The purpose of Phase 2 is to invite participants to deepen their understanding of how systems of oppression create the conditions for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) to occur, starting It is critical that we understand that systems of oppression are embedded in mainstream culture and society, rather than individual acts by a few individuals. When participants open their eyes to how systems of oppression show up in everyday life, they will be better positioned to identify conditions that need to change.

Phase Two Resources:
English - Kitchen Table Conversation: “Transforming Community Conditions to Prevent Trafficking”

Spanish - Kitchen Table Conversation: “Systems of Oppression / Impact of Sexism, Racism & Poverty”

These kitchen table conversations and the overview video were supported by Grant No. 2019-CY-AX-0001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

In Module 5 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, the first system of oppression that participants are invited to explore addressing is the system of sexism. There are many definitions of sexism, but for our purposes, we will be focusing on the system of sexism. When we take a step back and view sexism as a system, rather than as individual acts of sexual violence, we open our eyes to the way this system functions to target women, girls (and boys), transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals for sexual exploitation, while at the same time, empowering buyers (“predominately white, married men, from middle and upper socio-economic backgrounds”).

Additional Module 5 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 2 - "Learning to be a Man"

KTC Episode 11 - “Gender Violence, White Supremacy & Patriarchy = Riots at US Capitol”

KTC Episode 38 - “Honoring the Vastness of Femininity & Womanhood”

KTC Episode 44 - “Impacts of Roe v Wade Overturning + Int’l Non-binary People’s Day”

KTC Episode 57 - “Sexual Assault Awareness Month w/ Emiliano Diaz De Leon”

In Module 6 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum , participants are invited to explore how the system of racism not only creates the conditions by which Native communities and communities of color are targeted for exploitation and harm, but also compounds the violence and trauma experienced by victims from marginalized communities. We know that in Minnesota, sex buyers are “predominately white, married men, from middle and upper socio-economic backgrounds.” Traffickers intentionally recruit women and girls from Native communities and communities of color in order to cater to buyers’ “desire for sexual ‘adventures’” and experiences with women who are “ethnically or racially different” from the women in their own communities. In order to end trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) and other forms of gender-based violence, good role models must actively work towards racial equity in their communities.

Additional Module 6 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 11 - “Gender Violence, White Supremacy & Patriarchy = Riots at US Capitol”

KTC Episode 13 - “Black History Month & Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)”

KTC Episode 14 - “Growing Solidarity”

KTC S4E12 - “Guest Star Nicole Matthews Joins the Conversations”

In Module 7 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to explore examine the system of poverty. Poverty is a broad-reaching term, encompassing homelessness, food scarcity, unemployment, and other forms of economic injustice. It is a system that restricts access to safe housing, education, healthcare, better employment, and other economic opportunities, thereby restricting access to economic well-being. For our purposes, we will be looking at poverty as a system that funnels and maintains resources with the wealthy.

Module 7 Resources:
COMING SOON

In Module 8 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to explore the system of immigration. It’s important for us to understand how immigrants, who are usually from communities of color, are forced to deal with the harms and injustices that are caused by our current immigration system. When people face multiple barriers to success and thriving in a new country, this makes them significantly more vulnerable to being targeted for sex trafficking and exploitation, as well as labor trafficking. In order to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable communities like the immigrant community, we must actively learn and work to better the current system that causes so much harm to people who are already fleeing harm and violence.

Additional Module 8 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 63 - “GUEST STAR Phoeun You Joins the Conversation”

KTC S4E11 - “Celebrating Hispanic Month”

In Module 9 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to explore examine the systems of transphobia & homophobia. These systems negatively impact LGBTQIA2S+ youth and adults’ access to safe housing, employment, gender-affirming medical care, and more. Transphobia & homophobia are weaponized by our current society and are a major factor in keeping LGBTQIA2S+ people in harmful circumstances where exploitation and violence are likely to occur. For our purposes, we will be looking at transphobia & homophobia as systems that create “entry ramps” into harm and exploitation for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and adults, and block “exit ramps” into safety and healing.

Additional Module 9 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 7 - "Uplifting the Trans Community on the Eve of TDOR"

KTC Episode 21 - “Celebrating Pride”

KTC Episode 31 - “GUEST STARS Kaleb Hawj & Rox Anderson Join the Conversation” (Transgender Day of Remembrance)

KTC Episode 42 - “Celebrating Pride While Experiencing Tragedy”

KTC Episode 44 - “Impacts of Roe v Wade Overturning + Int’l Non-binary People’s Day”

KTC Episode 60 - “Pride Month: Celebrating & Centering LGBTQIA2S+ Folks”

The purpose of Phase 3 is to invite participants to explore how mainstream media (tv, movies, music and music videos, commercials, etc.) plays an important role in shaping our values and beliefs as individuals and as larger communities, as well as deepen our understanding of illegal and legal forms of commercial sexual exploitation.

Phase Three Resources:

English - Kitchen Table Conversation - COMING SOON

Spanish - Kitchen Table Conversation - Understanding Legal & Illegal Forms of CSE

These kitchen table conversations and overview video were supported by Grant No. 2019-CY-AX-0001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

In Module 10 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invite to explore how the mainstream media influences the way we think about all forms of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) including sex trafficking, prostitution, stripping, and pornography, as well as gender and sexuality, masculinity and male bonding in the context of demand culture, and how individual human beings are valued. Because today’s technology makes information and entertainment so accessible, we recognize that mainstream media plays an important role in shaping our personal values, beliefs, and choices. We must examine the connections between mainstream media and exploitation, and then focus on the ways mainstream media’s harmful messaging can help to create the conditions that make this kind of violence possible in the first place.

Module 10 Resources:
COMING SOON

In Module 11 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to learn about sex trafficking and prostitution, as well as the differences and connections between the two. Sex trafficking and prostitution are both illegal forms of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) that are both defined by law.

Additional Module 11 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 35 - “Intentions for 2022 & Trafficking Awareness Month”

In Module 12 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to look at the legal forms of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). We know that CSE encompasses a spectrum of activities, including sex trafficking and prostitution, which are both illegal. Simultaneously, there are other activities within CSE that are permitted (and, at times, regulated and even protected) under the law. Nevertheless, these legal and socially acceptable forms of CSE are harmful and exploitative on multiple levels, and can cause a lifetime of lasting psychological trauma. The choice to consume legal forms of CSE, specifically by going to strip clubs and/or viewing mainstream pornography, is often justified by their legality. We rarely acknowledge the harmful and exploitative nature of these activities. Often, they are deliberately obscured by mainstream media, popular culture, and public discourse. Rarely, if ever, are the systems of oppression or trauma experienced from engaging in stripping and/or pornography, included in the conversation. Instead, these forms of CSE are normalized, and “market[ed] as a form of sexual choice.”

Module 12 Resources:
COMING SOON

In Phase Four, participants are invited to explore that in order to be a good role model or ally, participants must begin to confront the different systems of oppression that are present in their communities. We also examine how in order to actively transform community conditions, we must focus on healthy sexuality as an important and begin to see how healthy relationships are the foundation of safe and interconnected communities free from trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and other forms of violence.

Phase Four Resources:
Kitchen Table Conversation - “Healthy Relationships & Sexuality”

These kitchen table conversations and overview video were supported by Grant No. 2019-CY-AX-0001 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

In Module 13 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to focus on how we can be effective and good role models in our communities, in order to transform community conditions so that trafficking, exploitation, and violence no longer happen. Together, we are working towards a new normal where everyone in our community has a sense of belonging, is able to be their whole, authentic selves, and is able to take responsibility when they cause harm.

Module 13 Resources:
COMING SOON

In Module 14 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to explore learning about and discussing healthy sexuality. So far, we have learned that in order for us to be good role models and allies, we must work to change the current conditions in our communities that make it easy for trafficking and exploitation to happen. We already know what we don’t want–systems of oppression that make certain individuals and communities more vulnerable to harm. It’s important to not stop there. We must think about and consider what we do want: healthy and safe circumstances for all people in our communities to experience sexuality and intimacy.

Additional Module 14 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 55 - “Healthy Relationships & Sexuality”

In Module 15 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to explore the concept and practice of mutual sexual respect.

Throughout this curriculum, we have learned about the harm caused by trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and other forms of gender-based violence. In order to be good role models and become good at preventing those types of harm from happening, we need to be able to describe a vision of what can be different. That means thinking and talking differently about sex and sexuality. For our purposes, and in order to create new normals when it comes to healthy sexuality, we define mutual sexual respect as a shared set of positive intentions and communicated ground rules that allows people to progress through the vast spectrum of sexual experiences that exist beyond “yes”. It is the commitment between people to share a positive sexual experience, and care for each other’s well being. It is essential to the well being of the larger community. Consent, as we know it, is a practice used to create the conditions where mutual sexual respect is the norm. Remember: we are all connected, and because of this, mutual sexual respect is important because of our shared responsibility for the wellbeing of all individuals in the community and the community as a whole.

Module 15 Resources:
COMING SOON

In Module 16 of the “We Are Community: We Belong - We Have a Role - We Are Not Alone” curriculum, participants are invited to explore conversations about healthy relationships. As you may recall, back in Phase 1 we covered the “We Are All Connected” core values. These same values can be applied within the context of our relationships. Whether with friends, at work, in families, or in intimate relationships, healthy relationships hold these foundational values: each partner sees and believes in the inherent worth and dignity of their partner; each partner believes in and practices collective care towards each other; each partner reflects on how their actions or inaction cause harm to their partner, and are responsible for making positive changes when harm has happened; and each partner believes that their own and their partner’s stories, experiences, and beliefs are valid.

Additional Module 16 Resources:
*These additional resources were not funded through OVW.

KTC Episode 9 - “On Navigating Tensions”
KTC Episode 14 - “Growing Solidarity”
KTC Episode 20 - “Collective Healing”
KTC Episode 51 - “Connection in the Chaos”