The American Bar Association highlighted the crime of sex trafficking in a recent article and event in California. Because of its Midwest location, connection to multiple highway systems, and large airport, Illinois has the seventh highest amount of sex trafficking activity compared to other states.

On Friday, September 20th, the Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) Chicago is partnering with DePaul University, College of Law’s Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center, and attorney Helen Tarokic of Helen Tarokic Law PLLC of Wilmington, NC to offer a unique program exploring the connection between immigration, trafficking, and domestic violence. We are excited to welcome speakers from Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, Department of Labor, Lifespan, and Catholic Multicultural Center (Madison, WI). Half and full day options with lunch offered. CLE’s will be provided (pending approval). Early bird pricing through August 31st!

Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-sanctuary-from-violence-tvisas-trafficking-trauma-registration-66207336927 for more information and to register.

Last month, the Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) Chicago hosted Beyond R. Kelly: Surviving the Predators in our Community in partnership with the Dreamcatcher Foundation, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), and others.This interfaith, intercommunity dialogue explored what makes young women and often their parents susceptible to individuals like R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein and empowered survivors to tell their stories. The youngest speaker was a high school student who thought she was getting her chance to act. Instead her rape was videotaped and later shared with fellow students and many others. The video led to bullying and forced her to relive this crime over and over again. Thankfully, she was connected to the Dreamcatcher Foundation, a survivor led organization, who is providing her with support and services.

Building awareness and empowering survivors is an important part of JCAST Chicago’s mission. Through partnerships, we work to end all forms of sexual violence throughout Chicago. Our activities are particularly important as R. Kelly’s trial for a fraction of the 48 young women he has violated over the last twenty years begins.

Donate to JCAST Chicago today and consider volunteering to support survivors, educating men on how their purchase of sex leads to sex trafficking, and raising resources for critical direct services and housing for survivors. Visit our website or send your generous donation to JCAST Chicago, C/O NCJWCNS, 5 Revere Dr. Ste. 200 Northbrook, IL 60062.

As we celebrate Passover, we are grateful for all of the everyday people, like YOU, taking a stand against sex trafficking. The Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) Chicago welcomes everyone to the table working together to combat this form of modern day slavery. Throughout the year, we are partnering with many other organizations to plan a number of upcoming events throughout the Chicagoland area. We hope you will join us.

Saturday, 5/4 10AM -12PM JCAST is partnering with Links, a national African American women’s service organization, to plan an author event with Pamela Samuels Young. Ms. Young was a corporate lawyer before becoming a full-time author. One of her suspense book’s plot is on sex trafficking. We are thrilled to elevate our work to an expanded audience with this partnership. Location: Evanston High School
Friday, 5/10 6:30-8:30PM Beyond R. Kelly: Surviving the Predators in our Community, Interfaith, inter community dialogue in partnership with Dreamcatcher Foundation, a survivor led service organization, and Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) to dialogue about what makes our society susceptible to individuals like R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein. Location: Trinity Church, 400 W. 95th St., Chicago
Many more events are planned including a conversation with Hadassah! And this fall we are planning to replicate our innovative parenting programs in the western suburbs in partnership with Etz Chaim and Beth Shalom. We are excited to replicate our successful discussion exploring the connection between immigration, domestic violence, and sex trafficking in partnership with DePaul University College of Law on September 20th. JCAST is also chairing the committee planning the legal track of the Safer Lake County’s human trafficking conference.

In celebration of Passover consider getting involved! Email Gayle and get the details. Looking forward to a stronger JCAST Chicago thanks to your efforts!

While many see February as a time for romance, it is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. At first, it may seem a paradoxical connection, but consider:

• 1 in 3 girls is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner;
• One in ten high school students in the U.S. has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend;
• And, only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship told anyone about it;
• In a recent survey of 604 children aged 11 to 18, Between Friends, a domestic violence prevention agency in Chicago, found that less than 25% of respondents reported that their parents or guardians know “a lot” or “everything” about their relationships with others (whether friendships or romantic partners);
• Although 82% of parents are confident they could recognize the problem, 58% of them could not correctly identify all the warning signs.

Sex trafficking of minors is a traumatic, severe form of child abuse. Teens, who experience sexual abuse as children are more susceptible to experiencing sex trafficking as older teens and adults. It is the commercial aspect of sex trafficking that separates the crime of trafficking from sexual assault and dating violence. When the pattern of abuse begins in adolescence—violent behavior often begins between 12 and 18, the severity of adult intimate partner violence is often greater. Yet, many parents do not know sex trafficking occurs in their community and are unable to identify the warning signs that their teen might be in a violent relationship.

To keep children from harmful relationships and sex trafficking, we need to do a better job of educating them and their parents about healthy relationships, how to identify the warning signs of abuse, and what to do about it if they believe a child is being abused. JCAST Chicago partnered with Jewish Child and Family Services parent educator, Tracey Kite to create a new parenting program. Its goal is to help parents explain consent and healthy relationships and build a better understanding of what youth see online and in their social circles.

Here are tips, some from the children’s own survey responses, for communicating with your youth about relationships:

• Help them understand their relationship related decision-making and how to consider the possible consequences of their choices. Don’t blame them or be judgmental about choices they make.
• Pick a discussion time that works for them not just you; pick a positive time or someplace neutral or fun, and don’t lecture. The youth said they wanted adults not to tell them they’re too young to talk about it.
• Be willing to listen and talk about your own experiences, values, and expectations. This means having thought through your own values to know what you approve of and disapprove of, and why.
• Discuss with them the emotional aspects of dating, the relationships they see in media, and whether they are realistic or idealized ones.

Learn how to have the conversations. Review definitions of consent and other video or video to educate yourself and your teen.
If you would like to learn more about JCAST’s two-session program for parents, Let’s Talk About Girls (Boys): Sexuality and Consent in the Internet and #MeToo Age and or host one or both of the programs at your Synagogue, library, or other location, please contact Gayle. And don’t forget to wear orange with your children and peers to create an opportunity for a conversation about healthy dating relationships.

On October 4, 2018, the Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) Chicago co-sponsored a highly informative, well-attended interfaith program at the First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield along with the Highland Park/Highwood Legal Clinic, National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore (NCJW), the National Immigrant Justice Center, and the North Shore (IL) Chapter of The Links. Presenters from the Legal Clinic and National Immigrant Justice Center joined with Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney, Fred Day and JCAST staff Gayle Nelson to educate attendees on the intersection of immigration, domestic violence and sex trafficking including risk factors, warning signs, barriers to seeking help as well as legal and social services support available to victims, including the availability of government-issued T-Visas and U-Visas.

Although, current events helped shape the discussion, this is not a new concern. NCJW has a history of combating sex trafficking. Many NCJW women volunteered at Ellis Island in the early 20th Century to redirect new immigrants from criminals and traffickers interested in connecting them with brothels to new opportunities in America.

Sex trafficking and domestic violence are overlapping criminal activities since both involve physical, emotional and mental abuse – the main difference is the financial gain for the traffickers or pimps. JCAST often references the family relationships that can exist between trafficker and victim. As with domestic violence, traffickers are often family members and the majority of victims and survivors are women who do not report their abuse.

Survivors of sex trafficking often face deportation, homelessness, financial insecurity and threats of violence against themselves and loved ones. Sadly, victims are often sexually and physically abused as children and therefore “normalize” their situation and may not see themselves as the victims at all.

What are the legal remedies available to immigrants who are victims of trafficking or domestic violence in the United States? Under the federal Violence Against Women Act, 10,000 U Visa’s are available to those who can prove that they’ve suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a victim of a qualifying criminal activity, including sex trafficking that occurs in the U.S. , possess knowledge of this criminal activity, and be helpful to the investigation or prosecution of such activity. Sadly, the demand is substantially higher than the visas available.

Five thousand T Visa’s are also available to survivors each year with benefits including 4 year protection against deportation, 4 year work visa, path to residency, and state and federal public benefits such as food stamps, cash and medical insurance. Eligibility for a T-Visa entails being victim of a severe form of trafficking, personally filing account with law enforcement, compliance with reasonable request for assistance in investigation or prosecution of crime, and suffering of extreme hardship including unusual and severe harm if deported from the United States. Unfortunately, only 14% of available T-Visas were issued in 2017. Barriers to applying include fear of testifying against one’s trafficker and fear of deportation. In addition, trafficking victims are likely not aware of these visas and require support in applying due to language and legal barriers.

The chart below, created by the National Immigrant Justice Center, provides an overview of the root causes of human trafficking, demonstrating factors that might push an individual towards becoming a victim and factors that might allow a trafficker to capitalize on the desperate circumstances of the potential victim.

Unfortunately, many women, young adults and even children, who immigrate and seek asylum and refuge in the U.S continue to be tricked into labor and sex trafficking. Shockingly, the current administration has removed domestic and gang violence as criteria for seeking asylum and yet immigrants and refugees within our borders are still quite vulnerable. With an unprecedented and ever-growing number of children being detained at our borders rather than being united with family members, including over 2,000 at the Tornillo Detention Center in Texas under the care of employees for whom a national fingerprint background check requirement has been waived, we must be vigilant and do our best to protect these young people from abusers and traffickers. While Tornillo is now gaining the attention of the press, and national organizing is underway to demand closure of the center, led locally by Congregation Hakafa of Glencoe, these children and countless others like them are vulnerable both in the camp and upon release. To learn more, please read “US waived FBI checks on staff at growing teen migrant camp” posted by the AP Press on November 27, 2018.

What support services are available in the Chicagoland area? The National Immigrant Justice Center of Heartland Alliance and the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Center provide social and legal services and can lead educational sessions for other professionals. Services for trafficking survivors may include shelter or housing, case management, public benefits, therapy and counseling.

All of us need to urge our elected officials to sponsor and support legislation that aids survivors and encourages victims to step forward while punishing the criminal activity of traffickers, pimps, and “Johns” or purchasers of sex. And we can continue to educate our families, communities, law enforcement, social service professionals on the prevalence of sex trafficking in our backyards.

If you suspect that someone you know is a victim of any form of human trafficking, please call or share the National Human Trafficking Hotline contact information: 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

Written by Beth Gordon, MS, CCC-SLP
JCAST Chicago Steering Committee
Member of NCJWCNS & Congregation Hakafa

JCAST Chicago Releases new Resource to Combat Sex Trafficking

The Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) Chicago is excited to release a new white paper to assist organizations and communities in combating sex trafficking. We released the document on September 26th during the holiday of Sukkot. During Sukkot, Jews build sukkot or shelters. We recognize individuals experiencing sex trafficking are often kicked out of their homes or leave home to escape violence and other abuse, and become homeless. JCAST Chicago, in an effort to provide support (“shelter”) to survivors, calls on government and community leaders to work with us to combat sex trafficking and create more services, including housing, for those escaping sex trafficking.

We are focusing on the Evanston area as a pilot community to build public awareness, reach out to elected officials, and explore the outcomes of legislation used in other parts of the country. Because Evanston and Skokie areas are convenient for men living in the City and the North Shore, many traffickers set up in Evanston. Additionally, there are many Evanston resources and leaders who support these efforts. Finally, because Evanston borders Chicago, we hope our efforts can also prevent sex trafficking activities in the Northern part of Chicago.

This resource sprang from our successful forum for Evanston and Skokie nonprofit and government leaders in January of 2018. The event commemorated sex trafficking awareness month and was planned with the YWCA of Evanston/Northshore, North Shore (IL) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated, and the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). The half day forum welcomed a capacity crowd of social service and government leaders to build awareness and explore how their work is connected to combating sex trafficking. Together we increased our knowledge of sex trafficking and strengthened the movement’s momentum.

During the summer, the conversation continued as JCAST Chicago and Links leaders met with Illinois State Representative Robyn Gabel. During the meeting, we discussed the importance of combating sex trafficking and potential next steps. Rep. Gabel asked for a summary of legislation in Illinois and across the country. Her request led to the production of this white paper. The white paper explores efforts to combat sex trafficking by regulating businesses used to promote or further sex trafficking activities including massage parlors, hotels, and other legal businesses. It also examines improvements to safe harbor laws supporting individuals fleeing sex trafficking.

We welcome your efforts to distribute this white paper widely and opportunities to partner to further combat this form of modern day slavery.

Click here to download a PDF of the White Paper.

Selah Freedom is a national organization that offers prevention, outreach and safe housing to survivors of sex trafficking. Selah is a Hebrew word which means to pause, rest and reflect. Here in the Chicago area, Selah provides a safe residence for survivors to discover who they are, set goals and re-launch their lives.

We’ve been volunteering at Selah Freedom for just over a year now. We plan meals and work with the residents to prepare them and we watch movies and do “truth talks” to have meaningful discussions afterwards. We enjoy the connection we have with the residents, learning about their unique gifts. We’re encouraged to see them making such incredible progress. A few of the residents now have their first jobs! Best of all, they support one another like sisters and have created a home for each other.
We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with these women and discovering other ways to help them realize their life goals. We are grateful to NCJW and JCAST for introducing us to this worthwhile organization where we can interact with the people we are supporting.

Cheryl Susman
Joan Zahnle

On April 11, the President signed the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA) after both Congressional chambers overwhelmingly passed the critical legislation. This rare bipartisan effort will combat known sex trafficking activity online particularly of minors and is due to advocacy activities of so many including many JCAST Chicago supporters who contacted their legislative officials.

FOSTA-SESTA creates a new cause of action (both criminal and civil) against online websites, such as Backpage.com, that are a hub for the sale of minors, mostly young women, online. Mothers and women themselves are now able to sue these sites for the revenue the sites received through the knowing exploitation of youth. Many of those advertised online were abused as children. These suits were described in the movie I am Jane Doe shown by JCAST Chicago at the Northbrook Library in January. The law also creates a criminal cause of action. This landmark legislation will limit pimps and traffickers ability to sell women and will deter men from buying sex. For example, immediately after passage of the legislation, Carl Ferrer pled guilty to activities associated with Backpage and agreed to testify against others others associated with online trafficking websites.

In the days following Congressional activities passing SESTA-FOSTA a number of websites, such as Craigslist, Cityvibe, Reddit, Erotic Review, immediately closed the sections of their sites – or the whole site – where sex was sold. JCAST Chicago is working with allies to continue this effort to combat the exploitation of young women and men by pimps and traffickers in Chicago and across the world.

#MeToo

Last week, I participated in two breakout sessions on Human Trafficking sponsored by the N.I.S Women of the E.L.C.A. (W.E.L.C.A.) as part of the Northern Illinois Synod (N.I.S.), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, (E.L.C.A.) Congregational Resourcing Event at Kiswaukee College in Malta Illinois. Conference attendees of almost 400 traveled from throughout Northern Illinois. I was one of eight speakers including professors from three area colleges and other religious leaders including an Amman. I did not travel alone; our Traffick Teens, life size cardboard figures with short real life stories of trafficking, kept me company and were placed prominently throughout the building.

After the second breakout session, a woman approached me. After we briefly discussed the importance and difficulty of speaking about sex trafficking with our children, she told me she was raped as a sixteen year old and had not shared this information with anyone before, even her husband. We talked about how much it continued to affect her and the importance of seeking help.

While, the #MeToo movement is gaining momentum, this experience showed me how many are still living in its shadow. JCAST Chicago is focused on changing our culture of objectifying women and advocating for more services to support women and girls who have experienced trafficking and other forms of gender based violence. Only, together can we successfully demand and create this new society.

~ Gayle Nelson, JCAST Chicago Engagement and Development Director

The Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) Chicago is planning a number of new events including premiering a new film and parenting programs in the age of the Internet and #MeToo. Mark your calendars and save your seats!

In January, JCAST collaborated with Oakton Community College to premier the film Stopping Traffic. The film not only explores sex trafficking across the world and right here in the US but advocates for ending our culture of fostering the objectification of women and girls. If you missed these showings, JCAST is excited to partner with Hadassah to show the film at the Vernon Area Public Library on March 4th. Reservations are appreciated (using this link).

JCAST is also excited to pilot new parenting programs in collaboration with Jewish Child and Family Services, National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore, and North Shore Congregation Israel. Parenting Boys, in the Age of the Internet and #MeToo will be on Sunday, February 25th and Parenting Girls: Sexuality and Consent in the Age of the Internet and #MeToo will be on Sunday, April 22nd. Tracey Kite, LCSW who leads many stimulating parenting programs, will be our facilitator for both of the programs. Reservations are appreciated (using this link for boys and this one for girls).

And we can’t forget the Matzo tasting and educational event on April 4th (reservations appreciated here)!

It will be a great year and we hope you can join us.