25th Anniversary Gala: 25 Years of Impact in LA
September 17, 2024 7:00 pm at Cooper Design Space, Downtown Los Angeles, California
For two and a half decades, Cast has made a reverberating impact here at home and across the globe, touching the lives of survivors, their families, and entire communities. Celebrate with us at this signature event, recognizing and honoring a select group of change agents representing a diverse community of businesses, government, faith-based and civic leaders who have committed themselves, together with survivors, in the unyielding fight to end modern slavery in our region.
This year marks our 25th celebration, and we’re going all out! Join us on September 17th, 2024, as we honor trailblazing industry leaders and partners for their relentless dedication and innovative efforts in combatting human trafficking. Our 250 guests will gain insight into the leadership and industries that have led the charge of anti-trafficking efforts for the past 25 years.
For sponsorship information, please contact Melissa Fuentes, Individual Giving Manager, at mfuentes@castla.org or (213) 839-3004.
Free to Thrive to Receive Outstanding Community Partner Awar
September 19, 2024 5:30 pm at Park Commons
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP) is honoring Free to Thrive with the Outstanding Community Partner Award at their Justice for All Celebration which will take place on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 5:30 pm at Park Commons by Alexandria in Sorrento Valley. We hope you will join us and support SDVLP’s incredible work in the San Diego community. You can purchase tickets here.
SAVING INNOCENCE
Learn What It Takes to Foster
Saving Innocence supports commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) and families, providing them with a range of services to ensure that each child and family has the opportunity to grow and develop within a safe, healthy, and secure environment.
In response to the growing epidemic of sex trafficking in Los Angeles, Saving Innocence has developed multiple programs that focus on supporting children through resource family care, advocacy, crisis case management, training/ education and psychoeducational groups.
Foster Care Informational Meetings held via Zoom at 6pm on the first Wednesday of each month.
ASSOCIATION FOR THE RECOVERY OF CHILDREN (ARC)
NEW CASE: Southern California child sex trafficking ring
ARC is beginning a detailed investigation into a gang-controlled child sex trafficking ring in Southern California. (Alias) “Moana” was trafficked throughout her childhood child by this ring and I have assisted her for the past few months since she was arrested, and since released, for assaulting one of the traffickers. Police officers did not recognize that she was a trafficking victim and are not pursuing an investigation. But Moana disclosed her situation to me/ARC in detail, and we believe her statements are authentic and verifiable.
The Investigation
Moana is committed to helping bring justice against her traffickers and helping to liberate child victims who she indicates are currently being trafficked and exploited by this ring. She is voluntarily providing ARC with vital information including perpetrators’ names, locations, vehicles, trafficking motels, photos, criminal history and her own witness testimony to help launch the investigation. I am in contact with the Homeland Security Human Trafficking Victim Specialist in the jurisdiction where this trafficking ring has been operating for many years. We expect this investigation will take several weeks since much research must be done to authenticate and collect supporting evidence.
Assisting Moana
There are many risk factors for Moana. I am continuing to provide support and advocacy, particularly in finding safe housing and stable employment for her as well as resources for personal recovery and mental health.
For more info, please click here.
EVENTS TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION
"26 Seconds" is a dramatic documentary episodic miniseries that peers behind an evil shadowy curtain of this rampant global plague. It takes audiences from the neon underground in Thailand to the dusty refugee camps of Iraq; from the glitz and glam of Las Vegas to across the border in Tijuana; from the sunny streets of Southern California to the slums of New Delhi, Phnom Penh and East Africa. The 26 Seconds pilot is currently available on the online platforms listed below. Creating Awareness & a Call to Action in 68 English Speaking countries and over 120 countries overall.
We have created a new funding campaign to complete the 26 Seconds Feature Documentary needed more now than ever. Please help us to continue to Create Awareness and a Call to Action during this difficult time of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Traffickers still want to make their money and are sending children and young women to work on the streets and/or solicit and sell sex online to service men, who may or may not test positive for the coronavirus. This horrific reality needs to be acknowledged and we ALL need to offer resources to victims from the sex trade. We ALL have different gifts and resources and I will do my part through media with the 26 Seconds Feature Documentary. Please help raise funding to complete post-production here.
Watch Unseen in Theaters Today
Inspired by true events in Utah, Unseen is about a teenage girl’s innocent social media mistake. Carly, 17, like most teenagers, want to have her own money, be seen at parties, get out of her small town and find something better, even become famous. Carly’s way out of her current situation comes in the form of a social media avert that she sees on her phone. An agency looking for models and offering them a prize of $1,000. Due to some everyday white lies, Carly puts herself in an unsafe position. Carly’s lies lead to her being unseen, never to be seen again. The next day when family and friends realize that no-one knows Carly’s whereabouts, it’s too late. This is “fame lure” and can happen to any child, anywhere at any time.
Watch exclusive interviews with the cast of Unseen here.
See theaters showing Unseen here.
Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force Quarterly Meeting
Date TBD
9:30am to 11:30am
Center for Healthy Communities, Yosemite Room B
1000 N. Alameda Street in Los Angeles
Please join us in the next LARHTTF Quarterly Meeting with updates on the task force, the subcommittees and for the chance to network, share resources and consult with the different stakeholders. Parking is free. Please bring brochures and other resources to share! For more information, please email philip@castla.org
