By Nathanael Herbert, Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE — “Do any of you think there is human trafficking in this city?”
This is the question Dana Pfeiffer, director of Grounds for Grace, began her presentation with on the topic of human trafficking.
Pfeiffer presented ways in which students could help end human sex trafficking in this area.
Interstate 55 is the main hub in the Midwest for human trafficking. Sexual exploitation happens in homes among family members.
“Mind blow,” Nick Poole said Nick Poole, 20, who is studying physical education. “I knew it existed, but not so close to home. It shocked me.”
Four of 40 attendees raised their hand in response to Pfeiller’s question.
“I can’t believe that this happens in our area,” said Elisa, a student pursing early childhood education. “People need to pay more attention. If they see something, they need to report it. Raise awareness. Sign a petition or a bill.”
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.
Nearly 2.5 million people are forced into labor at a given time.
Ranked third in global crime, human trafficking makes an annual profit of more than $31.6 billion.
Sex trafficking affects both boys and girls and can happen in the home.
“It’s a scary situation,” said Bailee, a Lincoln Land freshman. “People should be more educated about it (human trafficking.)”
Grounds of Grace, a Springfield-based organization, helps raise awareness of this form of slavery.
It works with victims, pimps and families who are involved in human trafficking.
The Jacksonville Activities Board (JAB) sponsored the presentation, Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking, on April 30 at Lincoln Land’s Jacksonville campus.
The event began at 5:30 p.m. Organizations — including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Grounds for Grace, Freedom Then Freedom Now and JAB — came to offer volunteer opportunities to those attending.
As the presentation began, students were looking around, texting and slouching in their chairs. Within five minutes, all distractions were placed to the side. Eyes fell toward the ground in pale disgust.
Eventually, all attention was focused on Pfeiffer. She told the brutal life of one of the survivors.
Pfeiffer told numerous stories of men, women and children ranging from ages 2 to 68 who had been trafficked or forced into sexual abuse.
“I was looking around,” said Jan Terry, executive director of Lincoln Land in Jacksonville and Beardstown. “I expected some of the students to shut down.”
From 6:00 until 7:15 p.m., Pfeiffer told vivid, graphic stories of survivors.
“It might have been new information,” Terry said. “It was more graphic than what we talk about in class. I was not shocked about the story.
“I kept hoping somebody, the schools, police would intervene. I was surprised she (the victim in the story) didn’t move into considering suicide.”
Staff, faculty and students from a sociology class and an education class attended the event.
Poole said that his education class unanimously voted to attend.
He said that he wants to take the knowledge he learned into his future.
“I’m majoring in education,” he said. “I can help stop this.”
Pfeiffer said that volunteers of Grounds for Grace have learned how to identify victims through certain tendencies or physical ailments they may have.
In the different stories, victims weren’t always clean, had bruises, marks and scars. Victims didn’t respond to the opposite sex in normal behaviors and had other physical and psychological issues.
Grounds for Grace has teamed with hospitals in Springfield and Jacksonville to pay closer attention to patients’ records that may allude to sexual abuse.
“You never know where you are going to be, what you’re going to see in that moment,” said Pfeiffer at the end of her presentation.
Students were challenged not to let this presentation fade away in their minds. But to act on what they’ve learned.
They were reminded that they are Lincoln Land students, and that they can make a difference.
“In that room, seeds would’ve been planted, but it is determined with their actions,” said Terry.
If you know anyone who is being trafficked or sexual abused, call the police. You can be the one to save a life.
Nathanael Herbert can be reached at [email protected] or (217) 786-2311.
