COC is hosting a human trafficking conference Friday to discuss an issue that’s in communities throughout the country, including Santa Clarita.

The goal is to raise awareness on human trafficking, an issue that has become increasingly prevalent in California, College of the Canyons will host the one-day conference, “It’s Still Happening Right Here! Human Trafficking,” from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22.

“We are aware that not only is Human Trafficking a serious international issue, it’s also a  situation that is still happening right here in our city. It manifests in many forms from Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, also known as CSEC to labor issues in businesses,” said Larry Schallert,assistant director of the Student Health and Wellness / Mental Health program at the college and one of the event’s organizers. “We know young people are vulnerable due to the power of cyber manipulation and others are susceptible due to financial issues and through relationship violence.  We would like to make our community a little more resilient by offering firsthand information from survivors, law enforcement specialist and providers of services. We also will be offering the opportunity for students to talk to professionals in a variety of fields, to see how they might address an important issue of this generation. “

The conference will be held in the East P.E. Gymnasium, located at the college’s Valencia campus.

More than 700 cases of human trafficking have been reported in California this year, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

“It is hard to believe that human trafficking is an issue that plagues our communities today,” said Patty Robinson, faculty director of civic engagement and community engagement initiatives at the college and one of the event’s organizers. “We hope this conference helps raise awareness about this important issue, which exists in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

Tika Thornton, an advocate against sex trafficking and a survivor herself, will be the conference’s keynote speaker. As a mentor and speaker, Thornton provides one-on-one peer counseling to at-risk youth and works to provide sex trafficking survivors with job skills and resources.

Other event speakers will include:

• Kate Wedell (Director and Founder of Cherished)
• Barbara Vasquez (Human trafficking survivor)
• Lydia Ramirez (Human trafficking survivor)

“We hope this event will give attendees the tools and resources they need to help victims free themselves from human trafficking,” said Schallert. 

To RSVP for this free event, email CivicEngagement@canyons.edu.

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