Community Violence Solutions recently held an open house for a new drop-in center for commercially exploited youth in Antioch. CVS is operating this project two days per week in Antioch and two days per week in San Pablo. CVS “will be working with youth involved / exploited in the sex industry to learn more about the invisible issues of their motivation to stay in the life as well as to exit it.”
Why is this important? California harbors three of FBI’s 13 highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation: Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Only weeks ago, the FBI conducted a nationwide rescue of child victims of sex trafficking, and officials “rescued six girls under age 18 during a four-day sting. Of the girls rescued, four were in Oakland, one in San Francisco and one in San Rafael… the six juveniles found working in the sex trade were females between the ages of 15 and 17. Seven suspected pimps were arrested during the operation, including three in Richmond… Among 57 cities nationwide, Bay Area cities accounted for about 8 percent of the rescued children, according to FBI statistics.”
SFSTA has been a community supporter of CVS for 14 years. The origins of the community partnership between SFSTA and CVS stem from a member of SFSTA who once served as President of the Board of Directors for CVS. Since 2006, SFSTA involvement has consisted of annually organized volunteer efforts to rebuild and beautify CVS office buildings. SFSTA’s most recent effort was earlier this year, in February. To learn more about how to get involved, contact CVS or reach out to a SFSTA board member.