US Attorney Amanda Marshall and OR Representative Carolyn Tomei to brief community and media on Portlands child sex trade

April 12, 2014

First Unitarian Church and Little Sisters Foundation host Community Forum on Child Sex Trafficking

PORTLAND, OR March 20, 2014 - First Unitarian Church and Little Sisters Foundation will host a community forum on Portlands child sex trade on April 12, 2014 at the Churchs 1211 SW Main Street sanctuary. US Attorney Amanda Marshall and State Representative Carolyn Tomei will open the event with briefings on this modernday form of slavery.

Media Contact
Katie Radditz, Director of Adult Programs First Unitarian Church of Portland 503-863-7732 / 503-228-6389, ext. 17 kradditz@firstunitarianportland.org

Long a hidden crime in Portland, child sex trafficking was documented in a study commissioned by Marshall and carried out by researchers at Portland State University last year. Almost 500 underage victims of sexual trafficking were referred to the Multnomah County Department of Human Services and the Sexual Assault Resource Center between 2009 and 2013, with a total of 159 active cases at the time of the study. Over 96 percent were girls and the average age was just 15. African Americans accounted for more than 27 percent of victims though they make up less than 6 percent of Multnomah Countys population. Local efforts to end child sex trafficking are broad-based and involve the Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies, social welfare services, NGOs and faith-based organizations. The April 12 event will profile these efforts in a panel discussion and reception. A Healing Service will follow in Eliot Chapel from 6 to 6:45 pm. All members of the community and the media are welcome. Schedule 3:00-5:00 Community Forum, Main Sanctuary Briefing by US Attorney, Amanda Marshall Briefing by State Representative, Carolyn Tomei

Panel Discussion moderated by Rev. Kate Lore, First Unitarian Church Detective Mike Gallagher, Portland Police Bureau, Human Trafficking Division Stuart Perrin, Executive Director, Little Sisters Foundation J.R. Ujifusa, Deputy District Attorney, Multnomah County Carolyn Tomei, State Representative and Chair of House Human Services Committee

5:00-6:00 Reception, Fuller Hall Refreshments and information tables representing: Sexual Assault Resource Center Little Sisters Foundation Spiritual Alliance Against Intimate Violence Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon The EPIK Project Outside In Janus Youth Programs Rotary Club of Portland Giving Connection KBOO Community Radio 6:00-6:45 Healing Service, Eliot Chapel Rev. Kate Lore, Social Justice Minister, First Unitarian Church Stuart Perrin, Meditation Teacher and Executive Director, Little Sisters Foundation Kristina Jones, Meditation Teacher and Executive Secretary, Little Sisters Foundation Jennifer Craig, Principal Harp, Oregon Symphony

About First Unitarian Church of Portland The First Unitarian Church of Portland Oregon is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Unitarian Universalists are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in the desire to practice their faith in tangible ways. One of the largest UU congregations in America, First Unitarian Church has worked for social justice in Portland since its founding in 1866. About Little Sisters Foundation The work of Little Sisters started almost 20 years ago in Nepal, where poor rural girls were being trafficked to brothels in India. The Bahini (little sister in Nepalese) Foundation provided shelter and education to girls who were rescued from traffickers. Now an NGO based in Portland, the Little Sisters Foundation provides services to victims of trafficking here, while raising public awareness and funds to end the global child sex trade.