by Kaye Van Nevel
The meeting was held on Thursday, Oct. 12, at United Methodist Church of Vista at 9 a.m. with fourteen members in attendance. After introductions, Kaye encouraged attendees to add One Safe Place, the North County all-inclusive shelter for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, to their contact lists. They publish a weekly online update.
Our Guest Speaker was Megan House, Policy Advisor to County Supervisor Jim Desmond. Megan covers the areas of Health and Human Services and Public Safety. She also has had experience volunteering for A21.com, headquartered in Australia, a global anti-Human Trafficking non-profit. Megan spoke about ongoing efforts by the County Supervisors in support of the County Office of Education to continue to pressure state legislators to introduce and pass a safety curriculum on human trafficking to California schools, appropriate to all age levels. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the media, specifically the internet, as the chief method of luring our youth to “the life in human trafficking.” Our children, their parents and teachers could and should be included in the programs.
Penny Harrington also offered important state legislative information. NOTE: THERE IS NO MEETING IN DECEMBER. In January, we will be holding our annual Human Trafficking Awareness Event & Walk at the
United Methodist Church in Vista on Saturday, January 27, 2024. The meeting schedule for North County Human Trafficking Collaborative is as follows:
● January 27, 2024 – Human Trafficking Awareness Walk, 10 a.m, from UMC Community Room.
● March 7, 2024 – Collaborative meeting 9 am at UMC Community Room
● May 2, 2024 – Collaborative Meeting. 9 am at UMC Community Room.
