While the human trafficking epidemic can affect anyone regardless of age, socioeconomic status, gender identity, s*xual orientation, faith, or country of origin, there are groups of young people that are at higher risk. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that as many as one out of every six young people abandoned, thrown away or otherwise experiencing homelessness will be exploited for s*x and or labor. In addition to homelessness, other vulnerabilities such as substance abuse, mental health challenges also increase the likelihood of victimization.
The solutions to preventing the trafficking of at risk youth in our community lie in an informed and engaged community, in addition to a network of public and private sector partners committed to empowering survivors, and those at risk, with case management, housing, healthcare, economic opportunities, education, mentoring, mental health services and other wraparound supports.
Night on the Streets is an event designed accomplish these goals. On January 26th, 2019, during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Ark of Freedom Alliance, MASS District and other community partners are coming together to co-host a music and arts festival, sleep-out, and youth resource fair to educate and mobilize Fort Lauderdale (Broward County), and raise funds to implement prevention and survivor-care programming, while identifying and assisting at risk youth in need of services.
Night on the Streets is plugging into MASS District’s already successful FTL Art Walk to co-host an experiential, educational, mission-oriented event from 7pm through 7am. There are three main components of Night on the Streets: Ending the Trafficking of Homeless Youth
1) Music and Arts Festival (MASS District pre-sleep out component)
7pm to 10pm
MASS District comes alive with a collaboration of art, music, food trucks, vendors, and local businesses. Explore the diversity of local art galleries showcasing unique and stunning collections of original artwork. Listen to the eclectic sounds of South Florida’s variety of live music and Fort Lauderdale’s very own, DJ Subwoofer. Taste the culinary explosion of local restaurants and food trucks. Shop your way through multiple vendors and take home something memorable. Featuring a live art installation by world-renowned urban artist, Nate Dee!
2) Sleep out Fundraiser – Special Event Permit** request to utilize City streets
Registration / Check-in: 7pm through 10pm
Sleep out: 10pm through 7am
Teams that have registered to sleep out will with raise money through a peer2peer online fundraising platform. Funds will go toward Ark of Freedom Alliance’s prevention education program to high risk youth and young adults, mobile outreach and drop-in, and housing program for male and LGBTQ+ survivors of human trafficking and those at risk.
Sleepers will check in and be assigned to their respective sleeping areas. All sleepers will receive a cardboard slat and are allowed one lawn chair. All sleepers are asked to bring a blue sleeping bag, as blue is the recognized color of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. There will be a general sleep out area, as well as executive, youth and families zones.
Candlelight Vigil
Attendees will be led by an interfaith prayer, and hold a candlelight vigil to remember those we have lost to the human trafficking epidemic and other forms of street violence.
Educational activities
Survivors of human trafficking and local leaders will educate the audience on their experience and offer ways to become more educated and active against human trafficking, youth homelessness and other disparities. Participants will be educated from a public health perspective on human trafficking and its relation to youth homelessness, substance abuse and mental health challenges. Educational activities are designed for youth, families and adults.
During the sleep out and festival, a raffle and silent auction will be held, as well as recognition of sleepers who have met their fundraising goals. Food trucks will also be available through the night.
Sleepers wake at 7am to celebrate their commitment to ending this epidemic, and receive their swag bags. A breakfast food truck will be on site for those who have slept out.
Host hotel within a few blocks of MASS District offering a discounted block of rooms for Night on the Streets participants who are unable to sleep on the streets. Free shuttle available.
Sleep Out Event Schedule
2pm - 6pm: event set up
10pm: Sleep-out begins
10pm 11pm: Networking hour
11pm: Welcome, candlelight vigil and interfaith prayer
1130pm to 2am: Educational activities and workshops
6am: Sleep out ends
6am - 7am: Thank you, swag bags and breakfast
7am to 12pm: event tear-down
3) Youth Outreach Fair (MASS District Property)
7pm through 2am
At risk youth will enjoy a resource fair offering free health screenings, mental health, substance abuse and human trafficking screenings, crisis counseling, food and clothing, veterinarian services, and linkage and referral to shelter, treatment and other services. Youth outreach will be conducted in surrounding areas to direct young people to the outreach area. Resource fair will also be marketed through community service providers and social media. To maximize youth participation, those attending fair will receive ‘credits’ for each booth visited, and/or survey completed, that they can use toward incentives, such as cash, gift cards, shoes and other.
Safety and security
The safety and security of participants is of paramount importance. There will be a First Aid tent set up that will offer EMS/paramedic support. We will partner with local law enforcement agencies who will provide highly visible and robust security throughout the event. In addition, participants will receive a Do’s and Don’t’s safety checklist upon arrival
Volunteer Opportunities
· Registration – staffs registration table, assists with participant packets, incentive prizes, and directing participants to sleep out area
· Hospitality – staffs volunteer tents, coffee and cocoa stations, assists with preparing and passing swag bags, greeting people, offering directions, and other activities to ensure participants feel welcome and engaged!
· Workshops – registration tables and sign up lists for mini-workshops, setting up workshops rooms, passing out information, and other logistic activities
· Logistics – chalking out sleeping areas, setting up workshops, tables and booths and other event site activities
· Youth Resource Fair – available to healthcare/mental health and allied support – registration, SBIRT, incentive tables, food and beverage stands, directing to various areas, crisis counseling, care coordination
· Planning – assists in the planning of overall event. Main planning committee meets once a month, with sub committees meeting bi weekly. Subcommittees include promotion, sponsorships and program ad, raffle and silent auction, logistics, volunteer coordination, street team, workshops and hospitality
