Local Soroptimists Register for Shared Hope 'Lacy' Training

Do you know Lacy?

“Hi, my name is Lacy. I’m about 13 years old. I am rented every night to different men. I live in your community. Will you please help me?”

Shared Hope International (SHI) exists to rescue and restore girls just like Lacy and provide opportunity for new life. Prostituting of children is revolting. SHI works to assist activists and legislators to create laws to prevent the offense and punish the offender, so no more girls will have their innocence stolen like Lacy's was. SHI offers training to help advocates understand and empower their role as community supporters and campaigners.

In 2006, Shared Hope International received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to perform field research on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST)–the sex trafficking of American children. The National Report is the culmination of ten field assessments conducted in targeted locations in the United States, providing a comprehensive understanding of child sex trafficking across America. This unprecedented report reveals the startling reality that American children are being recruited from our neighborhoods and sold on our streets!

Shared Hope’s national report found that too often, the trafficked children are treated more like criminals than victims.

In January 2011, the three Tri Cities Soroptimists clubs founded the TC Soroptimist Coalition DMST Task Force and are poised to remove the blinders to sex trafficking and to be recognized as a conduit for information, education and resources to STOP DMST in the Tri Cities region and to help survivors reclaim their lives and restore their dreams.

Two Trafficking Task Force activists and members of the local DMST Task Force have registered for the Lacy training scheduled for June 3, 2011. "Lacy” represents all survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking. In this training, Lacy’s story is the guide to: who Lacy is, where she can be found, what type of help Lacy needs, what resources are in your area to help her and what is still needed. Also, the training provides what your role is in Lacy’s life.