LONGVIEW, Texas — On Thursday in Longview, the Women's Center of East Texas and several other non-profit organizations hosted "Too Close To Home: Uniting Against Human Trafficking" in an effort to raise awareness on human trafficking in the region.
Multiple lectures were held at the Maud Cobb Convention Center where professionals gathered for a day-long group of seminars. Community members from various backgrounds like first responders, mental health experts and education directors attended the event to get educated on how to identify and report suspicious activity.
Mattie Colan, executive director of the Longview non-profit preschool Asbury House, said she was glad to attend since she works with small children and families.
"It is vital to learn this information because from the start we can educate not only the kids that we serve but the family as a whole," Colan said. "Educating the parents helps in so many ways and it's really going to benefit our kiddos."
Colan said she learned that the lifestyle of how an individual was raised could leave them vulnerable to being lured into being trafficked by someone who wants to take advantage of them.
"Or if somebody's consistently deflecting from being asked questions or things like that, that there's a better way to build trust with them," Colan said. "And to make sure that you know how to help them if they were to ever need your support."
Women’s Center of East Texas CEO Holly Bruce said hosting an event like this in East Texas is important because trafficking doesn’t just impact larger cities.
"The people who come to us for services end up being victims of trafficking," Bruce said. "They generally present for domestic violence or sexual assault. It's after we work with them for a while, peel back some layers, that we realize there's actually a trafficking situation going on here too."
Bruce said it’s also up to community members to help identify these situations and when help is needed.
Hallsville resident Annette Russell said the event opened up her eyes to what could be happening around her without even noticing it. It's also taking a personal toll on her since she has a great nephew in Dallas who went missing last year and fears it could be related to trafficking.
"Notice your surroundings because I actually have a great nephew that's actually missing right now and that could be the case," Russell said. "Just being aware and keep an open eye."
Russell said this kind of education for community members is a necessity for current or former educators like herself.
"I retired from a school district and I was around children every day and to just imagine that I could have been driving or interacting with someone that went through that," Russell said. "I just wouldn't have known without the information that I've learned today."
The Women’s Center of East Texas also has a 24/7 hotline for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking. If you are in need of help please call, (800) 441-5555.