The 11th Annual community awareness event by Soroptimist International of Oxnard, Camarillo, The Conejo, Ventura, and Fillmore clubs of District 1 Camino Real Region will take place March 8 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 Main Street, Ventura. A community awareness walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. from the museum plaza. Red-clad walkers from Soroptimist clubs, Abolitionists, Prototypes, and other community activists will carry signs for STOP Trafficking and support for human rights; the public is invited to attend.

The goal of this annual event is to bring awareness and empowerment to the community, particularly, women and girls, that human trafficking is not just a global problem, but a local one. A panel of four speakers will present information on the current cases of human trafficking in Ventura County and victim survivorship. Speakers are: Dawn Schiller, Survivor/Mentor/Advocate; Michael Munn, Ventura County District Attorney Investigator II; Dr. Allyson Richard, Los Robles ER physician; and Christan Perez, Interface Children and Family Services program manager of the HEART Program.
Dawn Schiller is an expert survivor-leader in the anti-trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault movements. Abused and trafficked on the streets of Hollywood in her teens by the infamous porn actor, John Holmes, she survived the gruesome Wonderland Avenue murders in 1981 and ultimately turned him into the police. Dawn has worked as an associate producer and consultant on the movie “Wonderland” where actress Kate Bosworth portrayed her while actor Val Kilmer played John Holmes.

Her subsequent years of struggle to survivorship, education, and service to others offer valuable first-hand insight to community advocates. Today she is a speaker, educator, consultant, and author.

Michael Munn began his law enforcement career in 1987 in Buena Park. In 1998 he became a DA Investigator for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Some of his assignments included Gangs, SEA Task Force, and Anti-Terrorism Organized Crime Unit. In 2007 he was promoted to Supervising Investigator. His units were DNA Unit, Family Protection Unit, Human Trafficking Unity, to name a few.

In 2015, Mr. Munn was hired by the VC District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation as a DA Investigator II. He is currently assigned to Human Trafficking and was tasked to form the VC Human Trafficking Enforcement Team, which includes local police agencies in Ventura County along with FBI and Amtrak Police.

Dr. Allyson Richard is a practicing Emergency Medicine physician at Los Robles Hospital. After attending the Soroptimist 9th annual event two years ago she was motivated to create and present a training program for medical staff recognizing ER patients who could be victims of sexual slavery and human trafficking. Allyson attended Wayne State University School of Medicine, did her internship and residency at UCLA Hospital. She has done much community service and volunteering by mentoring youth through Career Days, STD/AIDS classes, harmful effects of smoking and drugs, and volunteering at Cass Free Clinic, Detroit, MI. free clinic. Dr. Richard has done international service in Nepal and Peru. She organized and lead trauma workshops and “Introduction to Tuberculosis and Filariasis” in Mae Sot, Thailand.She is a busy mother to three children as well as working and teaching medical staff with her new platform of recognizing human trafficking victims.

Christan Perez is the program manager of the Interface Children & Family Services’ HEART Program, Helping to Educate, Address, and Respond to Trafficking.

Christan has worked in social, wellness, and human services for 14 years, having worked in both Ventura and San Diego Counties. She began her career in social services as a case manager for “At Risk” Youth, and now oversees the human trafficking shelter and community-based advocacy programs at Interface. Christan’s professional ventures have provided her the opportunity and experience of working directly with victims and survivors of human trafficking, and raising awareness to the issue in our community.

You will hear and learn what WE, local citizens, can do to combat sex slavery and help women. Learn the warning signs of someone trafficked:
• Is the victim in possession of ID or travel documents?
• Was the victim coached on what to say to law enforcement?
• Does the victim have freedom of movement?
• Is the victim allowed to socialize or attend religious services?
• Can the victim freely contact friends and family?
• Has the victim been harmed or deprived of food, water, sleep, or medical care?

Raise awareness that sex slavery is not just a global problem, but a local problem; advocate for tougher laws and stronger anti-sex slavery law enforcement; and call the police if you suspect unusual activity in your neighborhood.

The event is partially funded by a $2500 grant awarded by Soroptimist International of the Americas. Founded in 1921, Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women working to improve the lives of women and girls. County clubs are Soroptimist International of Ventura, Oxnard, Fillmore, Camarillo and the Conejo.

For more information on Soroptimist go to www.soroptimist.org, or local information www.stoptraffickingventuracounty.org To report suspicious activity call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. For more information on the March 8 event, contact Debbie Gohlke at 805-320-5215.