Student-run group prepares grant for trafficking prevention toolkits

Jan. 18—LEWISBURG — A pair of Lewisburg Area High School seniors submitted a grant this week seeking funding for human trafficking prevention toolkits.

In partnership, with Transitions of PA and CommUnity Zone in Lewisburg, Erin DeSantis and Mariah Drexler, the 18-year-old project leaders for Teach Against Trafficking, wrote the grant application to Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

“As I learned more, I became very passionate about telling people and making sure we combat common myths about human trafficking,” Desantis said. “It’s portrayed in media a certain way that’s not accurate to the reality that a lot of people experience. The myth is it doesn’t happen here. Unfortunately, it does. It can look like a lot of things and it can happen in families too.”

“As a young person, I can use my voice and speak about issues that scare me,” Drexler said. “I can have an impact. I can advocate for people who are victims of this issue. As Erin said, as I learned more about the issue, I became more passionate about it.”

The $1,500 grant will fund 50 educational toolkits to be distributed at gas stations, truck stops, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses on Routes 11 and 15 in Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties. The goal is to teach business owners and employees how to recognize human trafficking and respond to it. It will also include stickers about the organization and information that can be put in restrooms that allow victims to learn the trafficking hotline and hand signals to communicate with staff.

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, includes both forced labor and sex trafficking. There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million adults and children subjected to human trafficking around the world, including in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Drexler and DeSantis said Teach Against Trafficking won’t end the illegal activity.

“We’re not going to end human trafficking with our group, but we are fighting to advocate for more awareness,” Drexler said. “A victim could be saved or recognized. The public will know it happens here.

“We want our area to be well-informed citizens about this topic. They can play a role in ending it. Two high school students won’t end human trafficking, but we have made an impact with people learning about the issue and understanding it.”

Teach Against Trafficking was founded in 2019 by Catie Jacobson and Suzie Vo, Class of 2022. While not affiliated with the school district as a club, Jacobson and Vo asked DeSantis and Drexler to continue the community group when they graduated.

Teach Against Trafficking needed a nonprofit like Transitions and CommUnity Zone to apply for the grant and to be the recipient of the funding. Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving “is committed to supporting causes that improve communities and the quality of life for the commonwealth residents,” according to its website.

“Transitions of PA has had several productive meetings with Erin and Mariah to collaborate and discuss strategies for raising awareness about the critical issue of human trafficking,” Transitions Outreach Coordinator Tracy Strosser said. “During one meeting, we focused on their human trafficking toolkit, exchanging ideas and resources to support its development. Erin and Mariah have also actively participated in our human trafficking events to learn and engage with the community.”

Cynthia Peltier, director of the CommUnity Zone, said she is impressed with DeSantis and Drexler for their willingness and fortitude to step forward and do something about a pressing need.

“Human trafficking is happening in alarming frequency throughout many communities across the country and these students want to do their part about ringing the bell of alarm and teaching folks how to identify the signs of when this might be happening and what to do,” Peltier said. “They have already been out there doing presentations. I have been working with Erin this year and continue to be impressed every day.”

DeSantis started as a social media assistant but grew into a “full-fledged partner” for the CommUnity Zone, Peltier said.

“She is involved in all aspects of what is happening at the CommUnity Zone and this year has been a doozy with so many collaborations and initiatives underway,” she said. “When Erin asked if I would be interested in her group Teach Against Trafficking, I was immediately impressed by all the work she and Mariah had already done including working with Transitions and Evangelical hospital.”

The CommUnity Zone is an incubator for folks who might be interested in doing a project or starting their own 501(C)3 some day, Peltier said.

“We offer our expertise, our space and our social networks to assist them in their endeavor to get involved,” she said. “Examples of that this year are Slamfest Unity, the Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration, and the play ‘My Soul Looked Back and Wondered.'”

The grant will be awarded in March.

Both DeSantis and Drexler have experience with grant writing, DeSantis as the media and technology coordinator for the CommUnity Zone and Drexler as a member of the Model UN Club and Girls Need Space Club at Lewisburg Area.

Teach Against Trafficking will also be visiting students in Linntown Intermediate School to discuss consent and safety in healthy relationships. The students will be taught they have bodily autonomy with lessons appropriate for fourth and fifth grade students.

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel