A recent study by Point Loma Nazarene and the University of San Diego Kroc School of Peace uncovered some horrifying statistics about the extent of this underground industry in San Diego County. Human trafficking is estimated to be an $810 million annual business that could have more than 8,000 victims a year. Out of 20 high schools surveyed, 100 percent reported incidents of recruitment, and 42 percent of first-time prostitution arrests are in fact sex-trafficking cases.

Shockingly, San Diego is one of the cities this kind of crime is most prevalent in. Today on Educate for Life, Kevin has as guests Michele Shumaker, who is with the Point Loma Nazarene University Center for Justice and Reconciliation, Jessica, who is a survivor of human trafficking, and Dr. Jerry Andrews, who is the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Diego.

Michele Shumaker’s organization runs programs called kNOw More. The curriculum was developed based on the pedagogical understanding that students will best respond to and retain learning experiences gained through:

• Creative Mediums
• Direct Interaction with the Material
• Peer Facilitation

The curriculum is primarily co-facilitated by a survivor facilitator and a teaching artist/joker who move the participants through drama, interaction with peer facilitators, dialogue, and informative visuals. This program creatively empowers the students to recognize human trafficking in their current context and to respond when they or their peers may be targeted for trafficking.

They also offer a “Beauty For Ashes” scholarship for survivors of human trafficking. Jessica is a recipient of that scholarship and is here to tell an amazing story of how she was forced into that lifestyle and was later able to leave it.

Dr. Jerry Andrews’ church participates in Churches Against Trafficking. It is an organically started networking group that has come to fruition from the strong desire to connect Christian ministry leaders wanting to engage in the Anti-Trafficking work in San Diego. They currently meet bi-monthly in Mission Valley at Mission Church of the Nazarene, 4750 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120.

Tune in for an information packed show and learn how you can get involved in your community to fight human trafficking. If you want to learn more about the Center For Justice and Reconciliation and their kNOw More Program, check out. https://www.pointloma.edu/centers-institutes/center-justice-reconciliation/know-more-human-trafficking-awareness-prevention. If you want to learn more about Churches Against Trafficking, head over to https://www.churchesagainsttrafficking.com/about.html.

This episode first aired on January 13, 2018.