Krista Hull of Pewaukee Shares Mission to End Domestic Human Trafficking in Wisconsin

Human trafficking has been documented in all 72 counties of Wisconsin. To heighten awareness and educate the community about such an alarming statistic, Pewaukee resident Krista Hull, founder and executive director of the Redeem and Restore Center, has joined Free Speakers, a pro bono speaker’s bureau which provides speakers to Milwaukee area groups, organizations and companies for no charge.

"I decided to join Free Speakers, because I want as many opportunities as I can to get in front of people and teach them that human trafficking is happening right in their own backyards," she said. "I truly believe that awareness and education leads to the prevention, intervention and the restoration for victims of human trafficking."

According to Hull, vulnerability is the key to how traffickers find and use their victims. In her presentation, she tells how victims throughout Wisconsin were manipulated and broken, yet many of these victims have become amazing survivors.

"It is hard to comprehend the evils done to other human beings, but it is happening in plain sight," she said. "We, as a community, need to pay attention and do what we are able to make changes. We must value each human life as precious."

In our own backyard

Sex trafficking is using force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. Traffickers deceive, manipulate and beat victims who become complete slaves, as a piece of property. Consumed with fear and hopelessness, victims stay.

The internet is being used as a tool to sell persons for sex. There are very descriptive ads that offer services by slaves. This problem is wide-spread, and the ease of use and secrecy of the internet furthers the hidden nature of this crime.

Most women in prostitution were trafficked into the life as children or teenagers. Approximately 66-90 percent of adult sex workers were victims of child trafficking and sex abuse.

Organized crime, pimps and gangs still exist. They are finding sex slaves much more profitable than drugs. They can resell the same girl over and over, and a drug product is sold just once.

Sexual oriented businesses that often lead to or involve use of sex trafficked women and girls: pornography studios, strip clubs, live sex shows, peep shows, internet and/or virtual prostitution, escort/ outcall services, truck stops, sex tour operators, brothels (often behind massage parlors, bars, clubs, beauty salons and restaurants), and pimp level prostitution.

Hull has dreams that the Redeem and Restore Center will be a long-term residential program for survivors of sex trafficking.

"I believe if people really knew how and why this is happening they would do something to make a difference," Hull said. "I hope to motivate the public to take action in small and big ways. They will witness women whose lives are transformed as they are given the chance to begin a normal life."

Krista Hull is married with two teenage children. A natural self-starter, she was successfully co-running a landscape and water garden business with her husband for 15 years. The couple desired new purpose, so they sold the business. In April, 2013, Krista's purpose crystallized when she learned of the great need for services and housing for victims of domestic sex trafficking. In September 2013, Krista established Redeem and Restore Center as a 501(c)3.

To request Hull as a speaker, visit her profile page at http://milwaukee.freespeakers.org/author/redeem2/

About Free Speakers

Free Speakers, LLC, is a pro bono organization that was founded as a community service project. All speakers give free talks to groups, clubs, organizations or businesses. There is no charge - not to the speaker and not to the bureau - to use this service.

The bureau is a boon for groups who need speakers for their programs but who have limited (or no) budgets. Groups include chambers of commerce, libraries, Rotary and Kiwanis groups, special interest clubs, retirement communities, church groups, women's clubs, men's clubs, etc.

For more information or to request a speaker, visit: http://milwaukee.freespeakers.org/.