In the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, public awareness of sex trafficking has grown. Yet greater visibility has not necessarily meant greater understanding. High-profile cases can obscure the more common, less sensational ways exploitation takes root — and the persistent misconceptions that shape how we talk about it.
This half-day professional development workshop brings together Wisconsin educators and interested community members with leading scholars and practitioners who research sex trafficking and advocate for survivors across local, national, and global contexts. Participants will learn to recognize common misconceptions and myths, understand the realities of trafficking in both expected and unexpected contexts, such as school campuses and the upcoming Soccer World Cup games, and gain insight into the vulnerabilities that place people, including students, at risk.
Through discussion and expert presentations on sex trafficking in Wisconsin, at the Southern border, and internationally, workshop attendees will deepen their awareness of the complex social, economic, and psychological forces that create conditions for exploitation, with particular attention to how these dynamics surface within school communities.