About C.A.S.T.
Citizens Against Sex Trafficking
Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T.) is a 501(c)(3) founded in June 2017 by a group of concerned citizens in Washington County, MN who learned that human trafficking and sexual exploitation are not issues that “just takes place over there” (Minneapolis, big US cities, abroad, etc.), but are realities that take place every day in our own backyard. We are dedicated to uniting together as a community to put an end to sexual exploitation.
PREVENTION WORK:
The anti-trafficking movement in the United States often revolves around victim services. While victim services are absolutely essential, there are few programs in the country that focus on prevention and community empowerment, even fewer in Minnesota.
▶︎ We want to create a world with fewer victims by giving individuals the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves.
HELPING ORGANIZATIONS “THRIVE IN THEIR LANE”
▶︎ We have spoken with victim and survivor service providers throughout the state, and many have said that their job descriptions include engaging and informing the community about the realities of human trafficking. However, when they are spending 60+ hours a week working directly with survivors – it can be incredibly difficult to create informative events for the community. That is where C.A.S.T. steps in.
▶︎ We focus on informing, engaging, and empowering the community. We create events and opportunities for service providers to come and share their experience in a way that allows them to concentrate on working with victims and survivors.
What Makes C.A.S.T. Unique
MISSION STATEMENT:
Empowering Our Community to End Sexual Exploitation
VISION STATEMENT:
Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T.) is dedicated to ending sexual exploitation and creating a culture that supports healthy choices and freedom from sexual violence and abuse. C.A.S.T. issues a call to action, resulting in partnerships, policies, and practices that prevent sexual exploitation and empowers victims and communities.
What we believe.
BEHIND THE MEANING
Our Logo
We at C.A.S.T. want to be a beacon of information – spreading the truth about the exploitation and trafficking taking place in our own backyard, especially in this technological age, as well as the ways YOU can help put an end to it.
Within the anti-trafficking movement, C.A.S.T. focuses on grassroots prevention. This means we work from ground up, serving local community and expanding outward. We do not provide direct services to sex trafficking victims, but rather work to prevent someone from becoming a victim in the first place.
Our long-term goal is to have programs that span the entire spectrum of prevention. Currently, our programs focus primarily on the blue sections: Strengthening Individual Knowledge & Skills, Promoting Community Education, and Educating Providers. As we build our capacity through staff and funds, we will expand our programs upward.
Grants & Opportunities
C.A.S.T. is currently funded through donations, grants, and fundraising events. We have been the fortunate recipients of incredible grants and opportunities over the course of the last five years which has contributed substantially to making C.A.S.T. a more sustainable organization. We extended heartfelt thanks to the organizations that support C.A.S.T. and believe in our mission.
2020 City & County Credit Union “Greater Good Nonprofit Grant” Finalist
City & County Credit Union empowers our community do more. We believe in putting purpose over profits and investing in our members, local small businesses, and non-profits to create a strong, resilient community. Making the Greater Good Even Greater recognizes the efforts of our non-profit and small business neighbors who hold the same mission as we do – empowering our community to do more.
2021 Old National Bank “Choose Your Charity” Grant Winner $5,000
For four weeks, Old National Bank put the power in the community’s hands as they voted for their favorite Minnesota-based nonprofit organization through its Choose Your Charity campaign. Over the course of those four weeks, the bank’s online voting platform received over 250,000 votes. Winning organizations had to be registered with 501(c)(3) legal tax exemption status within the bank’s Minnesota footprint. The top vote-getter for each of the bank’s 31 Minnesota locations won $5,000.
2021 The Justice Funds SAFE in MN Grant Recipient $5,500
2022 The Justice Funds SAFE in MN Grant Recipient $71,000
The disturbing reality is that sexual exploitation and trafficking is occurring in every county of our state and in every suburb of the Twin Cities metro area. Research shows that the average age of recruitment is between 11-14 years old. The Minnesota Department of Health added a new question to the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey, administered in grade schools throughout the state. The results suggested an estimated 5,000 youth had traded sex or sexual photos in order to receive money, food, drugs, alcohol, a place to stay or something of value, with boys and girls almost evenly impacted. The Justice Funds connect leaders and givers to solve some of the most prolific problems within Minnesota, and sexual exploitation is one of them.
SAFE in Minnesota is proud to partner with leaders in local law enforcement and legislation as well as non-profits across the spectrum from prevention to intervention to restoration. Upon launch in the fall of 2020, we gathered them and asked them to collaboratively whiteboard what they believe to be the most critical needs and gaps in the local anti-exploitation and trafficking movement at present.
2022 RaiseMN East Metro Cohort
The RaiseMN Campaign Institute offers months of customized fundraising coaching and group learning opportunities at no cost to small- and medium-sized Minnesota nonprofits. RaiseMN helps nonprofits level-up their fundraising confidence and efforts, learn amongst their peers, and leave with a plan of action to create more meaningful engagements with donors who support their important work.