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The Fight Against Human Trafficking Begins at the Local Level

By Dave Malone

On December 12, 2012, I wrote about the efforts citizens of Menomonie and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who were taking beginning steps to combat human trafficking. A quick review of that blog post highlights the fledging efforts of Jenny Almquist, executive director of Fierce Beauty, and the eventual establishment of the non-profit group called Fierce Freedom.

Other local groups were also actively seeking ways to fight modern-day slavery in the local area. Jessie Podolak had organized and held an international Justice Mission Run in Eau Claire for six years, earning many thousands of dollars to combat the second largest criminal enterprise in the world! The non-governmental group (NGO) Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) was also formed and now numbers exceed 28 interested citizens who are helping to raise awareness of the local cases.

So, what has happened since then? Has the effort burned bright and then gone out, or has it become even brighter?

As more and more folks became aware of human trafficking in their area, the more involved they became to “make a difference.” Here is a short rundown of what has been happening in 2013:

  1. Social Media efforts were undertaken and now include the Fierce Freedom Facebook page, the Fierce Freedom blog and the Fierce Freedom Twitter account. All of these efforts are manned by volunteers through the direction and efforts of Jenny Almquist and the Fierce Freedom board of directors (comprised of Director Jenny Almquist, Dave Almquist-Fierce Freedom Advocate, Cheryl Voyles-a Fierce Freedom advocate, and, Dave Malone-Sr. Law Enforcement Education Coordinator-Midwest for American Military University. AMU also has an online resource guide dedicated to human trafficking). Although these sites are always evolving, they are clearly providing a focused education to those who mistakenly believe HT is not a local issue.
  2. Fierce Freedom has held several “awareness education events” to get the word out on local HT. Recently a local businessman, Ron Lovelien, and his wife, Michelle, of the Living Room Coffee House, became aware of HT issues and put aside their own vacation to contract with the “Not Today Movie” by paying in advance, out of their own pocket, to ensure it could be shown in Eau Claire. The movie played to a sold-out audience and was held over for an extra week.
  3. The Fierce Freedom board met with Pat Stein, Director of the Bolton Refuge House, a local domestic abuse shelter formed in the mid-1970’s. Pat offered—and is now providing—shelter to HT victims as the need arises to help victims escape their situation.
  4. Members of Fierce Freedom now serve on the Wisconsin Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Consortium on the following committees: the legislative committee, the awareness committee, and the system’s response committee.
  5. During the 2013, Just Us Run, Jessie Podolak provided $6,000 to the Fierce Freedom Board to continue local efforts.

Other groups in the area continue to join efforts with Fierce Freedom and HTU to weave a tapestry of cooperation that will surely result in making a dent against HT in Eau Claire and Menomonie. These include, but are not limited to:

  • The Abolitionists (University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire students joining in the fight against HT)
  • The Eau Claire Police Department and the Eau Claire Sheriff’s Department have officers assigned to work with the local NGO groups. They have also formed an investigative team, along with the WI Department of Justice, to actively seek out and enforce the HT cases in the area
  • Polaris Project representatives have presented in Menomonie and Eau Claire to help guide legislative recommendations. Indeed, at every awareness event put on by HTU and Fierce Freedom, the Polaris Project Hotline (888-3737-888) is prominently featured to get the word out to victims seeking help, citizens suspecting and reporting HT, and to seek information available in the efforts against HT.
  • A major step for future efforts was taken on August 1, 2013, when Fierce Freedom established an office at 1241 Menomonie St, Suite B, Eau Claire, WI! Now, victims, volunteers and the board will have a visible and continuing presence in the area. The office is closed on the weekend and Mondays, but open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The office phone is: 715-704-0807.

Clearly the answer about continuing efforts posed earlier is a resounding “burning brighter and spreading further.”

How about you? Decide to get involved now. Feel free to contact Fierce Freedom to discuss our successes and failures along the way!

Leischen Kranick is a Managing Editor at AMU Edge. She has 15 years of experience writing articles and producing podcasts on topics relevant to law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, private security, and national security.

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