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2016 YESS RECAP
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On February 20, 2016 at Long Beach City College Carson Campus, we held was our 2nd Annual Youth Exploitation and Safety Symposium which is becoming increasingly respected by those in the fight against human trafficking and supported locally by dozens of agencies and organizations as well as private groups and committed individuals.  We have been able to draw from the wealth of local activists, service agencies and government and non-profit sectors to make this an effort that reaches deep into the community long before and after the event day itself.  This year brought workshop presenters from Idaho and Colorado as well as Riverside and Orange County.  We were joined by members of organizations from Las Vegas which is struggling to have the kind of partnership of organizations that we have in Long Beach, making us stand as a hopeful example of true partnership in this fight for a very real right to life – outside of the “the life” and protected from exploitation. 

                           

There is no way to express sufficiently the thanks of all who worked on this event for over half a year for those partnering organizations and groups and individuals who made it all possible.  This was a genuine collaboration of the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force,  SAFE Long Beach GRIP- My Sister's Keeper, Kingdom Causes Long Beach, Crittenton Services, iEmpathize, Long Beach PTA Council, Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach City College. 

With over 300 adults and 122 youth participating, we were honored to be joined by Congressman Alan Lowenthal (47th District), State Assembly member Patrick O Donnell, (District 70), Police Chief Robert Luna, Council member Stacy Mungo (District 5) and Council member Rex Richardson (District 9). All spoke passionately about human trafficking and their efforts to stop it.

A large part of the success should be credited to our  60 adult and 50 LBCC student volunteers  who joined the effort.  All in all, about 550 men, women and young people were in attendance as well as the speakers and core staff.

Over 40 resource tables set up to provide information about services and action steps, books were sold and even coffee was made available.
                 
Food was purchased and provided free: 400 sandwiches and 320 pieces of pizza.  30 cases of water had been donated.  Linda Simpkins and a variety of other stores and friends donated over 20 pounds of fruit and over a hundred granola bars.

15 workshops on a range of topics and a keynote address by Opal Singleton.

 
Wonderful video made by Change Agent Productions via Long Beach GRIP Program. Check it out!
We provided food for everyone  - 400 sandwiches and 320 pieces of pizza!  30 cases of water were donated to hydrate our participants. Linda Simpkins and a variety of other stores and friends donated over 20 pounds of fruit and over a hundred granola bars.

15 workshops on a range of topics and a keynote address by Opal Singleton of Million Kids.

Panel discussion "Voices of Action" was moderated by Dr. Sandra Morgan of Vanguard University which highlighted survivor Oree Freeman, author and activist Susan Patterson, Clay Olsen of Fight the New Drug and Rohida Kahn with Homeland Security.  Questions and answers followed by a creative platform for giving away raffle prizes.  Teresa Gomez scored big with asking the audience to share their experiences for gift card prizes that had been donated by the 40 – 45 resource table agencies and organizations.

"Few of us can understand what it takes to put an event like that together.  You did a phenomenal job and have every right to be proud.  Thank you so much for including me." -  Opal Singleton 

Someone was so inspired by Opal’s talk that she contacted her after about working with schools to have more presentations done on campuses.

Micah did a fantastic job as MC and closing out with a passionate call to action. 

PJ moved many with his deeply personal spoken word piece which signaled the split of youth and adults into the next sessions.

Mary Anne and the St. Joseph’s crew were exemplary in their organization of the volunteers and kept everyone motivated and working.  We heard so many compliments this year on the help given by volunteers. 

We had representatives from the Poly Tech High School human trafficking club, San Pedro High human trafficking club and the West Torrance High Stylites club which raises money to fight human trafficking. 

The youth track was designed more as a conversation with PJ and Oree Freeman guiding and answering questions of the attendees.  Through the very powerful and impactful media and modules of iEmpathize, young people were inspired to write their personal action proposals which were posted on an action board.

Pamela Sepulveda and her Casa Youth Shelter young people were also a very active presence throughout the event, encouraging young and old to have their pictures taken and posted in support of the event. 

These are just some of the many people, stories and thanks that should be noted, but we know there are many more wonderful things that came out of this event. Thank you to all who attended! 
Interested in donating to the task force? We are a collaborative and volunteer based group, so most of this work is done without funds! We could sure use some help to make this an even better event for our community. 

Please make out a check to Kingdom Causes Long Beach, noting YESS 2016 on the check.  Checks can be mailed to: Kingdom Causes Long Beach, P.O. Box 91253, Long Beach 90809. or please click here. 

Mission: The LBHTTF is a multidisciplinary, survivor-centered, collaborative community effort by law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations to combat human trafficking by identifying, rescuing and empowering survivors and assisting in the prosecution of traffickers.
 
Vision: LBHTTF strives to be a community-based entity that provides unparalleled resources/services to the victims of human trafficking through collaboration and cooperation of all the partners.
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Y.E.S.S. 2016
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Copyright © 2016 Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force, All rights reserved.


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