CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Our latest Giving Grace touches on a very disturbing, very emotional, topic for many Tennesseans, human trafficking.
Christie Huschke, Clarksville Community Group Leader with End Slavery Tennessee sat down with Clarksville Now to discuss the seriousness of this issue.
End Slavery Tennessee was founded seven years ago and is based out of Nashville. “Our mission at End Slavery Tennessee is to promote healing of human trafficking and also strategically confront it in our state,” Huschke said.
The organization uses a T.A.A.P. method and partner with national, state and local agencies.
T…is for Training to educate the community and services
A…is for Aftercare with survivor support and services
A…is for Advocacy to change laws and systems
P…is for Prevention to break the cycle of human trafficking
Worldwide, there are an estimated 40.3 million people in a human trafficking situations. Out of their Nashville office, End Slavery Tennessee has had 275 survivor referrals since the first of the year.
There are between 94-110 minors trafficked in Tennessee each month, a number which is up 22 percent from 2018. The average age of victims is 13-years-old. These figures do not include cases in which the victim is over 18.
There are eight local community groups in Middle Tennessee, including the Clarksville organization. There are many ways the public can get involved to support and be part of End Slavery Tennessee.
“Having recently relaunched in Clarksville last June, we are definitely looking for passionate people to join our group. We have a police officer who just joined, we’ve got some social workers, and we’ve got an incredible group of people serving,” said Huschke.
To learn more about the work of End Slavery Tennessee, to make a donation, or to volunteer, visit www.endslaverytn.org, for the local chapter of the organization email Christie Huschke at clarksvillegroup@endslaverytn.org.