Vancouver, WA: C-TRAN is supporting National Human Trafficking Awareness Month this January by putting up posters across our fleet so that victims of trafficking can learn how to access help. The National Human Trafficking Hotline received more than 22,000 calls in 2019 alone—and they believe that this is only a fraction of the people who are being exploited in America.
Not Alone is a national human trafficking awareness campaign designed to help people who are being trafficked recognize that there are resources for them to seek help. Help might look like a referral to a local social services agency, a connection to law enforcement, or simply a confidential and validating conversation.
The Not Alone campaign was created by the Seattle-based nonprofit BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking). BEST worked closely with survivors of trafficking to create posters that would catch the attention of someone who was being harmed, even if they only had a few seconds to look at it before moving on. These posters will be displayed on all C-TRAN buses in January.
“We believe that everyone who uses public transportation should be traveling freely and safely,” said C-TRAN Chief Executive Officer Shawn M. Donaghy. “That’s why C-TRAN is taking this extra step to raise awareness of these resources and help that is available to people who are being forced into dangerous situations.”
“I created the Not Alone campaign so that people experiencing a trafficking situation will be able to self-identify and seek help,” said Rebekah Covington, Corporate Relations Manager for BEST. “During the time I was trafficked, I didn't realize what was happening to me; I just knew something was very wrong and I did not know where to turn. This is why it is important that the messaging and visuals speak directly to survivors, so they can access the resources that are available.”
In 2019, Washington had the eighth-highest call volume on the National Human Trafficking Hotline of all U.S. states. Trafficking is an issue everywhere, including Clark County. If you need help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.
For additional media resources, including video interviews with survivors, images and a fact sheet, visit https://www.bestalliance.org/medianotalone.
C-TRAN is the regional public transportation provider for Clark County. It offers Local bus service within its Clark County service area, plus Regional and Express bus service to Portland. It also provides Connector service within the city limits of Vancouver, Camas, La Center, and Ridgefield. For more information on C-TRAN please visit C-TRAN’s website at www.c-tran.com, or call Customer Service at 360-695-0123.
BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking) is a Seattle-based nonprofit that educates employers to prevent human trafficking and creates pathways to employment for survivors. Founded in 2012, BEST has trained more than 11,000 employers in the hotel, aviation, maritime and transportation industries to recognize and respond to human trafficking at their workplaces. In 2019, BEST launched the Safe Jobs Collaborative to connect survivors of trafficking with stable employment opportunities in King County. To date, Collaborative partners have helped more than 400 people gain employment. To learn more, visit www.bestalliance.org.
Contact:
Eric Florip, Assistant Manager of Customer Experience and Communication
360-906-7391 Office
503-904-9641 Cell
[email protected]
Mar Brettmann, PhD, Executive Director and CEO
360-906-7391 Office
206-724-8246 Cell
[email protected]