CHICAGO (Nov. 5, 2014) – The Columbia Links teen journalism program at Columbia College Chicago will host a town hall meeting, "Human Trafficking: Teens Caught in the Shadows", Thursday, Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss their findings on the prevalence of human trafficking in Chicago.

According to the UIC Jane Addams Hull House for Social Research and Policy, Chicago is one of the major hubs for sex and labor slavery in the U.S., and the teen journalists look at the stories behind the numbers. Some of these include:

• An interview with a former trafficked teen who became a trafficker as an adult.
• A look inside www.backpage.com, a website currently at the center of lawsuits filed by teen girls in separate states who claim they were sold for sex.
• A story about Anne’s House, which houses eight of only 12 beds in the state of Illinois for women who need shelter to escape sex slavery or prostitution
• A profile of a crusader for children who says foster care and a latchkey culture are pipelines to sex trafficking.
• A look ahead at the anticipated impact of the human trafficking bill signed by Governor Quinn earlier this year that takes effect Jan. 1, 2015, targeting consumers, known as “johns,” rather than the victims.

WHO:
Renee Ferguson, former NBC5 investigative reporter, will serve as moderator

• Six Columbia Links teen reporters (visit columbialinks.org/humantrafficking for full listing)
• Brenda Myers-Powell, founder of The Dreamcatcher Foundation
• Kalyani Gopal, clinical psychologist and president of SAFE (Sex-Trafficking Awareness, Freedom and Empowerment) Coalition for Human Rights
• Al Krok, retired detective and consultant on the commercial sexual exploitation of children
• Christine Evans, legal director for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE)
• Cmdr. William Leen of the Cook County Sheriff’s Vice Unit

WHEN:
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Music Center Concert Hall
Columbia College Chicago
1014 S. Michigan Ave.

Media is invited, and the event is open to the public. Reservations required. Please RSVP at columbialinks.org/humantrafficking.