Human sex trafficking awareness and recovery organization Second Life Chattanooga will receive a $110,000 grant administered by the Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Beginning July 1, the grant money will be used to provide victim-specific services for the lower-east Tennessee region.
“It is our duty to do everything we can as a community to put an end to this crime,” said Jerry Redman, CEO of Second Life Chattanooga. “We will continue our work with law enforcement and other partners to provide education to the community about recognizing the warning signs of trafficking. With this money given to our organization, we will be able to provide victims of this crime with the essential resources they need to become survivors."
For the first time in Tennessee, OJCP is appropriating grants to organizations involved in ending human sex trafficking and providing recovery for survivors.
Second Life is one of five organizations receiving the funding that Rep. Jim Coley, Sen. Bill Ketron, Rep. Kevin Brooks, Rep. Gerald McCormick and Senator Bo Watson advocated for in the latest state legislative session. Second Life’s three single-point-of-contact state partners – RestoreCorps from West Tennessee, End Slavery Tennessee from Middle Tennessee and Grow Free TN from Upper East Tennessee – also received a grant. In addition, Thistle Farms in Nashville was awarded a grant.
“We have seen hundreds of human sex trafficking victims become survivors and activists that stand with the efforts to end modern-day slavery,” said Tory Hood, director of program services of Second Life Chattanooga. “Seventy-eight out of 95 counties in Tennessee have reported at least one case of human sex trafficking. We are working to completely deplete that number, and with the help of our legislators, other government officials and the community, we can end human sex trafficking.
To join the fight against human sex trafficking, please visit www.SecondLifeChattanooga.org or follow Second Life Chattanooga on Facebook.