Club Programs and Projects

Grantsburg Club

Contact (February 2024)
Dave Dahlberg dahlberg1958@gmail.com
The club hosted a community forum with a presentation by Laura Mulliken from Trafficking Justice (traffickingjustice.com).
They put out flyers in the community and put a notice in the local newspaper.

Ms. Mulliken spoke about trafficking issues and raised awareness of the problem in small towns like Grantsburg.
She also gave them references to programs in Wisconsin that they could access for more information.

Prior Lake Rotary

Prior Lake supports a shelter called Passageways that is for trafficked people ages 13-18. The club has helped provide massage chairs and a garden. They are also helping by painting one of the apartment rooms. Prior to Covid they did a grant and set up a music room for recording, gave money for therapeutic toys and weighted blankets. They have also done a packing of basic hygiene kits for the residents and toured the facility.

They have supported Brittany’s Place in St Paul. Their team has toured the facility and they were impressed. Brittany’s Place has an alumni program that Prior Lake supports for ongoing help after initial treatment is completed.

Breaking Free, also in St Paul, is where they have recently given money to help provide self defense classes.

Two years ago they supported Love 146 Training of the Trainer. Their Regional Navigator, Shannon Rhone, is a trainer and she was set up to talk last year.

It had to be postponed due to illness and they are hoping this will happen in the spring of 2024.

Shannon is at The Link. For the Prior Lake music fest Shannon got them some awareness posters that they displayed by the outhouses.

Their team is looking into a prevention program for younger students in middle school to have in their area.

Recently their team had a program with their Chief of Police and County Attorney.

This prompted Eric Pratt, their State Senator, to offer to introduce a bill to get jail terms lengthened. Their County Attorney said they have some of the weakest punishments in the nation. Because of this cases are brought to court by federal prosecutors when possible.

Prior Lake Contacts
Joan Lompart jslompart@gmail.com
Mary Viereck maryviereck53@gmail.com

Saint Paul Rotary Club # 10

In December 2020, Club #10 partnered with Cherish All Children – LSS MN for the prevention of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. A committee was formed and goals were outlined to provide members with education and service opportunities around this important initiative. These included an Awareness Goal, Fundraising Goal, and Service Goal.

Highlights of Club Accomplishments

Awareness:

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi spoke at a Rotary Lunch meeting, sharing the work he has done to combat human trafficking.

Hosted a viewing of TPT’s “Bring Her Home” at a 5:01 meeting, the current story of three Indigenous women here in the Twin Cities fighting to vindicate and honor their missing and murdered relatives. Discussion on how this issue is tied to sex trafficking and ways Rotarians can get involved to make a difference.
Created a page on the club’s website dedicated to our work toward ending human trafficking.

“Trafficking Insight from on-the-ground Experts” at a 5:01 meeting featuring Monica Jones – LSS LifeHaven shelter, Rebecca Bender TedTalk “Sex Trafficking in Plain Sight”, and Joy McElroy – Cherish All Children.

Fundraising:

Participation and fundraising support in the Cherish All Children 5K 2021-2024, helping raise $15-20,000 annually for prevention work with children, youth, and families.

Club speaker honorariums were designated to Cherish All Children from 2021 to Spring 2024 to support their work.

Service:

Speaker from LSS LifeHaven shelter for teen moms and their children spoke at a Rotary Lunch meeting, introducing the Youth Holiday Gifts drive to support Metro Homeless Youth Services. Twenty-two Rotarians supported youth experiencing homelessness and at risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking with gifts during the holidays.
Three club members serve on the District 5960 End Human Trafficking Team.

Saint Paul Club #10
Contact (July 2024)
Al Zdrazil zdra0004@umn.edu