Against Human Trafficking, YWCA, HTRA (Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance), Crime Stoppers, Truckers against Trafficking, Elijah Rising, The Katy 20, The Houston 20, The Landing, Rescue Houston, Unbound, The Sanctuary Foster Care Services, Refuge for Women – Texas Gulf Coast, Freedom Church Alliance, Houston Area Women’s Center, Fight For Us, Street Grace, TxFNE Texas Forensic Center of Excellence, Rescue Us Mission and Demand Disruption.
Lunch will be provided.
The link to register for this event is whatisgrace.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1719/responses/new
Grace Fellowship Church. Main Sanctuary
2655 S. Mason Rd. Katy, TX 77450
Sunday, July 25th 1pm-4pm