Division of Child and Family Services staff members Christina Holbert and Dina Phippen help attach a blue bow on a lamppost along Carson Street to raise awareness for National Human Trafficking Awareness Month on Jan. 6, 2023.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Volunteers on Friday decked Carson City’s light poles along North Carson Street from Fifth to William streets with blue bows to ask the community to unite in the fight against human trafficking.
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Wednesday, Jan. 11 is intended to address the prevention of the forced labor and sex trafficking of men, women and children internationally. Estimates are more than 24.9 million worldwide are subjected to human trafficking, with Nevada holding the second highest rate of trafficking cases reported at 6 per 100,000 people, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in a release provided by Xquisite.
Founder and CEO Brenda Sandquist said Xquisite has assisted approximately 62 clients this past year, which has included women and young men. The average age for younger men in need of help is 13 with referrals coming from juvenile probation services in law enforcement.
“They’ve been exploited pretty severely,” she said. “But we’re here to be a resource and to give them love.”
Xquisite’s Diamond Strong Freedom Center, available as a victim advocacy resource hub at 310 N. Stewart St., has been open almost a year, Sandquist said, and when victims are present, staff and volunteers ensure doors are locked when victims need a bit of extra security.
“It’s good to be able to have our own space,” she said. “(The victims) can sleep. They’ve never been able to sleep.”
And with the Nevada Legislature about to begin Feb. 6, Sandquist said her team will be fully prepared to support all of the human trafficking bills that the state’s legislators recommend.
“If they need a coffee spot or group meeting to use this building, we want to be an active part in making a difference,” she said. “We realize there’s a problem and we want to be a resource and do something new.”
Xquisite will host an event at 11 a.m. Wednesday at 177 W. Proctor St. in Carson City with presentations from state and local leaders speaking against human trafficking and their plans this year to assist survivors. Speakers will include Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, and survivor and activist Rebekah Charleston.
For information, go to xquisite.org/events and to RSVP for Wednesday.