NFL Draft and Human Trafficking Awareness: An Oshkosh Nonprofit's Efforts

Understanding Human Trafficking Risks During Large Events

• ⚠️ Large events like the NFL draft can unfortunately see an increase in human trafficking due to heightened demand and exploitation.
• 🎯 While new victims may not drastically increase, existing victims are often brought to these events by traffickers seeking to profit.
• 💡 The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 16,554 victims in 2021, a number considered a fraction of the actual total.

Recruitment Tactics and Vulnerable Populations

• 🧠 Traffickers often gain trust by pretending to be loving and caring, rather than resorting to kidnapping.
• 💻 Online recruitment is a primary method, with children aged 12-14 being a common target age group in places like Oshkosh.
• 📱 Children with access to phones and the internet are particularly vulnerable to being recruited online.

Self-Defense and Community Awareness

• 🛡️ Self-defense classes, like those teaching boundary setting and escape techniques, can empower individuals.
• 👂 It's crucial to trust your gut and recognize when a situation feels inappropriate or uncomfortable.
• 🗣️ Community awareness is vital; events like the NFL draft provide opportunities for nonprofits to educate the public.

The Role of The Damascus Road Project

• 🤝 The Damascus Road Project, an Oshkosh nonprofit, focuses on spreading awareness and empowering the community.
• 🏨 They are actively involved in educating attendees, hotel, and gas station employees about potential signs of human trafficking.
• 📝 Upcoming initiatives include handing out missing persons flyers to local hotels and gas stations around April 12th to combat exploitation during the draft.