Walsh anti-trafficking event targets threat that 'has grown so much'

NORTH CANTON − Five years ago, Kathleen "Kathie" Gray felt compelled by her faith to help fight in the battle against human trafficking.

Ohio is a hotspot for human trafficking, ranking fifth in the U.S. because of its proximity to Canada and large American cities, its well-connected highway system, and its proliferation of strip clubs and truck stops.

In 2018, the executive administrative assistant at Walsh University launched Not For Sale, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about the scourge of one of the world's fastest-growing and most lucrative crimes, which victimizes 28 million people each year, including an estimated 50,000 in the United States.

Not for Sale group takes action: Walsh hosts anti-human trafficking event

This year, Not For Sale is focusing more of its effort on a relatively new form of human trafficking − Sextortion, the crime of convincing victims, mostly children, to text sexually explicit photos. Those who do not comply with demands for money are threatened with exposure.

On Sept. 30, Not For Sale and Walsh University will sponsor a Community Freedom Summit and one-mile walk from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cecchini Center on campus at 2030 W. Maple St.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will be the keynote speaker with special guests Tim and Tamia Woods of Streetsboro, who lost their teenage son, James, to suicide in 2022 as a result of sextortion. They are the founders of the Do It For James Foundation.

Kathie Gray looks forward to event: Previewing Sept. 30 Not for Sale forum, featuring Attorney General Dave Yost

"It has grown so much," Gray said. "The reason it's on the rise is because we have a mental health crisis. Our young people are craving to be valued and heard, and they will take it from any human being that will give it to them. Unfortunately, it's putting them in these horrific predicaments were they're being trafficked and extorted with money threats to expose them. Our children are just craving love and attention, and they'll look for it anywhere."

Gray said the rise in sextortion is one reason the group's focus is on schools. As a member of the Stark County Juvenile Task Force, Not For Sale has made presentations to districts such as Jackson Local, Perry Local and Lake Local, and Malone University.

"Our collaborations have grown so much over the past five years," she said. "Our Walsh students have been working with our community partners. JAGS (Jackson Academy for Global Studies) students at Jackson have helped to advocate and teach, for their community service. Our whole goal is to prevent this from happening.

"Every school we've been to, there's been at least one or two students who have come forward and said 'I feel like I've been trafficked' because they're just not always aware. Most of the problem is in grooming, brain-washing and control. They're so manipulated, they don't always know the signs that they're actually being trafficked."

Craving security

Gray said Not For Sale has secured a grant from the Aultman Foundation for PowerPoint presentations at schools next year. She said she hopes to add mental health professionals to future events.

"Our young people are craving security," she said. "They just crave love so much that they'll look for it anywhere. They don't care if it's through abuse or anything that's inappropriate. If they're getting that attention that they're seeking, they'll take it."

Because sporting events draw large crowds, this year Not For Sale, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame teamed during this year's Enshrinement Festival up to raise awareness. The nonprofit had an information booth at the Hall of Fame Festival Balloon Classic, where their posters also were displayed in porta-pottys. Tool kits were distributed to local hotels to inform potential victims about the help available.

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Gray said she felt the need to do more five years ago when her church, Faith Family, partnered with A21, an international anti-trafficking organization. The church hosted the first Walk to Freedom.

"When we found out the statistics, it really inspired me," she said. "And when I was able to hear survivors speak about the horrors they endured and were able to overcome, it just moved me. I literally felt a calling from the Lord to make a difference and to do my part."

No organization can do it alone, Gray added.

"It takes a village," she said. "We need all of us to band together to eradicate this issue. I feel, as churches, we have a definite moral obligation to stand up and make sure that everyone can walk in freedom. It's a human-rights issue. The number-one thing churches can do is allow education within their churches."

'Our values align'

Kimberly Graves, Walsh's director of community relations, encourages local companies with international ties to become involved.

"We can come and talk to their employees," she said.

Gray noted that a group of Walsh students recently created the Cavs Coalition, a student-led organization designed to help their peers stay safe.

"We're super-excited that it's student-led; they wanted it," Gray said. "I love it that (Walsh President Tim Collins) calls them 'change agents.'"

Graves agrees.

"Our values align," she said. "It's educating students and giving them the opportunity to act. It's all part of our mission."

Collins said Walsh is in full support of Not For Sale because he said its goals and values are in sync with Catholicism's views regarding human life.

"It was easy for us because the chrism of the Brothers of Christian Instruction," he said. "The Catholic Church has always stood for the sacredness of life and for the value of human life and dignity. The church has proclaimed for 2,000 years the value of human life. In our culture today, frankly, sacredness is under attack. The value of human life is threatened on a lot of fronts...(including) targeting civilians with human trafficking.

"This gives up an opportunity to stand up and do something. It's one thing to talk about the value of human life, but it's meaningless if you don't do anything about it.

Gray said she's hoping 1,000 people will attend this year's summit and walk, up from 600 last year.

Gray said everyone can do something to combat trafficking. She added that she was greatly assisted by Stark County's Service Council of Retired Executives (SCORE) in setting up Not For Sale.

"It's important for the community to know the role they can play," she said. "Someone who says, 'What can I do?' I was one person, and I started this organization."

The Community Freedom Summit and one-mile walk are free, but reservations are encouraged. Register at www.walsh.edu/freedomwalk.

For more information contact Gray at 330-490-7123 or 330-209-4151, or email kgray@walsh.edu.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Walsh anti-trafficking event targets threat that 'has grown so much'