Nonprofit launched by kidnapping survivor Gina DeJesus and her cousin draws outpouring of support in construction industry
Gus Chan for Crain s Cleveland Business
Gina DeJesus, left, and her cousin Sylvia Colon sit in an interview room at the Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults. The nonprofit s offices are tucked into the new Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression on West 25th Street, at the edge of the city s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.
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Gus Chan for Crain s Cleveland Business
Sylvia Colon tidies up in the family room at the Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults. Cleveland Cabinets of Fairview Park provided the cabinets for the office space, which was finished and outfitted by contractors who chipped in free labor and materials.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month and a survivor is sharing her story to help others
Posted at 8:44 AM, Feb 09, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-09 08:44:18-05
CLEVELAND â In 2010, Congress began dedicating the entire month of February to teen dating violence awareness and prevention. Since then, the month is a chance for organizations to put a focus on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.
Erika Port knows teen dating violence all too well. It happened to her when she was just 14 years old. It was entering high school in a brand new setting. I became a freshman, the bottom of the totem pole so to speak, and a senior started paying attention to me and that felt really good, Port recalled. He showered me with compliments, made me feel good.
You can stream it on wkyc.com, our Facebook page or our YouTube channel.
Credit: Collaborative to End Human Trafficking Author: Roselyn Muñiz Updated: 7:11 PM EST January 28, 2021
CLEVELAND WKYC Studios partnered with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking for a panel discussion addressing the impact COVID-19 is having on human trafficking.
Experts say the pandemic is worsening what is already a troublingly prevalent crime in our state. According to the Polaris Project, which manages the national Human Trafficking Hotline,
Ohio comes in fifth in cases reported by state.
The coronavirus is adding complicated layers to the issue, as it causes economic hardships, sends more kids online to learn, and poses challenges in identifying victims and prosecuting perpetrators. All these factors lead to a disastrous reality: a high risk of individuals being exploited. The impact is felt by victims, survivors, organizations, law enforcement and he