An Evening with Dawn Schiller - Human Trafficking

Join the Rotary Club of China Lake and event sponsor, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, on November 15th, for an educational and informative presentation on human trafficking in the United States, the challenges for vulnerable and diverse populations, and how communities can become true allies to protect and empower the victims.

Dawn was fifteen years old in 1976 when her family moved into an apartment complex managed by 32-year-old porn star John Holmes. After grooming Dawn, Holmes began a sexual relationship with her, manipulating her with drugs and alcohol, abusing her physically and emotionally, and prostituting her on the streets of Hollywood, to brothels and drug dealers. After the famed Wonderland murders in 1981, they fled to Florida, where she ultimately broke free and turned him over to the police."

One might think this sounds like the synopsis for a Hollywood movie, but it was the reality for our speaker, Dawn Schiller. 

Kern County and our valley are being used as corridors for transporting victims of human trafficking.  Ignorance of the human trafficking issue coupled with the growth of the internet has allowed it to flourish. Many do know how to spot nor know how to help victims of human trafficking.  The issue is so urgent that Ridgecrest is one of three communities that have formed human trafficking community response teams; Frazier Park and Bakersfield are the other two communities.

Mark your calendars, for educational and informative evening. Dawn Schiller is a survivor and an amazing woman with an incredible story to share.  She is an author, educator and advocate for victims of sexual and mental abuse.  As a speaker, trainer and author, she combines her personal experiences and academic studies to raise awareness about sex trafficking, domestic violence and teen victimization.  After the lecture she will be available for a meet and greet and she will have her book available as well. Seating will be limited. The evening is brought to you by Rotary Club of China Lake and Ridgecrest Regional Hospital as a community service project.

Quick Answers:
Seating is first come, first served.
Open to the general public
Free admission
Limited to 200 seats.
Meet and greet following the discussion.

Dawn Schiller – a brief biography
After breaking free from her captor, Dawn eventually relocated to the Pacific Northwest, where she attended Eastern Oregon University and earned her undergraduate degree in Communication and Gender Studies in 2012, graduating summa cum laude. After gaining a full-tuition teaching fellowship, Dawn taught Women's Studies and Activism at Oregon State University, where she completed her Master of Arts in Women's Studies in 2016.

In addition to being a nationally sought-after speaker, Dawn has been a consultant with the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) since 2009. She sits on the Education Committee and is an advisory board member for the National Center of Victims of Crime in Washington, D.C., The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center and Voices Set Free. She is a member of the National Survivor Network (NSN) and Survivor 2 Survivor (S2S) for trafficking victims. She represented Val Kilmer in New York for the Volvo For Life Awards in both 2006 and 2008.


 

Kaechele, Cherise. "EOU Graduate Tackles Human Trafficking." La Grande Observer 
May 25, 2015

Szatmery, Peter. "Courage Through Heart." Phi Kappa Phi Forum Fall 2014

"Alumna and Advocate Nominated for Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship." Eastern Oregon State University News May 9, 2013

"Human Trafficking Survivor to Share Her Experiences." Curry Coastal Pilot Sept 28, 2012

Ray, Jeoffry. "A Sex-Trafficking Survivor's Story." PSU Vanguard Jan 12, 2012

"Dawn Schiller Continues to Spread the Word for Throwaway Teens." ImaginePublicity.com Jun 10, 2011