Nationally April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and various individuals and groups in Cook County have been working the past few years to educate the public about this haunting crime that plagues the county, and the country. Especially sexually exploitive crimes against kids and how to prevent them.
In 2015 Inger Andress, president of Kai-Zen Solutions began giving presentations throughout the community on the sexual exploitation of youth.
Information said Andress, “Can help us understand how we can make a difference to change the course of these crimes and empower young people to know they have a voice to make mindful choices about their safety. This includes the education piece to bring awareness to false online relationships and the recruiting that goes on for exploitation through various social media venues.”
In May of 2016, interested individuals from Lake County and Cook County held a “Building Bridges Conference” in Beaver Bay. From that conference arose a group of concerned multi-disciplinarian professionals from Cook County who agreed to continue meeting and discuss Safe Harbor laws and sexual exploitation of kids.
In October 2016, Cook County’s ecumenical social justice group sponsored a luncheon for those professionals who attended the conference in Beaver Bay. Out of that event came a strong voice from several men to want to campaign positively to the youth and teach what a respectful, healthy mutual relationship looks like. These events will be announced in the future.
In the meantime, there has been an increase of awareness through WTIP’s Jay Andersen’s, February Thursday Community Conversation on “The Hidden Crime” that still can be listened to on the website www.wtip.org/february-thursday-community-conversation-sexual-exploitation. Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen, probation officer Steve Borud, Inger Andress and Sexual Assault Group Therapy Leader Anna Sorenson were interviewed by Jay about this topic.
Currently, Sheriff Pat Eliasen is in the process of developing an investigative program for the Safe Harbor laws. Enforcement of Safe Harbor laws includes the definition of “minor commercial sexual exploitation,” which according to the sheriff is the most commonly seen in Cook County. The crime happens “when someone under the age of 18 is brought into a scenario where anything of value, (e.g., money, drugs food, shelter, rent or higher status) is given to a person by any means in exchange for any sexual activity… A third party may or may not be involved.”
An example of this, said Sheriff Eliasen, could even be a person offering a six-pack to a minor for any sexual activity.
These are some of the shifts occurring in Cook County to make this a safe place for kids. Partnering with the Sheriff ’s Office is a newly forming nonprofit that will most likely be called Choices and Voices. This group will attempt to assist in raising money for the sheriff ’s new program, help equip youth with tools to mindfully make healthy choices, and collaborate with professionals to have a consistent response to young people who are in need of intervention.
On April 30 at the Community Center, there will be a documentary film With Impunity free of charge at 3:30 p.m. to be followed by a community discussion. Lake County showed this movie recently, and it was well received. This movie is recommended for people ages 15 and up. A conversation will be held following the viewing.
Another film Men & Gender Violence “is an examination of our past, cultural realities, and options for ending men’s violence against women which are given special focus. Through this program, viewers learn how beliefs about manhood that allow men to exploit and hurt women with impunity are ingrained in our culture,” said Andress. That film can be obtained through Andress at Inger@kai-zensolutions.com.
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