Grateful Girls, a local non-profit organization that serves those escaping the sex-trafficking industry will host its first Stay Out The Game 101 Youth Summit Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Summit. The month of January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The youth summit is collaboration between UMOS, Pathfinders and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee. Stay Out the Game 101, a FREE event will take place this Saturday, January 14 from 9 am – 1 pm at Fitzimmons Boys and Girls Club located at 3400 W North Ave. Local youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years old will attend workshops throughout the day and learn how human trafficking occurs in the Milwaukee area and how to stay safe and guarded against it. There will be words of wisdom from a survivor of human trafficking.

The summit is the brain child of Chandra Cooper, Founder of Grateful Girls, but she knew that she couldn’t do it alone and needed the support of community partners. “This free event is very important to the community as there are limited sex-trafficking awareness and prevention opportunities to redirect our youth to keep them out of the game, said Cooper.” “I knew I had to do something about that and there was no better time than now during Human Trafficking Prevention Month.”

The event will kick-off with introductions from Senator Lena Taylor, Wisconsin 4^th District and Dana World-Patterson, Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee. Some of the members of the community participating in the event include a Milwaukee Police Department Detective, physicians that work directly with youth that have been trafficked, UMOS, Sojourner Family Peace Center and Fresh Start Learning.

About Grateful Girls

Grateful Girls is a non-profit organization that is geared to inspire, motivate and encourage girls, teens and women of all ages and serve those that have escaped the sex-trafficking industry. We understand that one of the most pivotal moments in a woman’s life is between the age of 12-25. The decisions they make during this time have a lasting effect on the rest of their lives.

One of our goals is to provide young ladies within this age group the support they need during this crucial time of development in making healthy decisions and investing in healthy relationships. We believe that the cultivation of young women will make a positive impact on families, neighborhoods and the community.

We have a community resource center that is open five days a week and provide walk-ins with essential toiletries, clothing, and food. In addition, we have a growing curriculum built to empower these young women through group therapy, mentoring, social services, expressive and visual art, poetry, writing, and gardening to encourage healthy outlets and support emotional regulation.