Absolutely! I put Stacy in touch with Amanda Henry of Brown Sugar Coffee Roastery, who had hosted UprisingWyo's Bust the Myths human trafficking presentation back in January, and then met with Ivan Posey, who said that he would help coordinate efforts with The Grind at CWC. And there it was...the start of something wonderful in networking our county and tribal communities in the MMIP cause.
Partnerships and teamwork with organizations such as WyoFind is what MMIP Wind River is all about... seeking ways to increase community awareness is a part of our mission in "Strengthening Collaboration". In my experience, keeping that daily awareness going long after MMIP Awareness Day (May 5) is over and done, has been a challenge. But WyoFind came up with (once again) a brilliant way of not only keeping the conversations going, but to help and support the families and relatives who are grieving their missing loved ones.
I've created a page off of the MMIP Wind River website for information on how to submit photos and information of missing persons to WyoFind. What they need for the sleeves (or stickers) is the photo and name of the missing person, the date they went missing, the name of the agency that is handling the case, and a phone number. You could also submit your information on their Submit A Tip page/form, and they can follow up with you for a photo.
For local coffee shop owners who want to get on board, you can either email me at mmipwindriver@gmail.com(Here's a little 'perk'...I'll come to your coffee shop and buy a cup of coffee!)....or, you can go to WyoFind's page and scroll down to "Become a Coffee Shop supporting this campaign" and enter your information.
And if you want to make a difference, right where you stand? You can be a part of the WyoFind team! Support WyoFind with a donation, or they even have an Amazon Wish Listwhere you can browse through the items they need to cover the costs of creating the sleeves/stickers. Also...there are currently 18 coffeehouses that are a part of this (once again) brilliant campaign that brings awareness to those who are missing in Wyoming. So get out and about, buy a cup of coffee, support your local busineses, and spread the word!
Strengthening collaboration. Providing resources. Improving response. I would say all three elements of our mission statement are acheived in our partnership with WyoFind, our local businesses, and the people they serve. And what better way to keep the conversations going than over a nice cup of coffee, right where we stand...and sip!
WyoFind is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 99-2419834) dedicated to raising awareness for Wyoming’s long-standing missing person cases. Every product purchased directly supports our Face on a Coffee Sleeve Campaign, which places the faces of missing individuals on coffee sleeves and drink cup stickers across the state. Through community partnerships and volunteer efforts, WyoFind works to keep these cases visible and ensure that families of the missing are never forgotten.
From the day we're born, the faces that surround us as we innocently look up from within our blankets and buntings are the faces that we learn to love and trust. As we grow, we learn more as our circles expand to our relatives and playmates. As our circles widen when we attend school and community activities...we learn about our teammates, group/club members, and of course, friendships.
What we learn about people is instilled in us from our youth into adulthood and impacts our future relationships. But our innate innocence and naivete gets lost along the way as we eventually come to realize that there are...well, just not very nice people in the world. We're taught "stranger-danger" or not to take candy (or anything!) from a stranger. But in a world where the lines between who is good or bad are blurred into gray areas, sometimes we have to learn the hard way.
In my last blog, "Another Day", I touched on 'Online Platforms'. Additionally, however...one of my take-aways from the GRIT Conference was about how only 9% of trafficked victims are actually strangers.
Here is that pie chart again:
Very small slice re: strangers. It's about the people we already know.
The Masquerade
It doesn't help that both of the terms "good" and "bad" are subjective, and it can be difficult to be objective when it comes to those who wear masks...pretending "nice and friendly" on the outside, but have ulterior motives and hidden agendas. I've run across quite a few imposters in my lifetime, some of who were already major players and had the art down to a tee. Others were more like "stranger changer"...like chameleons, who would subtly change their 'colors' to fit various situations and circumstances. And then there are those who have the patience to play the long game with a friendly approach, having the appearance of goodwill...but all the while waiting for the opportunity to strike at a moment of weakness.
"No matter how many times a snake sheds its skin, it will always be a snake.
Remember that before allowing certain people back into your life."
There are those who are nice to you only because they want something from you, and trafficking groomers aren't the only ones who wear these masks. There's a big difference between actually being a genuinely good person versus merely acting like one. So how can we teach our younger generations who they can trust, if their own families and friends can't even be trusted?
I'm asking this question, because quite frankly, I don't have an answer. For me, I've had to learn the hard way, because for a long time I was way too naive and trusting of the wrong people. I've even allowed them to kick me when I was down, laughing at my misfortune. Even when I thought I had learned my lesson, it would happen again. It takes a long time to build trust once it's been compromised. But that's how I eventually learned...after almost 60 years of life, I've gained better discernment and wisdom as to those who wear the masks, and those who are the real deal.
My circles are much tighter now. I maintain boundaries between personal, professional, and spiritual relationships. I've had to sacrifice familial ties and some long-time friendships to maintain those boundaries, but I had to do it in order to take care of myself and be healthy and happy. I'm much more discerning and aware, and try to surround myself with good people who are thoughtful, caring, and good team players. And those good people refer me to more good people, and they refer me to more good people, and so on and so on. And if there are bad apples in the barrel, they will eventually be revealed. The Creator knows the truth.
Right Where We Stand
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players..." It's interesting how applicable this statement is, and how a 16th century playwright could be so spot-on about how the world works (almost prophetic, given today's social media). Virtue and vice, moral and immoral, conflict and resolution...though the battle lines between good and evil have been skewed, one truth remains: Everything begins with a choice.
The choice to find the good. The choice to choose the good. The choice to be good. The choice to do good. The choice to defend the good. As infants and children, others make the choices for us. But as adults, the power to be good and do the right things have always been in our own hands.
Here are things you can do to be a good person, right where you stand:
Assess yourself. When you look in the mirror, do you like who you see? I remember times where I was so racked with depression, grief, injustices, and anger at what was done to me, it kept me in a victim mentality that clouded my judgment and I ended up backing my own self against a wall. I felt frozen and helpless. Not being sober didn't help; it only isolated me and kept me in a loop in a dark place. Once I started improving myself and let go of the thoughts and vices (and people!) that weighed me down, I was able to find the value in myself and plant my feet on a good road, a better road...one step at a time.
A note: It's so easy to do the blame game. Blame others, blame our circumstances, blame the powers that be, blame the breaking and broken systems. Blaming entities outside of ourselves keeps us in that prison of the mind: "There's nothing I can do about it." But I also remember those in history who had a lot less and had it a lot worse, but found the strength within their own selves to rise above their circumstances, why can't I?
"Make good choices." We have a paramedic that says that to the crews when they go off-shift, and I like it! It's just a simple reminder, a mantra, to carry with you throughout your day. Sometimes we get through the day down the good road, but sometimes we don't. We all make mistakes, but don't give up! Forgive yourself. Apologize to those you may have wronged, and start anew. Recognizing and admitting our mistakes can set us on the good road again.
Surround yourself with good people who are team players that encourage you, make you a better person, and have the same goals. You'll know them when you meet them. I'm often cordial and friendly to people I don't know, but inside I might be thinking: "There's just something a little off about this person." Listen to your gut. If you can't quite put your finger on it, be aware of that feeling and create your boundaries. But also know that there are good people who might be struggling with bad things in their lives, too. Maybe they don't have the capacity to make good choices. Remember your own lessons and guide them to the resources and people who can help. Heed the wisdom and advice of elders who have experienced the tests of time.
"I will not allow anyone to walk in my mind with dirty feet".
Gandhi
Lastly...once you learn, go and do. Understand that there are people in this world who do want to help and support you in your journey; be respectful to them for helping. In the movie, The Matrix, there is a quote by the character Morpheus: "There is a difference between knowing the path and walking it." Once you know what to do, do it. Sometimes the signs and directions may not be clear, but stay on the good road! Do not deviate, and don't get sucked down the old roads you've already been on. You've already been there; you already know the people there. But you don't have to live there anymore.
There are good folks at White Buffalo Recovery, and I highly recommend attending their Mending Broken Hearts program. Their next session is on June 3-5, and if you can't make it to this session, always check their Facebook page for when the next session scheduled. See the information below.
The Creator knows our hearts and minds, and everything begins with a choice. Look within; you can decide who you are and what kind of person you'll be...right where you stand.
Today is MMIP Awareness Day. Another day pouring a cup of coffee (or three) and off to work or school. Another day of meetings. Another day of governing tribes, counties, cities, and towns. Another day of business as usual. It is yet another day dealing with the problems in front of us...on our desks, in our classrooms, in our shops and restaurants, in our offices, our agencies, our stations, in courts and council chambers.
But what about those who dread another day?
Another day in my life? I wake up early, pour a cup of coffee, get ready for work, and head to the ambulance station. I look at my calendar and an ever-growing task list (and make more coffee). I converse with the crews, ask them how the night went. Some will talk about it; others may not. Some may come into my office and shut the door. A 'normal' day for them isn't anything like a normal day for anyone else. What is another day for a first responder?
I pray in silence as I settle in and start reading their reports, preparing myself for a range of emotions from utter sadness to outright anger. By the time I'm done, I have to get up, take some deep breaths, and go for a walk. The accidents, the illnesses, the substance abuse and overdoses, the aftermath of crime and violence...the magnitude of the burdens that our first responders shoulder every day and night is a whole lot to process. At the end of the day, a big part of my heart, mind, and soul is drained by loads of compassion fatigue. And at the end of my day, I plop on the couch and try to relax and regroup. But the question continues to weigh on my mind:
What about those who are dreading another day?
If you know, you know.
I have (collectively) worked in the health care industry for about 12 years and, bound by HIPAA laws, confidentiality is critical for the safety and protection of patients. Though an essential part of my job, it is still very difficult for me, knowing the things that happen 24/7 in our county and tribes. There is a burden in just knowing. More walks, more cleansing breaths. I have a Kleenex box nearby.
But then...I also know that everyone knows! Unless you live under a rock or in a cave, everyone is very well aware through local and social media of the problems and great hurts that happen. Most folks read the obituaries, the arrest logs, news articles and posts...gossip and fenceposts aside, people are pretty well informed these days. The posts I share with many of our MMIP partners prove that there is no shortage of awareness.
However, there is an entire underworld that so many do not see or witness on a day-to-day basis that either gets swept under the rug or put out of mind because we tend to think: "Not my home. Not my neighborhood. Not my town. Not my little corner of the world." Or, some might tend to think that what they or others do is none of anyone else's business...and the accidents, crimes, violence, abuse, assaults, and suicides continue.
What about those who dread another day?
The Silent Killers.
We may go about living our lives in our own bubbles...being somewhat aware, but not really care. Don't want to get involved; don't want to create waves or stir the drama pot. Or, maybe we live in fear of retribution or retaliation if we report anything. Or maybe we're apathetically silent. We're siloed by the bubbles we create for ourselves, which is a problem in and of itself, because when those bubbles become infected and burst, fear escalates to reality, and drama becomes trauma.
Silence can be a killer. How? By seeing or knowing something and remaining silent. By witnessing assault or abuse, and remaining silent. By remaining silent because you think they deserve it. Victims are silent because of trauma and fear. Victims are silent because they don't want to get into trouble, or rat out their abusers/assailants. Maybe they are bullied to the point of despair because no one believes them. Maybe they're threatened into silence; maybe they're paid to be silent. Maybe they are silent because they dwell in a prison of the mind, and cannot explain their hurt, anxiety, and pain.
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow that runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset."
Crowfoot, Blackfoot Warrior
Right Where We Stand
Our theme for MMIP this month is "Right Where We Stand", meaning...there is a whole lot you can do, right where you are, no matter where you are on any given day. And believe me, I get it...we're busy! We've got jobs to do, businesses to run, schedules to keep. But if we aren't mindful about our steps through our daily journeying, we can forget to care. If we are neglectful and blind to the sufferings of others, we cannot say we are truly connected as a tribe or community. If we are not a part of the MMIP solutions, we become a part of the problems.
Here's are some things you can do, right where you stand:
Be aware of The Nouns.People, places and things. The people you see, meet or greet. Be aware of your surroundings/environment (for first responders, it's called assessing your scene). Watch. Listen to your gut. If something doesn't feel or look right, or if you know something...
Call a tipline.In Wyoming, you can call SafeToTell, 1-844-WYO-SAFE (996-7233). Riverton PD has an anonymous tip line, 307-857-7755. Put those numbers in your phone. It could be nothing...but it could be something, too. Even the littlest bit of info can help solve big cases. It's been done. You don't have to get into stalker-mode (and I certainly wouldn't advise it), but notifying the proper authorities with what can be pertinent information can help...especially when there can be roadblocks and bottlenecks in broken and failing systems where agencies are understaffed and underfunded.
Online tip submissions.Maybe you're homebound, or you're on a laptop or tablet a lot. MMIP Wind River's website has a page with a listing of various links where you can submit a tip to the FBI, BIA, Wyoming Missing Persons, NamUs, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and more. Just click on any one of those white/red buttons and it will lead you to their corresponding pages for information on how to submit your tips.
Be aware of online platforms. Social media, video games, dating sites, and job sites are used as grooming tools that lure victims into danger zones. The highest risk group of trafficking is 12-17 year olds (and yes, there are younger); the average age of first exploitation is ages 14-16. Young adults: ages 19-34. Be aware of these sites and platforms; teach your children and teens to be aware. Familiarize and know the apps they are frequenting. (I've provided some information below) Limit online and screen time. Most of all, never let your child or teen go anywhere to "just hang out" or meet up with someone you don't know. You are the adult; the parent/caregiver...do not relinquish your parental control to anyone. You can say no, and it's not 'being mean', it's being protective.
Support organizationssuch as Not Our Native Daughters, who have programs such as the MMIP Family Support & Liaison Assistance Fund and the Indigenous Youth Voices Program. Organizations such as these are like 'second responders' when it comes to addressing the needs and aiding our families and relatives. Support organizations such as the Fremont County Law Enforcement Foundation, who help our county's law enforcement agencies with the equipment, tools, and trainings they need to do their jobs effectively, despite the funding and staffing deficits. See? Solutions already exist.
Ask how someone is doing today. Not just in passing because you're busy and want to be polite. Stop what you're doing and be genuinely kind and caring. Some may respond with that four-letter "f" word ("I'm fine.")...but let's be honest, haven't most of us said we're "fine" when we might actually be hurting or screaming inside?
Sincerely listen to their response (eyes up, put your phone away). Listen to the tone of their voice, observe their demeanor. Ask if there is anything you can do to help, but don't get tunnel vision and just spill out advice from the get-go. Let them do the talking. Most of the time, people just need to be genuinely listened to. Some may have trust issues or afraid to say anything. Some may not ready to take those next steps in seeking help. Give them your card or phone number. Follow up if you can.
Realize that maybe you were the only light or hope they had experienced that day. Knowing that there was just one person who cared enough to reach out to them and simply ask, "How are you doing?" can make all the difference in another day.
What an amazing time I had at GRIT 2026! Where to even begin...
As I looked around the conference room on the morning of the first day, little did I know that I would meet and be surrounded by so many wonderful people and speakers who would drive and motivate me with collaboration towards solutions...which is what is so desperately needed as we reach out to our communities on this critical issue that affects everyone across the globe. I want to thank Frontier Ambulance and UprisingWyo for the support, and for providing me the opportunity to attend.
So many classes, breakout sessions, skills labs...you can visit the GRIT website (on Facebook: GRITWYO) for a complete listing, but perhaps the most compelling 'you had to be there' part of the conference (at least for me) was the Mock Operation, comprised of an actual trafficking case for all of us to solve, from beginning to end. As a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) leader, each person on my team had such a wealth of education, training, and education in their fields. I had law enforcement officers, detectives, victim advocates, nurses, public health specialists, attorneys, counselors, therapists, and even survivors of trafficking. It was truly humbling and gratifying to see my team bring so many levels of expertise and experiences to the table, and collaborate in a way that I had always envisioned for MMIP! It inspired me to make a goal to collaborate, form, and instigate an interagency team to establish and/or improve protocols with our first (and second) responders, and implement an effective tribal and community network. It is doable, it just needs doing!
From left to right: Elizabeth Scaife, Tiffany Parker, Jenny Footle, Lea Wetzel, Kathy Givens.
Human rights attorney Ashleigh S. Chapman, JD
GRIT faculty, facilitators and speakers
My awesome Team 6!
Trauma Response: Support is critical for victim survivors!
Centered around real-life experiences of the victims, GRIT taught me that tribal and community support and effective resources are absolutely essential to providing pathways towards healing for survivors of abuse and exploitation. Sure, we can zero in on the bottlenecks and do the 'blame game', putting a tunnel-vision focus as to why or where the systems break or fail; however, the solution always remains the same: It starts with us. As an individual, as parents, as a family, as a caregiver, as a neighborhood/subdivision, as a business owner, as a group/organization, as a first responder, as a commissioner, mayor, or council, as members of a tribe and community...communication, collaboration, responsibility, accountability...all words that should resonate within us.
I heard a radio program recently, where the speaker figuratively divided the word 'responsibility' in two words: Response-Ability. Each of us have the ability to respond to the trafficking crises; it's just a matter of how we decide we do it, and the willingness to actually do it. It can be as simple as calling a tip line (see/know something, say something), using your gut when something doesn't feel right. In the Mock Operation, it was a hotel clerk who observed and suspected that something wasn't right and called it in. (The MMIP Wind River website has an entire page of reporting and tip lines.)
Did you know that 36% of trafficking is familial? 27% are romantic partners, 14% are friends of family, 14% are employers, and only 9% are strangers. It should be disturbing for us to see that family/friends of family make up 50%...half...of the pie!
A Call for Collaboration
This month of April, the focus has been on Child Abuse and Sexual Assault. Campaigns have been posted and shared on our Facebook page. We already have the 'response-ability' to prevent MMIP from ever happening in the first place, first by holding ourselves and each other accountable for what is happening right under our noses, in our homes, schools, churches, businesses, etc. It starts with us.
So if we are to even make a dent in MMIP, we need to have the 'response-ability' to do our part. The Northern Arapaho Tribe recently posted a list on their Facebook page of individuals "whose 'whereabouts are unknown". Read that list! Save it, print it out. Raise your children and youth in a loving, caring environment. Don't ever give them a reason to run away. Don't ever give them a reason to consider suicide. Don't ever give them a reason to feel like they are trapped or neglected.
If you feel the call to collaborate on solutions, please email me at mmipwindriver@gmail.com. I would love to have you on the A-Team! We'll be holding another presentation on trafficking very soon, so stay tuned! I'm excited to continue the discussions and take those boots-on-the-ground next steps towards real change and transformation that will make an impact and send a message to traffickers:
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