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Oshkosh high school film earns national recognition for human trafficking awareness


OSHKOSH, Wis. (WLUK) — Students in an Oshkosh North High School TV production class received an award for a short film depicting the realities of human trafficking. The U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking honored the students with a second place national award at their film festival.

Even before receiving the national recognition, students and staff at Oshkosh North High School had a goal of bringing to the issue in the Oshkosh area.

“It's a lot larger than anyone realizes and it's something that's just kind of swept under the rug,” Director Sam Dick said.

The film is titled “A Deal With Romeo”. It depicts an abusive high school relationship. The film's inspiration stemmed from a personal experience of Dick's.

“One person that was fairly close to me was sexually assaulted last year,” Dick said. “So it is a topic that is very near and dear to me and it is something that needs to be brought more .”

Dick acknowledges how uncomfortable the topic can be for many. The class' instructor, English teacher Angela Brown, believes the reason the film was a success is because of the way the students approached it.

“Because the topic was so sensitive and they are just such empathetic people, this was something that they could handle,” Brown said.

Brown has even seen one of her own students become involved in human trafficking. That's why she also wanted to give attention to those themes.

“I'm originally from Madison and I've lived in Vegas and Milwaukee but this is the place where I've seen and heard about the most human trafficking,” Brown said. “The area between Milwaukee and Green Bay is a hotbed for human trafficking because it's quiet- they can get away with it.”

Oshkosh police investigated several instances of human trafficking just in 2022.

Some students say working on the film was a learning experience.

“People don't know that their friends are being trafficked and it's a hard topic to find out that you're actually being trafficked,” Editor and Cinematographer Kimberly Binning said. “For our film, now people know that people actually care.”

The film's title is a reference to a human trafficker who specifically targets minors. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates 800,000 youth are trafficked every year.

“I wanted to make sure that other students in the area and nationally-that this is a bigger issue than people realize it is,” Brown said. “And parents too.”

“Just don't be afraid to reach out because people are there for you,” Binning said.

Second place earned Oshkosh North a $750 reward.

 

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original location.

ABOUT

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.

 

EYES ON TRAFFICKING

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.