Human trafficking is a billion dollar problem that affects many individuals around the world and is considered modern day slavery. The exploitation of a person whether work labor or commercial sex exists in our very own communities and the importance of awareness is vital.
Texas House Bill 3721 went into effect September 1, 2022 and required all cosmetology businesses– including specialty salons, mobile salons, and schools– and all massage establishments and massage schools to display human trafficking information that assist victims needing help. This bill went into effect with the assistance of Dallas, Texas human trafficking survivor Tonya Stafford who was held in captivity for 10 years near the Dallas Fair Park Area.
Human Trafficking is the exploitation of men, women, and children through the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor, or commercial sex act.
Various types of Human Trafficking are:
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National CE Provider Sharla Wooten was in shock when she heard Tonya Stafford’s story because the area where she was harbored was the area where she spent summers with her grandmother and other family and still visits to date. She has developed a friendship with Tonya and on occasions, have serviced victims rescued by Tonya Stafford’s non profit organization IGTBOK.org. Sharla has made a commitment to use her platform to educate the Barber and Cosmetology industry with the hopes of creating a safe space for those that may be silently suffering and to detour those that victimize.
To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement:
1-866-347-2423
To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:
1-888-373-7888
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized each year on January 11th. In recognition of this important day and to raise awareness of human trafficking, and to show support to those that have been victimized, we ask that you wear blue #WearBlueDay hashtag. Learn more about #WearBlueDay
A portion of your human trafficking t-shirt purchase will be donated to the It’s Going To Be Ok! (igtbok.org) non-profit organization founded by human trafficking survivor Tonya Stafford and the Sharla D. Wooten Foundation (sharladwootenfoundation.org) that focus on youth health education, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Sexting Laws, and Voter Education and Registration.
Take the Pledge and order your shirt today!