Riverside Rotary clubs form task force to help police fight human trafficking
You are a loving mother, an aunt, a sister, a grandmother — and then one day your 14-year-old disappears without a trace, lured into a world they for which they have no survival tools. Some of these "stolen people" eventually find their way home, but so many are lost forever in an abyss of human torture and degradation.
Such is the case with human trafficking, a mushrooming criminal enterprise that — believe it or not — is happening in our own backyard in alarming rates.
Thankfully, Rotary District 5330, a group of 62 Rotary clubs and more than 2,000 community members and leaders, have joined together to fight this hidden epidemic.
On Saturday, Jan. 29, a community fundraising dinner was held at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, in collaboration with The Coalition Against Human Trafficking. The goal was to raise funds to assist a newly formed task force to combat this growing problem.
Following a cocktail hour where Rotarians mixed with community members and political figures from most of the desert cities, guests were able to bid on many silent auction items, donate at the giving wall and purchase tickets for the opportunity drawing. This was followed by a delectable three-course dinner, beautifully prepared and served by the friendly staff at the Westin.
After PDG (Past District Governor) Bill Chase welcomed guests, Betty Folsom recited the pledge of allegiance and Rotarian DGE (District Governor Elect) Don Carter led all present Rotarians in repeating the Four-Way Test. This was followed by a nondenominational invocation presented by Chuck Weisbart.
Precisely at 8 p.m., Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin addressed an enthralled group for 20 minutes about the shocking facts of human trafficking, including a discussion of cases prosecuted, projected slides of perpetrators and details of unimaginable crimes committed against our youth.
Next came Opal Singleton, speaker, teacher and author of several books on the subject. Singleton is the CEO of Riverside-based nonprofit Million Kids and board member and director of development for Rapha International, two organizations that exist to combat human trafficking in the United States and internationally.
Singleton expressed her pride in Rotary's task force and asked everyone to help the overwhelmed police departments of Riverside County find these perpetrators and bring them to prosecution. Hestrin said he would spare them no mercy in sentencing.
Survivor Erika London bravely shared her story via video, describing how she was rescued and explaining how she continues to survive and thrive after her horrifying human trafficking experience.
Listening to stories of how adults worm their way into the confidences of teenagers through social media was difficult. Hopefully, the Rotary's involvement will help by adding human assistance to the police through its newly formed task force.
The evening's sponsors included Arnold Kirschenbaum, RivCo Department of Education, Rotary Club of Palm Desert, Rotary Club of Jurupa Valley, Jordan Schnitzer, SunLine Transit, Hestrin, Frank Jones, Rotary Club of San Bernardino Crossroads, Rotary Club of Hemet, Rotary Club of Riverside Sunrise, Rotary Club of Big Bear, Ricardo and Jennifer Loretta Family, Altura Credit Union, Rotary Club of San Bernardino, Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead Mountain Sunrise, Steve Gale and Gabe Koh-Gale, Connie Lurie, Phil Rushing, Don and Veronica Casper, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Nyron and Shelia McLean, Rotary Club of Corona, John Malone, Carol Winston, Dr. Martha Garcia, Dr. John and Sharon Wetly, Joe and Karen Wallace and Westin Mission Hills.
The committee members who worked tirelessly to make the evening happen included DG Dan Goodrich; PDG Ricardo Loretta, chair; DGDN Judy Zulfiqar, co-chair; DGE Casper; DGN Jamie Zinn; PDG Marilyn Sanderson; PDG Bill Chase; EAG Nyron McLean; DRFC Steve Yager; Dorothy Hamilton; Diane Kelly; Amy Loboda; Heather Aduddell; Mary Brown; Eileen Todd; Jami Fencel; AG Bill Orr; AG Winston; AG Folsom; AG Jennifer Loretta; AG Dan Cortese and District 5330 A/V Team.
Rotary Clubs exist in every city; together, it's a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends and leaders from all walks of life putting "service above self." To find your local Rotary, visit district5330.org.
Carole Stephen-Smith has lived in the desert for more than 30 years. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, she began writing in London and has been a regular contributor to The Desert Sun for eight years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside Rotary clubs' task force helps fight human trafficking
