Did You Know Human Trafficking Happens in Your Community? Even if you live in a rural area or a small town, human trafficking exists and is happening near you.
The people of Dodge County, WI were shocked to hear this when 5-Stones first began nearly almost 10 years ago. Unfortunately, human trafficking has been documented in every single county in Wisconsin, which is likely the case in every state in the U.S. I had the privilege of talking with the director of 5 Stones, Tracy, who shared the ways 5-Stones is actively fighting sex trafficking.
How Does Human Trafficking Start?
If human trafficking isn’t just a “big city problem,” what does it look like in rural communities like Dodge County?
Tracy informed me that in rural American communities, human trafficking typically starts when someone tracks down an individual and intentionally befriends them to exploit them later. While this can happen in face-to-face relationships, traffickers primarily target victims through social media. On these platforms, predators easily groom kids and extract their names, ages, locations, and other private data.
The Critical Role of Parents
The average age of a human trafficking victim is just 13 years old. Because of this, Tracy explained that parents serve as a child’s first line of defense.
To protect children from this very real, common, and dangerous threat, parents must actively monitor what their kids do online. Thankfully, 5-Stones offers excellent resources to help parents better protect their families.
Confronting the Root Causes
Human trafficking stands as one of the largest criminal enterprises in the U.S. Sadly, this means a massive demand drives the industry. As part of their Prevention Stone, 5-Stones focuses heavily on reducing this demand.
Beyond online monitoring, 5-Stones encourages parents to protect their children from early exposure to pornography. The pornography industry serves as one of the biggest drivers of sex trafficking in the United States. Whether by accident or intention, the average child first encounters porn at age 11.
This early exposure conditions young minds to view graphic content as normal and healthy, when the reality is exactly the opposite. Tragically, porn use directly fuels sex trafficking. In many cases, production companies force the individuals on camera to participate through abuse and trafficking. Because of this, 5-Stones firmly believes that ending pornography is critical to stopping the demand for sex trafficking altogether.
How Does 5-Stones Fight Human Trafficking?
Taking inspiration from David, who picked up five stones to fight Goliath the Giant, 5-Stones tackles human trafficking through five distinct strategies:
- 1. Awareness: 5-Stones shines a light on human trafficking through community events, informational booths, public interaction, and billboards.
- 2. Education: The organization educates communities on the hidden dangers of trafficking, what it looks like, and what warning signs to watch for, primarily through public speaking events.
- 3. Prevention: As community members become aware and educated, personal actions naturally shift to prevent exploitation before it starts.
- 4. Networking: 5-Stones builds vital partnerships with local businesses and organizations.
- 5. Collaboration: The team works hand-in-hand with other organizations to inform the public and support human trafficking survivors.
Empowering the Next Generation
Tracy shared that she feels most passionate about speaking directly to youth. Because young people are the most vulnerable to trafficking, they need the education to spot dangers and protect themselves.
Tracy recalled a student who attended one of her presentations and encountered a potential trafficker shortly after. Because the student knew the exact red flags to watch for, she safely escaped the situation. Thanks to the dedicated work of 5-Stones, many individuals have successfully avoided incredibly dangerous situations.
How to Get Involved
5-Stones recommends three simple ways you can help end human trafficking today:
- See Something, Say Something: If a situation looks wrong, it probably is. You do no harm by reporting a suspicious situation. Call your local law enforcement immediately or contact the national trafficking hotline.
- Spread Awareness: Talk to your friends and family about the true dangers and prevalence of human trafficking.
- Encourage a Porn-Free Lifestyle: Because pornography directly fuels the demand for sex trafficking, cutting off the demand will ultimately help end the industry.
Simply Earth’s Commitment
Simply Earth is thrilled to support and feature 5-Stones in July and August 2026! Because of your purchases, we can give 13% of our profits to amazing organizations like 5-Stones that actively work to end human trafficking.
Contact For Help
If you want more resources to protect yourself, your kids, and your community, use these trusted links and numbers:
- 5-Stones Contact: (920) 358-9596
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888
- Protect Young Eyes: (Resources for internet safety from predators and porn)