ADRIAN — January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, highlighting a humanitarian crisis that affects communities nationwide, including here in Lenawee County.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery involving force, fraud or coercion, and can include commercial sex, agricultural work and other labor. Cases are reported in all 50 states, and victims can be adults or children, men or women, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals.
The Lenawee Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition will work with area schools this month to educate students and parents. Coalition co-facilitators Dr. Patricia McDonald and Laura Schultz Pipis, executive director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties, will also speak at regional events.
According to the Polaris Project, trafficking impacts at least 25 industries nationwide and often goes unreported.
For local information or presentations, contact the coalition at LenaweeantiHTCoalition@gmail.com or 517-264-6821.