Redwood students target traffickers with first ever club to bring awareness to Visalians

Lauren Jennings, Visalia Times-Delta
·2 min read
Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.
Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.

When Izek Nelson started his freshman year at Redwood High School, he also started the Students Against Trafficking Club.

The same year, the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Now, as a junior and ASB secretary, Nelson and other students in the Students Against Trafficking Club are hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking are ready to spread the word.

“By starting this club I felt I could raise more awareness and make people more educated on how they can be affected by it and what the signs of human trafficking look like; in our own lives and communities,” Nelson said.

"With many children using social media apps they are more prone to being exploited online. Traffickers target young children and teenagers online and this definitely happened even more during Covid.”

The cause isn't something Nelson just stumbled across one day, either. He and his family have been passionate about raising awareness for years.

Nelson's younger brother Maxwell, a sophomore at Redwood High School, is also in the Students Against Trafficking Club. He is using the fundraiser as a part of his Boy Scout Eagle Project this year.

The siblings wore Rise Up t-shirts in July when they climbed Mt. Whitney on World Day Against Human Trafficking.

“Our family has been extremely involved with this nonprofit (Operation Underground Railroad) since 2014,” Izek’s mother, Rashelle said. “We truly want to do all we can to help spread more awareness on how human trafficking exists even in our neighborhoods.”

Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.
Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.
Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.
Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.

Visalia Unified Administrator of Equity and Student Services Brandon Gridiron helped the Redwood students organize the fundraiser. The all-day event starts at 10 a.m. on Nov. 5 in the Redwood High School cafeteria with safety training.

Tyson Wright, Operation Underground Railroad education program manager, will be in attendance to help facilitate the event. Registration is free and open to everyone.

Following the safety training, there will be a carwash from 1-4 p.m. in the Redwood Student Parking lot, on the corner of South Conyer Street and West Mineral King Avenue.

Car washes are $10 with 100% of proceeds going to Redwood’s Students Against Trafficking Club.  

The community is then invited to enjoy food at 5 p.m. in front of LJ Williams Theater from multiple food truck vendors before a special 7 p.m. movie screening of “It’s Happening Right Here,” directed by Nick Norton.

Tickets for the documentary are $5 with 100% of proceeds going to Operation Underground Railroad. The training and the movie are not recommended for young children.

To learn more about the fundraiser, click here.

“We need everyone in our community, especially parents, to be educated and aware to know the signs of human trafficking,” Izek said. “It is something parents need to be talking about with their children and teenagers. I hope this event helps educate as many people as possible.”

Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.
Izek Nelson started the Students Against Trafficking Club when he was a freshman at Redwood High School. Two years later, Nelson and his classmates are holding their first event to hosting their first event to help bring awareness about human trafficking.

Lauren Jennings covers education and news for the Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register. Follow her on Twitter @lolojennings. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Redwood students target traffickers with first ever club to bring awareness to Visalians