Sioux City event raises awareness for human trafficking
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — January marks Human Trafficking Month, and authorities say more than 783 cases of human trafficking have been identified in Iowa since a hotline to report it was created.
The Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking and the Lighthouse Foundation were out raising awareness Sunday to help lower the numbers of human trafficking.
At the event at the Sioux City Public Museum, trafficking survivor and author Brittany Sowder shared her story of how she was trafficked, how she healed, and of the foundation she helped start.
Heather Van Hemert Glenn, the co-founders of the Lighthouse Foundation, said the goal is prevention, advocacy, and survivor support. With these three goals they believe they can help reduce human trafficking and save lives.
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'There is so much out there that people are unaware of. Human trafficking is in our backyards. It's the people next to us. It's the poeple in the grocery line. It's our friends. It's everywhere,' Van Hemert Glenn said. 'And if we can help one life, that's what we're here today for.'
Hemert Glenn says she is so thankful for the courage the survivors have to be able to share their experiences with others to raise awareness. She also encourages that if you see something, say something.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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