On March 22, 2018, Bridgman Public Schools is hosting a parent/community forum on the topic of human trafficking in Southwest Michigan. The event is sponsored by the BPS School Counseling Department and will occur at 6:30 pm in the Bridgman High School Media Center (9964 Gast Road, Bridgman, MI 49106).
At the event, Cathy Knauf from the Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force will teach attendees about the history of human trafficking in Michigan and its local and statewide impact. Parents and community members will learn key definitions, facts, and warning signs related to human trafficking in Berrien County.
The forum will also feature a presentation detailing how social media is used by criminals to facilitate the human trafficking process and how to monitor apps to ensure the safety of our community’s children.
Finally, parents and community members will learn tools and strategies for starting a healthy dialogue with their children in order to ensure they are asking the right questions to keep their family safe.
Shane Peters, Bridgman Public Schools Superintendent, encourages everyone to bring questions to the event. “During the community forum, there will also be time for participants to ask the Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force questions,” Peters explains, “so community members are encouraged to bring their stories, inquiries, and concerns to the event.”
Ms. Knauf adds, “The more we know and understand human trafficking, the harder it is for a predator to use this information against us.”
All parents, guardians, and community members across Southwest Michigan are invited and encouraged to attend the community forum on March 22.
Please note, due to the mature topic of the presentation, elementary and middle school students will not be permitted to attend the forum. However, multiple Bridgman High School student organizations will be offering FREE childcare for school-aged children during the event for parents, guardians, and community members that are interested in attending.
Please contact BES School Counselor Jessica Knight (jknight@bridgmanschools.com), RMS School Counselor Kelley Fast (kfast@bridgmanschools.com), or Keri Haskins (khaskins@bridgmanschools.com) with questions or more details.
