St. Patrick Parish to sponsor talk as part of pro-life education series
Story by Reagan Scott
LINCOLN (SNR) - The Knights of Columbus Council and Altar Society of St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln are co-sponsoring a talk Nov. 17 entitled, “‘She Has No Name’: Reaching those lost in the sex trade.”
The event will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, 6120 Morrill Ave., Lincoln,
Led by Paul Yates, the executive director of I’ve Got a Name, and Megan Johnson, the street outreach director for the organization, this free event is a way for attendees to learn more about sex trafficking in Nebraska, in Lincoln and the surrounding area, and hear what they can do to help in the effort to stop it.
The event will answer such questions as “What is sex trafficking,” “How does it happen,” “Where does it happen?” and “Who is vulnerable?”
It is Yates’ hope that attendees will leave with an awareness of the extent of sex trafficking in both the Lincoln community and the state.
“I can’t stress that enough: it’s everywhere in our city,” he said.
In February 2017 the Human Trafficking Initiative, which conducts research through the Heider College of Business at Creighton University published a report entitled “Nebraska’s Commercial Sex Market.” In this report, the organization revealed that 900 individuals are sold for sex in the state of Nebraska each month, often multiple times. The I-80 corridor makes it easy for traffickers to transport victims across the state.
Yates often hears after his talks that attendees had no idea how widespread the problem is, and he uses this new awareness to encourage attendees to share what they have learned with their friends to increase awareness for this issue, and pray about what they can do to get involved.
“We can all have an impact, and it can just be prayer. It’s pretty amazing when you see how God works and what He does,” Yates said.
As part of the presentation, Johnson will show a video in which she details her story as an escort and a drug addict, as well as her journey to get clean, to receive a college education and to regain custody of her sons.
After the video, Johnson will take questions from the audience.
As the Street Outreach Director for the organization, Johnson connects with women who have been involved in sex trafficking and shares her story with them. She also visits the prison once a month to talk to women there.
Yates said that Johnson has helped 27 girls since she joined I’ve Got a Name two years ago.
I’ve Got a Name is a local organization dedicated to “end sex trafficking where we live,” as the organization’s tag line reads.
I’ve Got a Name was founded by Bob Burton, the deputy athletic director for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The name of the organization comes from a song of the same name by Jim Croce.
Yates has been involved in fighting human trafficking since 2008. In 2009, he had recently had an article about his work with Tiny Hands International and his “One Girl” prayer initiative published in the Lincoln Journal Star. Burton saw this and reached out to Yates about getting involved in fighting sex trafficking.
I’ve Got a Name began as an event and became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2012. Yates was named the executive director for the organization in April 2016.
Yates said the event at St. Patrick Parish will be the first official event the organization has had for a Catholic audience. A member of St. Peter Parish in Lincoln himself, Yates said he is excited to share this issue with other Catholics, because he said that it’s something that Pope Francis talks about often.
“I would love to speak at every church in town,” Yates said.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about this issue is encouraged to attend the event Nov. 17. Yates is hopeful that this new awareness will inspire people to take action to combat sex trafficking and make a difference in the lives of its victims.
The pro-life education series at St. Patrick Parish features regular events to promote a deeper understanding of the sanctity of human life. All are welcome to attend. Parents are advised the Nov. 17 talk includes adult content.
