Help Prevent Human Trafficking In The Berkshires (Audio)

January is human trafficking awareness month, and Jeanet Ingalls, a trafficking survivor, is asking for your help. Ingalls, who was born in the Philippines, was trafficked by her mother between the ages of four and seven. Without delving too much into her own story, Jeanet spoke of sex trafficking here in Berkshire County, how it starts, who it affects, and how to prevent it. (Listen to excerpt below).

Before speaking to Slater and Marjo in the Morning, Ingalls had sat down with Amanda Drane from the The Berkshire Eagle.

Ingalls, who resides in Lenox, started "Shout Out Loud Productions", a non-profit designed to bring trainers to Western Massachusetts to help identify victims and get them help. Shout Out Loud trainings help law enforcement, service providers, and judicial leaders be better prepared when they come into contact with victims of human trafficking.

The training would be led by Tina Frundt, a survivor-advocate appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and founder of Courtney's House, a nonprofit that helps child victims of human trafficking.

All throughout the month of January, certain restaurants in the Berkshires are participating in a "dine to donate" to support the cause. For the complete list visit Shout Out Loud Productions' facebook page.