Community discussions and educational materials empower Minnesotans to identify and report suspected sex trafficking
Minnesota, October 15th, 2020 — Sex trafficking in Minnesota is a dangerous and uncomfortable reality. Your Call MN’s “Our state. Their lives. Your Call.” campaign, running statewide from November 2020 through October 2021, has plans to change that.
Your Call MN is a public service campaign created in collaboration with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)-led MN Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force (MNHITF) and the Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST) Task Force to raise awareness about and increase reporting of suspected human/sex trafficking in the state of Minnesota.
The multi-pronged public awareness campaign draws on the state pride of Minnesotans, leverages bold graphics and a strong call to action to generate awareness, identify the signs of and report suspected sex trafficking. Beginning in September 2020, billboards sporting the sex trafficking reporting hotline (877-996-6222) appeared in Minnesota on major highways and near Tribal lands, a community that is historically at higher risk of trafficking.
Individuals are encouraged to follow YourCallMN on Facebook, where the organization will disseminate information about how to identify and report suspected sex trafficking through a series of community discussions and educational videos. The discussions will feature a rotating panel of experts who have dedicated their lives to minimizing the impact of sex trafficking in Minnesota.
“When people follow us on Facebook, sign up for our newsletter, and tune in for our live community discussions, they’re making a choice to learn the signs of sex trafficking,” says Rob Pero, CEO and Creative Director of Perodigm, the indigenous-owned company tasked with developing the campaign.
The first community discussion, which will be held via Facebook Live on Oct. 28 at 11 am CST, will provide an introduction to YourCallMN and its mission as well as an introduction to sex trafficking and what it looks like in Minnesota. The discussion will feature panelists BobbiJo Pazdernik, of the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force (MNHITF) and Kelly Haffield of Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST). Click here to RSVP for the community discussion on Facebook.
“Sex trafficking is happening in communities across Minnesota,” Special Agent Bobbi Jo Pazdernik of the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force said. “It’s important for all Minnesotans to get informed and report suspected sex trafficking so that criminals can be held accountable and victims can receive the help they need.”
To stay up-to-date on upcoming community discussions and to learn more about YourCallMN, visit YourCallMN.org and sign up for the monthly newsletter.
Individuals can report suspected sex trafficking by filling out an online form at YourCallMN.org, texting HELP to 22333 or calling 877-996-6222. All reports go to the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force.
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About Your Call MN
Your Call MN is a public service campaign created in collaboration with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)-led MN Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force (MNHITF) and the Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST) Task Force to raise awareness about and increase reporting of suspected human/sex trafficking in the state of Minnesota. www.YourCallMN.org