Rachel Leachman, Director of Operations for Generate Hope, spoke to the club about sex trafficking in Colorado. Sex Trafficking is essentially modern day slavery, defined as the recruitment, abduction, transportation, harboring, buying or selling of persons, using force, fraud, or coercion. Generate Hope was founded in San Diego in 2009 and has served over 130 survivors, and is now serving Colorado.
GenerateHope is a faith-based organization providing long-term, comprehensive programs. These services include long term residential housing, individual and group therapy, case management, career and vocational support and adjunct therapies such as art, equine and more. Generate Hope is pleased to announce the opening of their first long term residential home, located in the greater Denver area, scheduled to open in January 2022.
Rachel addressed some of the myths of sex trafficking, clarifying that this illegal practice happens in all countries including the US and in our own communities, rural and urban alike. The average age is between 14-16 years of age, often targeting runaways, homeless or youth struggling with substance abuse. Victims are often reluctant to speak up or seek help, feeling trapped by their perpetrators.
To learn more or to offer your support, contact generatehopecolorado.org Or call 1-888-373-7888. Help can take many forms, and one very important way is to speak up and share information, offering education that sex trafficking still exists and all people deserve a life free of abuse and exploitation.