Richmond proclaims Jan. 28 National Human Trafficking Prevention Day; local nonprofits outline services and shelter plans

Mayor Robert Blythe proclaimed Jan. 28, 2025, as National Human Trafficking Prevention Day for the City of Richmond during the Jan. 28 Board of Commissioners meeting, and invited local service providers to summarize their work and needs.

The proclamation text, read at the dais, referenced the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act for the legal definition of human trafficking and encouraged residents to visit humantraffickinghotline.org for information and resources. The proclamation noted global prevalence estimates and emphasized the city’s commitment to trauma-informed, culturally appropriate care for survivors.

Zinnia Hensley, vice president of Redeeming Hope and a local social worker, told the commission that Kentucky’s Department for Community Based Services recorded 467 reported child trafficking cases in the area over the last reporting period, broken down in the figures she cited as 444 sex-trafficking reports, 21 labor-trafficking reports and two reports involving both forms. Hensley said those figures represent reported cases only and that local providers regularly field calls from neighboring states.

“We have helped at least 15 women within the last month and a half from not just our state, actually Indiana, Ohio,” Hensley said, urging residents to learn more and to contact Redeeming Hope for assistance and training. She invited the public to a Redeeming Hope “Blue Hearts” dinner on Feb. 8 at Boone Tavern and described plans to open a survivor home in March with Richmond Development and community donations.

The mayor and commissioners presented the proclamation to local advocates at the meeting and encouraged public awareness and partnerships with local agencies. The proclamation text urged residents to wear blue on Jan. 28 to raise awareness and to support community partnerships that expand survivor resources.

Speakers (identified in meeting record) - Robert Blythe, Mayor (City of Richmond) - Zinnia Hensley, Vice President, Redeeming Hope (nonprofit) - Lisa Foster (appeared on stage as part of proclamation presentation; affiliation: Madison County anti-trafficking efforts/advocacy; not further identified in transcript)

Authorities and references cited in meeting record - Trafficking Victims Protection Act (federal statute cited in proclamation text) - humantraffickinghotline.org (resource cited in proclamation) - Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (source cited by Redeeming Hope for local case counts)

Clarifying details extracted from the meeting - Reported cases cited: 467 total child trafficking reports in the referenced period for the area mentioned; breakdown as cited in the meeting: 444 sex-trafficking reports, 21 labor-trafficking reports, 2 cases involving both (figures described by Zinnia Hensley and attributed in the proclamation remarks). - Redeeming Hope activities: provides trauma-informed care, outreach and training for groups and schools; reported helping at least 15 women in the last six weeks including callers from Indiana and Ohio. - Upcoming events: Redeeming Hope “Blue Hearts” dinner on Feb. 8 at Boone Tavern; organizers plan community outreach and fundraising and said a survivor home project is scheduled to start construction in March with Richmond Development as a builder partner.

Discussion-versus-decision notes - Decision: The mayor issued a ceremonial proclamation naming Jan. 28, 2025, National Human Trafficking Prevention Day in Richmond and encouraged community awareness. - Discussion: Nonprofit representatives described local case counts, services offered, outreach plans and fundraising events; these were public-comment style presentations and did not include formal city policy actions at the meeting.

Searchable tags:["human-trafficking","Redeeming-Hope","proclamation","survivor-services","Richmond-KY"]

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