In connection with our year-round anti-trafficking work, IN OUR BACKYARD (IOB) has worked for the last 14 consecutive years to eradicate sex trafficking surrounding the Super Bowl, as categorized as a Major Event, through partnerships with top law enforcement, local nonprofits, and government agencies in host cities across America. IOB was honored to come alongside leaders already doing incredible work to stop human trafficking in the Phoenix metro area, Arizona. Highlights of our “TEAM UP IN OUR BACKYARD” collaborative efforts in Chandler, AZ for SBLVII 2023 include:
TRAINING: 578 convenience and corner stores were equipped to recognize and report human trafficking throughout the Phoenix metro area, and 1,500 citizens were trained.
EDUCATION: 5,000 Missing Children’s booklets were distributed predominantly to convenience stores by volunteers throughout the Phoenix Valley, and surrounding the State Farm Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday.
AWARENESS: OVER 119,733 people reached with National Human Trafficking Hotline
MOBILIZATION: Through collaborative efforts, IOB placed 1,734 Freedom Stickers into public restroom stalls that will stay posted beyond the big game creating a pathway to FREEDOM for those trapped in human trafficking.
UP: INCREASED PREVENTION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP: When we prevent one, we prevent many! 38 volunteers and 1 survivor leader scholarship granted along with anti-trafficking intelligence experts, command post education, collaboration, and advocacy served inside the IOB ten-day command post operation, working diligently around the clock to increase potential cases of individuals who harm through human trafficking criminal activity and identify minors and adults at risk of trafficking:
16 of the 36 children were reported recovered by NCMEC and Law Enforcement within one week of Super Bowl. Phoenix PD reported nearly 350 arrests in connection to an operation that targeted human trafficking and sex crimes, resulting in 1 adult and 5 minors recovered.
https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/valley-police-made-over-300-arrests-days-super-bowl-trafficking/75-9413278c-01fd-4215-910f-f1ed4e85f5ec=https://www.foxnews.com/us/sex-trafficking-crackdown-yielded-nearly-350-arrests-ahead-super-bowl-arizona-policeIOB with active top law enforcement collaboration efforts investigated 241 connections producing 59 verified IOB trafficking leads to law enforcement as potential cases.
Join us in Nevada for 2024! Email info@inourbackyard.org for sponsorship and volunteer information!
