Uprising works to confront human trafficking across Wyoming

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. Uprising Wyoming is a nonprofit working to empower communities across the state to confront the problem.

Human trafficking is a nuanced crime that isn't always easy to identify. Sex trafficking is any sex act that is done in exchange for an item of value, where a third party is profiting from the exchange. Labor trafficking victims are forced to work for little or no pay.

Uprising fights trafficking through three main efforts: raising awareness, educating communities, and conducting outreach. Through three years of work, Uprising has seen reports of trafficking in Wyoming go from almost nonexistent to often documented.

“You could even look at the heat maps from the calls into the national human trafficking hotline and there was nothing coming out of Wyoming which was kind of alarming to me… You look at the most recent heat maps and to that hotline now we have dots across the state so that's showing me that the work we're doing is impactful and was needed,” said Uprising Executive Director Terri Markham.

To learn more about Uprising, find events or request speakers visit their website.

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