Oct. 27: Human Trafficking Seminar

Katariina Rosenblatt

The Rockford Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is hosting "Tackling the Issue of Human Trafficking," a seminar on Oct. 27, at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road in Rockford.  

Featured speaker will be Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD, LLM,  a victim and survivor of sex trafficking who founded a survivor to survivor outreach and mentoring program called There is H.O.P.E. for Me.   

Also presenting is Rockford Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (RAASE) a group that helps survivors, showing them a way out of “The Life.”

After lunch a panel of law enforcement and social service professionals will be moderated by Paul Logli.

The program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.   

Reservations are $25, which includes lunch. Send a check payable to RDCCW to Trafficking Committee, PO Box 976, Roscoe, IL 61073.  

For more information email:  TraffickingSeminar@hotmail.com.  

Registration deadline is Oct. 19.

Oct. 7: Ecumenical brunch focuses on human trafficking

“Human Trafficking: Move it! Speak it! Pray it! Stop it!” is the topic of the 21st annual Ecumenical Benefit Brunch on Oct. 7 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 200 North First St., in Rockford.

Guest speaker is Kimberly Ackmann, deputy court administrator for the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois. 

Jimmie Getter and Sam Thomas of Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, Inc., and Brittney Fry of Rockford Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, will hold a question-and-answer session.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. The brunch and program will run from 9-11:30 a.m. Cost is $10, and optional donations of travel-size toiletries will benefit local agencies.

The annual brunch is co-sponsored by the Rockford Deanery Council of Catholic Women and the Northern Illinois Synod, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as one way to honor a covenant made in 1992 by the late Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill of the Rockford Diocese and former Bishop Ronald K. Hasley of the Northern Illinois Synod of ELCA.

The brunch is open to men and women of all faiths. Reservations are due by Sept. 29. Send checks payable to RDCCW to Peg Hyser, 3512 Swan Tr., Rockford, IL 61103. For more info, call 815/997-3780.