Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T.)

Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T.) is dedicated to empowering our community to end sexual exploitation, which we do through prevention in the forms of education, awareness, and collaboration.

It costs $5 to educates ONE student to in Power Over Predators training - teaching them how to avoid or safely get out of traps predators use. 

OUR IMPACT

3,000+ middle school and high school students have learned how to identify and avoid potential predators & how to differentiate between healthy and toxic relationships

2,396 staff members of the 833 South Washington County School District taught how to identify & appropriately respond to signs of sexual exploitation among students

15,000+ community members reached through C.A.S.T. programming

WE WANT TO END SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BEFORE IT BEGINS.

Education: We believe prevention is a key pillar in the anti-trafficking movement. We want to give youth in our community the tools they need to identify and avoid potentially exploitive situations or safely get out of an exploitive situation. Over 5,000 MN high school students have acknowledged being exploited. We are working with school districts in the Twin Cities to bring Power Over Predators (POP) abuse prevention curriculum to students. POP is a multi-media curriculum being used across the country, empowering tens of thousands of youth with the skills and courage to stand against abuse and exploitation. Youth suffering in silence of sexual abuse and exploitation continually come forward seeking help. This program focuses on abuse prevention, internet safety, and healthy relationships. C.A.S.T. is excited to bring this effective program to youth in Minnesota so we can give students the knowledge they need to protect themselves from exploitation and equip children who may be trapped in an abusive situation with the tools to get the help they need.

Awareness:  We host community awareness nights to inform neighbors about the realities around and factors contributing to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation occurring in our backyard. We provide a platform for experts and speakers from organizations on the front line serving victims and survivors to come and share their experience with the community. We invite community members to step into this difficult space with us because once we understand the issue, we can work together to end the injustice of sexual exploitation in our community.

Collaboration: C.A.S.T. is focused on celebrating the work that is being done in the community - so we partner with organizations on the front lines of the anti-trafficking movement. We host material donation drives throughout the year to support two groups: 1) survivors as they build a hope-filled future and 2) vulnerable neighbors who are often targeted by traffickers and exploiters. We also spread the word about opportunities our partners and other anti-trafficking organizations host because we make the biggest difference when we unite together!

Your donation will make a profound difference on the work that we do at C.A.S.T. Your donation goes towards:

1.  Implementing Power Over Predators in schools and community groups in the Twin Cities
2. Hosting C.A.S.T. Community Awareness Nights and Annual Conference
3. Furthering anti-trafficking collaboration and community mobilization

There is more work to do and we cannot do it without you!