To help educate on the harsh realities of trafficking, and empower members of the community to make a difference in protecting young people online, SOS is hosting presentations June 6 and 7, 2023, in Lyndon, Emporia, Council Grove, and Burlington.

June is Internet Safety Month, and it is important for adults everywhere to be aware of the dangers online trafficking presents to children and teens, no matter where they live. The SOS presentations will feature Russ Tuttle, president and founder of the Stop Trafficking Project, who will cover information regarding ways that vulnerabilities of young people are being exploited online.

The presentation at Lyndon will be 9-10:30 a.m., June 6, at Lyndon High School auditorium.

Presentation schedule:

June 6

• 9-10:30 a.m. – Lyndon High School auditorium, Lyndon
• 1:30-3 p.m. – Coffey County District Court, courthouse basement, Burlington
• 6:30 to 8 p.m. – Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia (also livestreamed via Facebook)

June 7

• 9-10:30 a.m. – Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia
• 1:30-3 p.m. – Council Grove High School auditorium, Council Grove

Life online is incredibly complicated for young people, and it is increasingly easy for kids to be exploited in online spaces. Worst-case scenarios have even led to the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking. The Stop Trafficking Project exists to end domestic minor sex trafficking before it starts by disrupting the exploitation of vulnerability. These presentations will educate and help adults to protect the young people in both their professional and private lives.

All presentations are free and open to the public. Additionally, the presentation the evening of June 6 will be livestreamed via the SOS Facebook page (facebook.com/SOSKansas) for those who are not able to attend in person.

While June is Internet Safety Month, SOS offers presentations on online safety to school, classes, and community groups throughout the year. For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact darmitage@soskansas.com or call 620-343-8799.

SOS, a nonprofit agency that serves child and adult victims of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse or neglect, serves six counties in east central Kansas including Chase, Coffey, Lyon, Morris and Osage. For more information about SOS and its services, call 343-8799 or see www.soskansas.com. For crisis services, call 800-825-1295.