Rock Church to Screen NBC 7's ‘STOLEN,' a San Diego Child Sex Trafficking Documentary

The Rock Church is hosting a screening of NBC 7's "STOLEN," an expansive, award-winning documentary series about child sex trafficking and exploitation in San Diego County and beyond, on Thursday at the church's Point Loma location. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion about fighting sex trafficking in our communities.

Click here to register for free tickets.

Anchor Monica Dean and the NBC 7 Investigates team spent more than a year learning from survivors, advocates, law enforcement agents, pimps and convicted sex traffickers to help explain why the illicit child sex market thrives in San Diego County and across the U.S.

"STOLEN," a seven-episode series, which debuted on NBC7.com in August 2020, uncovered substantial proof of the scope of sex trafficking in San Diego County schools and revealed gaps in the justice system that allow people who pay to sexually assault children to face little to no consequences.

“In this digital age it is critical for everyone to understand the dangers of these kinds of exploitative relationships that often draw teen girls and boys into sex trafficking," Dean said. "The desire for love, validation, and acceptance is often what makes someone vulnerable to exploitation. This is a difficult topic but we need to be having real conversations about it.”

Thursday's free screening, hosted in partnership with the Point Loma Nazarene University Center for Justice and Reconciliation, starts at 6 p.m. Click here for more info.

Panel members include:

• Susan Johnson: Susan has been involved in church ministries pertaining to women and youth for approximately 18 years. She co-founded the Churches Against Trafficking and Alabaster Jar Project, a residential rehabilitative program for survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation in North San Diego County. It is her mission to empower individuals who have been victimized and exploited.
• K Thomas: is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and has been working with survivors of sexual and relationship violence since 2010. Providing services to individuals of varied identities, they have worked with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, and human trafficking. With a background in training and research, K has facilitated numerous trainings on trauma-informed service provision to a wide range of victim populations. As Clinical Training Manager for North County Lifeline’s Project LIFE, K provides training and development to staff, collaborative partners, community members, and service providers on a range of training topics related to human trafficking and best practice. K is also a co-founder and co-chair of the California Human Trafficking Advocates Network for Collaboration and Empowerment (CHANCE).
• Jessica Kim is Program Director, Educational Pathways at the Center for Justice and Reconciliation at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is currently in the development stage of the OnRamps Collaborative, a multidisciplinary, collaborative effort to build financial opportunities for survivors of trafficking, and the Flourish Academy, a 12-week life skill program. Jessica is also a Survivor Advocate with over 10 years of experience in prevention, research, and public speaking. Passionate about learning and books, Jessica now uses her knowledge and life experience to educate and inspire a wide range of audiences. She is co-creator of the Know More program, an interactive awareness, and prevention curriculum for middle school and high school-age students. She sits on the CSEC Advisory Board for the state of California under the National Center for Youth Law.
• Keelin Washington isa lived experience expert working to bring awareness and recovery to survivors of sex trafficking in the San Diego area. She is currently completing her Social Work and Psychology dual-degree program, while working at Point Loma Nazarene University as a Program Facilitator on multiple anti-human trafficking projects. Keelin also works as the Program Specialist at GenerateHope, overseeing both the Recovery and Transition programs and providing valuable insight and support to staff and residents. Keelin’s speaking engagements have included Shared Hope International, The Washington Times podcast, DebX/Amplified voices, among many more. She also develops training videos and curriculum for organizations desiring to work with survivors. Keelin has dedicated her life to this cause and loves bringing others on board.

Since the digital launch in August 2020, “STOLEN” has been recognized with a Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) National Murrow Award for “Excellence in Innovation,” three Regional Murrow Awards, a Golden Mike Award, five Emmy Awards, Silver and Bronze “Telly” Awards, and three awards from the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego chapter.