MCOE held its 7th annual Human Trafficking Symposium

MCOE's 7th annual Human Trafficking Symposium occurred on Thursday, May 23, at Monterey Peninsula College to raise awareness and promote ways in which we can better educate students and families about the risks and illegal practice of human trafficking. MCOE partnered with Rising Worldwide, Set Free Monterey Bay, Monterey County Rape Crisis Center, Community Human Services, Coalition to End Human Trafficking, Monterey County Department of Social Services, and the YMCA to help educate participants. Additionally, the Rotary Clubs of Monterey County came together at the Human Trafficking Symposium to raise funds to provide food for attendees. Rotary Club members were present to serve attendees breakfast and lunch.

This year's Human Trafficking Symposium consisted of an informative keynote speaker, various breakout sessions, resource tables, and a survivor panel. Keynote speaker Jesse Leon is the author of “I’m Not Broken: A Memoir” and “No Estoy Roto: Una Memoria,” a Social Impact Consultant to Foundations, Investors, Government, and Non-Profits Certified Diversity Coach. All presenters shared facts, touching survival stories, and resources that informed leaders on the issues surrounding human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children in Monterey County. 

The annual Human Trafficking Symposium was initiated after members of the Monterey County Board of Education attended a workshop highlighting the prevalence of human trafficking. Monterey County was identified as a hotspot for this heinous crime, reflecting a broader, alarming trend in California. The county's high percentage of immigrants, numerous trucking and agricultural businesses, and gang-infused communities make our area particularly vulnerable to trafficking. Statistics reveal that the average age of a child trafficked for sex is between 12 and 15. Traffickers often exploit social media, gaming, and dating apps to find their victims. In 2020, the Polaris Human Trafficking Hotline reported a staggering 125% increase in recruitment through Facebook and a 95% increase through Instagram.

The Monterey County Office of Education’s Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program and Homeless Children and Youth Services Program serve our County's most vulnerable children and youth who have the potential to be targeted and exploited. These MCOE programs work closely with agencies and community-based organizations to help make school district personnel, as well as youth, aware of the realities of human trafficking and to support victims of this tragic crime.

Read more about the Human Trafficking Symposium in the Monterey Herald.